"Staircase To The Day" by GRAVY TRAIN – Fourth And Final UK Studio Album From July 1974 on Dawn Records – Guests including Bobby Harrison of Juicy Lucy and Snafu, Peter Solley of Paladin, Procol Harum and Snafu with Jim Frank of Fox, Mary Zinovieff (sessioned for Fox), Vic Smith and Soul Singer P.P. Arnold (October 2016 UK Esoteric Recordings Expanded Edition CD Reissue with Two Bonus Tracks from 1975 – Ben Wiseman Remaster) - A Review by Mark Barry...

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"...The Last Day..."

Lancashire's hard rocking Progressive Rock act GRAVY TRAIN managed four albums across two labels between 1970 and 1973. 

First out of the blocks came their self-titled debut "Gravy Train" on Vertigo 6360 023 in December 1970 (a listed £500 rarity), the follow-up "(A Ballad Of) A Peaceful Man" on Vertigo 6360 051 in November 1971 (now a £1000 listing) and their third outing in the shape of "Second Birth" from March 1973 on Dawn Records DNLS 3046 (newly signed to the label). 

This superb-sounding October 2016 British CD reissue deals with their fourth and final Prog Rock outing "Staircase To The Day" from July 1974 - their second and last album with England's Dawn Records. In fact excepting dodgy bootlegs and a rare deleted 2007 Repertoire issue in a card digipak (itself a limited edition of 3000) - this flying creature Roger Dean artwork album has long been unavailable on an official CD remaster - until now. 

Typically, Esoteric Recordings (part of Cherry Red in the UK) have done the audio business on this rarity – chunky booklet and quality audio. Here are the tales of quick ones in the evening of life...

UK released 28 October 2016 (November 2016 in the USA) - "Staircase To The Day" by GRAVY TRAIN on Esoteric Recordings ECLEC 2565 (Barcode 5013929466548) is an Expanded Edition CD Reissue and Remaster of their final 1974 studio album with Two 1975 Bonus Tracks. It plays out as follows (51:00 minutes):

1. Starbright Starlight [Side 1]
2. Bring My Life On Back To Me 
3. Never Wanted You
4. Staircase To The Day
5. Going For A Quick One [Side 2]
6. The Last Day
7. Evening Of My Life
8. Busted In Schenectady
Tracks 1 to 8 are their fourth and final studio album "Staircase To The Day" - released July 1974 in the UK on Dawn Records DNLH 1 (didn’t chart UK and was unissued in the USA). Produced by VIC SMITH - all songs written by Norman Barratt except "Going For A Quick One" by Candy Carr and Vic Smith and "Evening Of My Life" which is a co-write between Norman Barratt and John Hughes. 

BONUS TRACKS: 
9. Climb Aboard The Gravy Train (And Get On To A Good Thing)
10. Sanctuary 
Tracks 9 and 10 are the non-album A&B-sides of a 25 July 1975 UK 45-single on Dawn Records DNS 1115 (both sides written by Norman Barratt and Produced by Vic Smith). 

NOTE: "Good Time Thing" was a non-album B-side to the 8 February 1974 UK 45-single for "Starbright Starlight" on Dawn Records DNS 1058, that A-side being a track taken from the "Staircase To The Day" LP. That exclusive B-side is not on this CD, but is on the CD Reissue and Remaster for "Second Birth" as a Bonus Track – see Esoteric Recordings ECLEC 2562 (Barcode 5013929466241).

GRAVY TRAIN was: 
NORMAN BARRATT – Electric and Acoustic Lead Guitar and Vocals
(JOHN) J.D. HUGHES – Keyboards (Piano, Organ etc) and Flute
GEORGE LYNON – Electric and Acoustic Guitar 
LES WILLIAMS - Bass Guitar
RUSSELL CORDWELL - Drums and Percussion on all tracks except Jim Frank on three (see Guests below) 

Guests: 
BOBBY HARRISON (of Juicy Lucy and Snafu) – Backing Vocals on "Bring Back My Life To Me", "Going For A Quick One" and "Busted In Schenectady"
PETER SOLLEY (of Paladin, Procol Harum and Snafu) – Synthesiser on "Starbright Starlight" and "Going For A Quick One"
MARY ZINOVIEFF – Synthesiser of "Staircase To The Day" and Electric Violin on "Busted In Schenectady"
JIM FRANK (of Fox) – Drums on "Starbright Starlight" and "Going For A Quick One" and Harp on "Never Wanted You"
VIC SMITH – Cowbell on "Going For A Quick One"
FAY & DORIS of THE GOSPEL AYERS – Backing Vocals on "Starbright Starlight" and "Going For A Quick One"
P.P. ARNOLD (as Pat Arnold) – Backing Vocals on "Busted In Schenectady"

Compiled and co-ordinated by Mark and Vicky Powell - the very "Close To The Edge" shaped logo that gave the album its title but was almost unreadable – now clearly centres Page 2 of the wonderfully indepth 16-page booklet. Alongside those photos of the five lads (the ones used inside the original gatefold), that striking Roger Dean artwork is also featured throughout the booklet, on the picture disc and on the inlay beneath the see-through CD tray. Long-time writer for Esoteric and other reissue labels, MALCOLM DOME provides the new liner notes that also include lyrics and song-writing reminiscences from band members John Hughes and Bassist Les Williams plus older quotes from founder member and principal songwriter Norman Barratt. It’s an entertaining and affectionate read for what the band clearly felt was their best album, albeit one that like the single that followed in 1975, was all but ignored. But the big news is a BEN WISEMAN Remaster from original tapes that really rocks. To the music...

Sounding not unlike a less strangulated version of Uriah Heep - Barratt takes the lead for the well-recorded "Starlight Starbright" – a chugging rocker about ultraviolet ultra-cosmic death-defying rays of light (yeah baby). Things mellow into an almost Neil Young Harvest vibe with "Bring My Life Back To Me" where our hero wanders through streets of pain as an organ and piano hammer home the anguish (feel like I’m almost dead). The pumping Harmonica and guitar-driven "Never Wanted You" makes you feel like you’ve stumbled on Savoy Brown who have just discovered anger and Prog at the same time (nice turn on the chorus). Seven and half minutes of the album title track ends Side 1 on a high - "Staircase To The Day" containing Fruupp, Genesis and even Gentle Giant in all their melodic complexity – flutes soothing treated guitars. 

Central control has been attacked in the very Heavy Metal Kids of "Going For A Quick One" over on Side 2 - where Gravy Train suddenly sounds like a mash-up of Foghat and Nazareth at times. It’s a great groove and the Bass in it jumps out of the mix. And again not a million miles away from the guitar-Rock of say Michael Chapman - "The Last Day" returns to Prog as that flute joins the guitars and cleverly introduced acoustic strums. The short three-minutes of "Evening Of My Life" opens with mournful piano and echoed vocals that hurt – our man feeling old and down – not wanting to make a sound. The album ends on the eight-minute-plus of "Busted In Schenectady" – the long-haired boys of Gravy Train not really welcome – gotta move on lads as the slide guitars get mean. And again it feels almost Rush – Rock meets complexity and comes out on top (both Soul Singer P.P. Arnold and Bobby Harrison of Snafu provide backing vocals). The two single cuts are cool too. 

A huge step up from the rather ordinary "Second Birth" album in 1973 that preceded it, "Staircase To The Day" is a very good 1974 Rock meets Prog Elements album and Esoteric Recordings have done this unfairly forgotten beast proud. Nice one...

"Maid In Ireland: The Best Of Fruupp" by FRUUPP – Nine Tracks - Eight featured on Four Albums and One Stand-Alone UK 45-Single - All Originally on Dawn Records between 1973 and 1975 (August 2020 UK Esoteric Recordings CD Compilation – Card Digipak – Ben Wiseman Remasters) - A Review by Mark Barry...

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"...Heaven's Eyes..."

Northern Ireland's wonderfully titled FRUUPP (they took their name from a mistyped Letraset sheet) put out four albums between 1973 and 1975, all of them on England's Dawn Records - home of many such hairy-men Prog Rock acts hitting the UK in those creative years. 

Esoteric Recordings of the UK (part of Cherry Red) have been heavily involved in reissuing their entire catalogue (in conjunction with the band) - their brand of Celtic-influenced Storytelling Folk-Prog-Rock put out as four CD Remasters in February 2009 – two of them with Bonus Tracks. 

And last year in August 2019 - they lumped all four together in one neat and handy Clamshell Box Set called "Wise As Wisdom: The Dawn Albums 1973-1975" with Mini LP Repro Art Card Sleeves (see reviews for all five). 

"Maid In Ireland" is a 2020 CD Best Of culled from all four LPs with a rare stand-alone 45-single track throw in at the end. Here are the wise as wisdom details...

UK released 24 July 2020 - "Maid In Ireland: The Best Of" by FRUUPP on Esoteric Recordings ECLEC 2728 (Barcode 5013929472884) is a 9-Track CD compilation using the 2009 Remasters and plays out as follows (57:44 minutes):

1. Janet Planet 
2. Decision 
3. Three Spires 
4. Sheba's Song 
5. White Eyes 
6. Wise As Wisdom 
7. Knowing You 
8. Graveyard Epistle 
9. Prince Of Heaven 

Tracks 1 and 4 from their fourth and final UK album "Modern Masquerades", February 1975 in the UK on Dawn Records DNLS 3070 - produced by and featuring Ian McDonald ex Giles, Giles & Fripp and King Crimson 

Tracks 2 and 8 taken from their debut album "Future Legends", October 1973 on Dawn Records DNLS 3053

Tracks 3, 5 and 6 from their second UK studio album "Seven Secrets", April 1974 on Dawn Records DNLS 3058 

Track 7 from their third UK studio album "The Prince Of Heaven's Eyes", November 1974 on Dawn Records DNLH 2

Track 9 was a stand-alone non-album UK 45-single not on "The Prince Of Heaven's Eyes" LP, released October 1974 on Dawn DNS 1087, A-side

The gatefold card digipak houses a colourful 20-page booklet with new liner notes from one-time Manager and Collaborator with the Ulster band - PAUL CHARLES. There are photos of the four album sleeves with their love Peter Farrelly artwork, a few photos of the boys in questionable period clothing, witty remembrances of gigs, tours, song-writing and loyal supporters (they backed up some big names of the day, Supertramp, Man, ELO and the Peter Gabriel line-up of Genesis at their peak). 

The Remasters are the 2009 BEN WISEMAN transfers and are full of life, beans and details. LP highlights like "Knowing You" and deep album cuts like "Decision" and "Wise As Wisdom" are clever choices and I like the way it ends on that lovely single - a short but sweet moment to finish the compilation as its a song all four band-members had a hand in writing. 

FRUUPP have always been an acquired taste, sometimes brilliant, sometimes a bit fay and twee but always touching. It could have been longer for sure, but this is an unusual compilation and so nicely put together. Recommended...

"Wise As Wisdom: The Dawn Albums 1973-1975" by FRUUPP – Four Progressive Rock Albums All On Dawn Records UK - "Future Legends" (October 1973), "Seven Secrets" (April 1974), "The Prince Of Heaven's Eyes" (November 1974) and "Modern Masquerades" (February 1975) – featuring Vincent McCusker, Peter Farrelly, Stephen Houston, Martin Foye, John Mason and Ian McDonald (August 2019 UK Esoteric Recordings 4CD Clamshell Mini Box Set with Repro Mini LP Artwork, Three Bonus Tracks and A Foldout Picture and Credits Poster – Ben Wiseman Remaster) - A Review by Mark Barry...

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 "...Olde Tyme Future..." 

 In February 2009 (the 23rd to be exact) - Esoteric Recordings of the UK - the British reissue specialists in all things Progtastic and Avant Garde - did the audio and presentation business by Northern Ireland's FRUUPP by putting out all four of their rare and sought-after studio albums originally on the legendary Dawn Records.  

Each of those CDs came in stickered jewel cases, had 12 and 16-page booklets with affectionate, witty and highly informative liner notes from PAUL CHARLES who was their "Manager and general fixer" at the beginning - and is today a published author of the Christy Kennedy mystery books (Charles in fact wrote the original liner notes for the LP). I've owned and reviewed all four and their booklets were a delight, filled with the beautiful hand-drawn artwork of Peter Farrelly, concert fliers, press clippings and tour schedule adverts with the likes of Supertramp, Queen, ELO, Man, Focus, Hawkwind and the Peter Gabriel line-up of Genesis. 

More importantly, they had new BEN WISEMAN Remasters from original tapes and two of the discs had Bonus Tracks – period rarities. Not surprisingly, in 2019 and beyond into 2020, those original four 2009 titles have been deleted some years now (see list below for full details if you still wish to acquire them), and one or two of them have gathered rather nasty secondhand prices along the way (up to a hundred squid on one). 

This 4CD Clamshell Box Set of late August 2019 is by way of a cheaper mop-up exercise – featuring four of those sexy Mini LP Repro Art Sleeves (a gatefold for the debut which will please many artwork aficionados) but with the chunky booklets having been replaced by a foldout pictures and credits poster. There is a lot to discuss, so let's have at those Folk Prog rhythms... 

UK released Friday, 30 August 2019 - "Wise As Wisdom: The Dawn Albums 1973-1975" by FRUUPP on Esoteric Recordings ECLEC 42686 (Barcode 5013929478602) is a 4CD Clamshell Box Set with 2009 Remasters in Mini LP Card Repro Sleeves that plays out as follows: 

CD1 "Future Legends" (47:25 minutes): 

1. Future Legends [Side 1] 

2. Decision 

3. As Day Breaks With Dawn 

4. Graveyard Epistle 

5. Lord Of The Incubus [Side 2] 

6. Olde Tyme Future 

7. Song For A Thought 

8. Future Legends Tracks 1 to 8 are their debut album "Future Legends" – released October 1973 in the UK on Dawn Records DNLS 3053 

BONUS TRACK: 

9. On A Clear Day (Withdrawn Track only featured on the first 100 copies of the LP) [Note: originally intended to be on the album as last track on Side 1 - the song uses a part of Holtz’s “The Planet Suite” which was not cleared in time for Copyright purposes (a relative of Holtz objected) and so had to be withdrawn at the very last minute and replaced with "Graveyard Epistle"] 

CD2 "Seven Secrets" (45:45 minutes): 

1. Faced With Shekinah [Side 1] 

2. Wise As Wisdom 

3. White Eyes 

4. Garden Lady [Side 2] 

5. Three Spires 

6. Elizabeth 

7. The Seventh Secret 

Tracks 1 to 7 are their second studio album "Seven Secrets" – released April 1974 in the UK on Dawn Records DNLS 3058 (no US issue). 

CD3 "The Prince Of Heaven's Eyes" (48:40 minutes): 

1. It's All Up Now [Side 1] 

2. Prince Of Darkness 

3. Jaunting Car 

4. Annie Austere 

5. Knowing You [Side 2] 

6. Crystal Brook 

7. Seaward Sunset 

8. The Perfect Wish 

Tracks 1 to 8 are their 3rd studio album "The Prince Of Heaven's Eyes" – released November 1974 in the UK on Dawn Records DNLH 2. 

BONUS TRACKS: 

9. Prince Of Heaven (3:32 minutes) 

10. Jaunting Car (Single Version) (2:26 minutes) 

Tracks 9 and 10 are an October 1974 UK 45-single on Dawn Records DNS 1087. The demo for "Prince Of Heaven" lists 4 October 1974 as its release date - although trade adverts talk of 11 October 1974. 

NOTE: Prior to the album's release – Dawn Records was supposed to have issued "The Prince Of Darkness" b/w "Annie Austere" as their first ever UK 45 – but I've never seen a copy of it and even if it is listed in discographies - I've never been able to find a catalogue number either. 

CD4 "Modern Masquerades" (48:59 minutes): 

1. Misty Mountain Way [Side 1] 

2. Masquerading With Dawn 

3. Gormenghast 

4. Mystery Might [Side 2] 

5. Why 

6. Janet Planet 

7. Sheba's Song 

Tracks 1 to 7 are their 4th studio album "Modern Masquerades" – released February 1975 in the UK on Dawn Records DNLS 3070. 

For Albums One to Three FRUUPP were: 

VINCENT McCUSKER – Guitars and Vocals 

PETER FARRELLY – Bass and Lead Vocals 

STEPHEN HOUSTON – Keyboards, Oboe and Vocals 

MARTIN FOYE – Drums and Percussion 

For Album Four Stephen Houston had left and FRUUPP were: 

VINCENT McCUSKER – Lead Guitars and Vocals 

PETER FARRELLY – Bass and Lead Vocals 

JOHN MASON – Keyboards, Vibraphone and Vocals 

IAN McDONALD – Alto Saxophone and Percussion 

MARTIN FOYE – Drums and Percussion 

The glossy clamshell box set is both pretty and sturdy, but fans will love the Mini LP Repro Card Sleeves which reproduce front and rear artwork – the popular debut "The Prince Of Heaven's Eyes" featuring a gatefold with all that fab Peter Farrelly hand-drawn penmanship that like Greenslade, was such an integral part of the band's image. The six-leaf foldout poster features three line-up photos on one side with the LP pictured on the rear, tracks lists, credits, reissue details (including the three bonuses). The detailed booklets of 2009 are missing here which is a damn shame, but the poster and a retail price of under £22 for all four albums is a good trade off. And best of all, they are the superb 2009 BEN WISEMAN Remasters done at Audio Archiving from original tapes. 

Hailing out of Northern and Southern Ireland’s notorious show-band circuit – Guitarist and Vocalist Vince McCusker of Co. Derry dreamed of bigger and better arrangements. So he turned his back on cover versions of insipid chart hits and formed his very own Progressive Rock unit delightfully called FRUUPP - taken from a Letraset Sheet that didn’t have the letters FRUP used (he added the extra U and P). To the music... 

CD1: the "Future Legends" 1973 debut opens with a gorgeous and beautifully produced string-piece that lasts 1:32 minutes. It then goes into the wild and eclectic guitars of one of their best tunes – the six and half-minute "Decisions". Featuring sophisticated vocal work ala Thijs Van Leer’s Focus and a blistering McCusker guitar solo similar in places to Steve Howe on "Relayer" (the band reckon they got signed on the strength of this one piece alone) – it is a string start. The timing-changes onslaught continues with "As Day Breaks With Dawn" – a flirty piece dominated by cymbals and piano at first only to break into a vocal/guitar romp – and then back again to ethereal and mellow (the playing and cleverness of it is impressive). 

Side One ends with the frantic/slow/frantic "Graveyard Epistle" which sounds like Procol Harum on a couple tabs of acid – a very sophisticated piece actually. We go a bit too Focus and "Trespass" on "Lord Of The Incubus" where Farrelly's vocals aren't quite Peter Gabriel even if the tune is good musically (especially the clever string arrangements). Better is the truly excellent Prog of "Olde Tyme Future" where guitar and organ blend to make a melody that would make Genesis proud. And on it goes to another all instrumental string passage of "Future Legends" that ends the album with its under-a-minute duration. And at last fans get to hear the withdrawn track "On A Clear Day" which runs to a crowd-pleasing 7:46 minutes – similar in fact to "Olde Tyme Future" in its composition (great double lead-guitar work half way in).  

CD2: While common consensus (even amongst die-hard fans) declares that the second FRUUPP studio platter "Seven Secrets" from April 1974 wasn't quite as good as its illustrious debut predecessor – time has told us that with six reasonably good Folk/Progtastic tracks and one ditty over at the end of Side 2 to make up the 'seven' mystical numbers in the title – door number two still holds up. 

There is an almost 10cc or even Be Bop Deluxe feel to the clever opener "Faced With Shekinah" whilst the seven-parter "Garden Lady" has impressive guitar antics as it opens Side 2. McCusker & Paul Charles also provided "Three Spires" – a returning rambler's romantic reappraisal of a hometown (Magherafelt in Northern Ireland) where I keep seeing that picture of the boys looking like an Elizabethan quartet ready for the ball as the instruments dilly and dally. You can even at times hear the influence of Man (from Wales) in "Elizabeth" whilst the short final cut "The Seventh Secret" probably seemed like a good idea at the time but now feels silly and wildly out-of-place. Overall – a good album then – and certainly accomplished. 

CD3: "The Prince Of Heaven's Eyes" opens with "It's All Up Now" - a complicated 7:23 minutes of beautifully produced Prog Rock which settles into a moving piano lead in and vocals – it’s very YES circa "Fragile" or Genesis on "Foxtrot". "Prince Of Darkness" has McCusker sounding like a strangulated Peter Gabriel circa "Lamb Lies Down On Broadway" where he's "...dancing with witches and fairies..." The album cut of "Jaunting Car" runs to 2:24 minutes – the 7" single version is 2:26 minutes (different mixes). The jaunty instrumental simulates Toad of Toad Hall in his motorcar out of a sunny day having a blast. Side 1 ends with "Annie Austere" – 5:17 minutes of guitar and piano that impress – but the poor-man's Focus vocals kind of ruin it. 

Side 2 opens with the album's most ambitious piece – the 10:47 minutes of "Knowing You" – all Spanish Acoustic Guitars and fey vocals from McCusker (who wrote the song). A ways in and it changes pace – ups the Prog breaks and feels like a lengthy Chris Squire solo passage. Once again that ethereal piano-playing of Houston gives "Crystal Brook" a truly gorgeous feel as he hits those high notes – clearly moved by nature and waves lapping up against rocks. "Seaward Sunset" is another Houston composition – 5:25 minutes of piano-led Prog with the most amazing playing – feeling like a great Moody Blues instrumental passage that you'd forgotten about. It ends on "The Perfect Wish" – very Greenslade. The stand-alone 7" single "Prince Of Heaven" feels like a "Lamb Lies Down On Broadway" outtake with lyrics about "...a thousand secrets..." 

CD4: With Stephen Houston having exited the band (he features on the first three albums) – his replacement John Mason (rather like Patrick Moraz in Yes) made himself known to the music of "Modern Masquerades" pretty quickly. Also along for the ride was ex Giles, Giles & Fripp and King Crimson leading light – Ian McDonald. FRUUPP's final studio platter opens with "Misty Mountain Way" - 6:57 minutes of beautifully produced Prog Rock by Vincent McCusker which shows Mason's incredible playing chops and then progresses into his equally accomplished 7:16 minutes of "Masquerading With Dawn". Like so much of their stuff – the long FRUUPP songs come at you like YES circa 1971's "Fragile" or GENESIS around 1972's "Foxtrot" (the musicianship is fantastic). 

Side 1 ends on the monumental "Gormenghast" written by John Mason. At just shy of eleven minutes – its a mishmash of wild keyboards flourishes and choppy breaks - very impressive stuff and a real grower. Yet again Vince McCusker provided the next two – "Mystery Night" and "Why" - while he co-wrote the final selections of "Janet Planet" and "Sheba's Song" with Paul Charles. I'm also reminded of "Focus III" with those strangulated vocals and shifting rhythms – but in a good way. 

So there you have it – Hairy Ulstermen and Celtic Legends ahoy – FRUUPP were (and still are) an acquired taste for sure. But if you were a fan – this fab-sounding natty little box set reissue will remind you and your receding hairline why you loved em in the first place. Very nicely done... 

If you want the booklets exclusive to the four FRUUPP albums 

CD Reissued 23 February 2009 by Esoteric Recordings 

Here are the Barcodes to locate them on sale sites including Amazon: 

"Future Legends" – Esoteric Recordings ECLEC 2104 (Barcode 5013929720428) – One Bonus Track (47:25 minutes) – Debut Album released October 1973 in the UK on Dawn Records DNLS 3053 

"Seven Secrets" – Esoteric Recordings ECLEC 2012 (Barcode 501392972022) – No Bonus Tracks (45:45 minutes) – Second Studio Album released April 1974 in the UK on Dawn Records DNLS 3058 

"The Prince Of Heaven's Eyes" - Esoteric Recordings ECLEC 2103 (Barcode 5013929720329) – Two Bonus Single Sides (48:40 minutes) – Third Studio Album released in the UK November 1974 on Dawn Records DNLH 2 

"Modern Masquerades" - Esoteric Recordings ECLEC 2105 (Barcode 5013929720527) – No Bonus Tracks (48:59 minutes) – Fourth Studio Album released February 1975 in the UK on Dawn Records DNLS 3070

"Seven Secrets" by FRUUPP – Second UK Studio Album from April 1974 on Dawn Records (February 2009 UK Esoteric Recordings CD Reissue – Ben Wiseman Remaster) - A Review by Mark Barry...

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"...Wise As Wisdom..."

While common consensus (even amongst die-hard fans) declares that the second FRUUPP studio platter "Seven Secrets" from April 1974 wasn't quite as good as its illustrious debut predecessor "Future Legends" from October 1973 – time has told us that with six reasonably good Folk/Progtastic tracks and one ditty over at the end of Side 2 to make up the 'seven' mystical numbers in the title – door number two still holds up. 

Organised and Co-ordinated by MARK POWELL - the double centre-page spread of the 16-page booklet reproduces the album's lovely green insert - the four boys pictured beneath all those dense lyrics about Neptune sleeping as chickens wept (they do that a lot around his mitre) while Kelpie hold court and Elizabeth placidly captures your mind (saucy cow). There are other period shots of reviews, trade adverts advising that the album arrives 19 April 1974, gig posters (one of which is with Genesis in early May for the princely sum of 60p) and even an advert for the defunct format of four-track cartridges for both their debut and the newest instalment. 

PAUL CHARLES did the liner notes in January 2009 (the CD along with the other three arrived end of February 2009) and with new interviews and deep level knowledge – provides us with a very comprehensive look inside one of the Emerald Isle's more unusual bands. Charles was their 'Manager and general fixer' at the beginning and is today a published author of the Christy Kennedy mystery books (Charles in fact wrote the original liner notes for the debut LP "Future Legends"). There is also a nod towards the Stephen Houston Fruupp website. Speaking of band history...

Hailing out of Northern and Southern Ireland's notorious show-band circuit – Guitarist and Vocalist Vince McCusker of Co. Derry dreamed of bigger and better arrangements. So he turned his back on cover versions of insipid chart hits and formed his very own Progressive Rock unit delightfully called FRUUPP - taken from a Letraset Sheet that didn't have the letters FRUP used (he added the extra U and P). Don't ask me why, but I kinda like FRUUPP as a band name and always have. 

"Seven Secrets" has been hard to find on original Dawn Records British vinyl for years; the second of four albums FRUUPP made for England's Dawn Records (see list below). All their albums are held in Proggy affection by those who bought the platters at the time or witnessed FRUUPP as a band in their impressive live form (they backed up huge Progressive acts like Supertramp, Queen, ELO, Man, Focus, Hawkwind and the Peter Gabriel line-up of Genesis as well as headlining gigs themselves). To the details...

UK issued Friday, 23 February 2009 - "Seven Secrets" by FRUUPP on Esoteric Recordings ECLEC 2102 (Barcode 5013929720220) is a straightforward CD Reissue and Remaster of their second LP from 1974 that plays out as follows (45:45 minutes):

1. Faced With Shekinah [Side 1]
2. Wise As Wisdom
3. White Eyes
4. Garden Lady [Side 2]
5. Three Spires
6. Elizabeth
7. The Seventh Secret
Tracks 1 to 7 are their second studio album "Seven Secrets" – released April 1974 in the UK on Dawn Records DNLS 3058 (no US issue). 

FRUUPP were:
VINCENT McCUSKER – Guitars and Vocals
PETER FARRELLY – Bass and Lead Vocals
STEPHEN HOUSTON – Keyboards, Oboe and Vocals
MARTIN FOYE – Drums and Percussion

The big news here is a BEN WISEMAN remaster from original master tapes that brings out the dense playing and upgrades the David Lewis Production which many have long felt was not up to the par of the debut.

There is an almost 10cc or even Be Bop Deluxe feel to the clever opener "Faced With Shekinah" whilst the seven-parter "Garden Lady" has impressive guitar antics as it opens Side 2. McCusker & Paul Charles also provided "Three Spires" – a returning rambler's romantic reappraisal of a hometown (Magherafelt in Northern Ireland) where I keep seeing that picture of the boys looking like an Elizabethan quartet ready for the ball as the instruments dilly and dally. You can even at times hear the influence of Man (from Wales) in "Elizabeth" whilst the short final cut "The Seventh Secret" probably seemed like a good idea at the time but now feels silly and wildly out-of-place. Overall – a good album then – and certainly accomplished. 

Hairy Ulstermen and Celtic Legends ahoy – FRUUPP were/are an acquired taste for sure. But if you were a fan – this fab-sounding CD remaster will remind you and your receding hairline why you loved 'em in the first place. If this isn't available at a reasonable sum, see the "Wise As Wisdom: The Dawn Albums 1973-1975" 4CD Box Set mentioned in the final entry below...

The four albums in the 23 February 2009 BEN WISEMAN Digital Remaster 

CD Reissue Series for FRUUPP by Esoteric Recordings are: 

"Future Legends" – Esoteric Recordings ECLEC 2104 (Barcode 5013929720428) – One Bonus Track (47:25 minutes) – Debut Album released October 1973 in the UK on Dawn Records DNLS 3053

"Seven Secrets" – Esoteric Recordings ECLEC 2012 (Barcode 501392972022) – No Bonus Tracks (45:45 minutes) – Second Studio Album released April 1974 in the UK on Dawn Records DNLS 3058 

"The Prince Of Heaven's Eyes" - Esoteric Recordings ECLEC 2103 (Barcode 5013929720329) – Two Bonus Single Sides (48:40 minutes) – Third Studio Album released in the UK November 1974 on Dawn Records DNLH 2

"Modern Masquerades" - Esoteric Recordings ECLEC 2105 (Barcode 5013929720527) – No Bonus Tracks (48:59 minutes) – Fourth Studio Album released February 1975 in the UK on Dawn Records DNLS 3070 (Produced by Ian McDonald of Giles, Giles & Fripp and King Crimson 

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30 August 2019 also saw the UK release of "Wise As Wisdom: The Dawn Albums 1973-1975" on Esoteric Recordings ECLEC 42686 (Barcode 5013929478602) - pictured above. This 4CD Mini Clamshell Box Set gathers up the four 2009 Remastered albums (including the Bonus Track on "Future Legends" and the two on "The Prince Of Heaven's Eyes") and puts them in four card repro sleeves (for the first time in the UK) inside the glossy box - "Future Legends" being the only gatefold as per the original 1973 vinyl artwork. 

There is a foldout six-leaf insert with the group's three different line-ups pictured on one side and the album/cd reissue credits pictured and featured on the other side. There are no liner notes or memorabilia pictured as there are in the individual CD reissues from 2009 and there is nothing new on this release with regard to unreleased material. But the audio is the Ben Wiseman Remasters of 2009 and with all four individual CD reissues deleted and having become expensive in some cases since – this August 2019 4CD Box Set is a reasonably priced way to get their catalogue in good presentation and quality audio transfers.

"Before The Flood: Recorded Live In Concert" by BOB DYLAN and THE BAND – June 1974 2LP Live Set on Asylum Records (USA) and Island Records (UK) featuring Bob Dylan with Robbie Robertson, Levon Helm, Garth Hudson, Rick Danko and Richard Manuel of The Band (June 2009 UK Sony/Columbia Reissue – 2LP Set onto 2CDs – Greg Calbi Remasters) - A Review by Mark Barry...

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1974

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"...You Go Your Way (And I'll Go Mine)..."

I remember my slightly (if I'm truthful) horrified response to the opening tracks of the 1974 double live-album "Before The Flood". Back with his spiritual brothers from another mother THE BAND - Dylan seemed to not give a rat's ass for nuance as he mostly shouted his way through songs that were once delicate but here felt like sledgehammers. At the time, I detested it at first; while others thought the revamps of old 60ts crusties refreshing if not a tad ragged. 

But the trump card was of course The Band. You'd get Robbie Robertson's guitar playing clearly on fire as he rips through "Rainy Day Women ♯ 12 & 35" - Levon Helm also ramping things up with his great keyboard contributions. As The Band takes over vocals for "Up On Cripple Creek", a Rock-Soulful "I Shall Be Released" and the crazy August heat of "Endless Highway" - magic undoubtedly happens. 

"Before The Flood" is like that – an awkward listen - I like half of it - hate the other half. It's a live set you sort of need to come at sideways - take it as it comes. 
So here are the badges that should be taken off and the nights getting too dark to see...

UK and Europe released 16 June 2009 - "Before The Flood: Recorded Live In Concert" by BOB DYLAN and THE BAND on Columbia/Sony Music 88697347022 (Barcode 886973470220) is a Standard Edition in a 2CD Jewel Case. 

NOTE: It had been reissued 30 March 2009 in the UK and Europe on Columbia/Sony Music 88697082242 (Barcode 886970822428) as a Limited Edition Collector's Digipak with the same Greg Calbi Remasters (not an SACD issue). 

CD1 (45:43 minutes): 
1. Most Likely You Go Your Way (And I'll Go Mine) [Side 1]
2. Lay Lady Lay 
3. Rainy Day Women ♯ 12 & 35
4. Knockin' On Heaven's Door 
5. It Ain't Me, Babe 
6. Ballad Of A Thin Man 
7. Up On Cripple Creek [Side 2]
8. I Shall Be Released 
9. Endless Highway 
10. The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down 
11. Stage Fright 

CD2 (46:47 minutes):
1. Don't Think Twice, It's All Right [Side 3]
2. Just Like A Woman 
3. It's Alright, Ma (I'm Only Bleeding)
4. The Shape I'm In 
5. When You Awake 
6. The Weight 
7. All Along The Watchtower [Side 4]
8. Highway 61 Revisited 
9. Like A Rolling Stone 
10. Blowin' In The Wind 
CD1 and 2 make up the double live album "Before The Flood: Recorded Live in Concert" - released 20 June 1974 in the USA on Asylum AB 201 and June 1974 in the UK on Island IDBD 1 (it peaked at No. 3 in the USA and No. 8 in the UK). The booklet lists the US catalogue number as C2 37661, but that issue was the 1983 variant when the 2LP set first appeared on Columbia Records as a Reissue. 

BOB DYLAN – Lead Vocals, Guitar, Harmonica and Piano 

THE BAND:
ROBBIE ROBERTSON – Lead Vocals and Lead Guitar 
GARTH HUDSON – Keyboards – Organ, Piano and Clavinette 
RICHARD MANUEL – Keyboards – Piano, Electric Piano, Organ, Drums and Vocals 
RICK DANKO – Bass and Vocals
LEVON HELM – Drums and Vocals  

The big news here is a GREG CALBI Remaster that elevates things so much. For instance after the three incendiary acoustic numbers on Side 3 and the Band kicks in for a great version of "The Shape I'm In" – you can literally feel the oomph in the improvement. Calbi has done much-praised Remasters of key albums by Paul McCartney, Paul Simon and Bob Dylan. You have to suspend audiophile expectations here, but this is a definite improvement over my original vinyl and that 1996 double-disc set I once had. 

The 8-page booklet (like so many of these Sony/Columbia releases) is nice but a purely functional affair nonetheless with Musician/Gig credits and some colour photos from the original double-album artwork. But there are no new liner notes or any history. It doesn’t even for instance tell you that Side 2 of the LP was entirely the Band or that Dylan opens Side 3 with Acoustic/Harmonica versions of "Don't Think Twice, It's All Right" and "Just Like A Woman" – both of which are filled with passion and crowd pleasure. He follows that with a fantastic all-lyrics-blazing version of "It's Alright, Ma (I'm Only Bleeding)" – the acoustic guitar speeding as he spouts out more words in one song than some singers do in an entire album. And when he sings that sometimes "...even a President has to stand naked..." - the crowd thinks of dodgy Richard Nixon and erupts. 

After excellent Band versions of "When You Awake" and put the load right on me of "The Weight" – Bob re-joins his boys again for a rapido geetar version of "All Along The Watchtower". Robertson and Hudson pump up the feel with great contributions and then get all Country Slide Rock for "Highway 61 Revisited" – a very cool live version of a smart Bob Dylan song. It rolls to a finish with seven minutes of "Like A Rolling Stone" – again Bob straining and perhaps shouting too much. But a magisterial "Blowin' In The Wind" comes on like a mountain of huge import – The Band being the perfect foil for his epic scene setting. 

I have enjoyed re-hearing "Before The Flood..." – but in February of 1975 Bob Dylan would return with "Blood On The Tracks" and I was to be properly blown away rather than being just impressed. 

Still if you want to put that candle aloft again like so many did on the cover art to this largely forgotten live double-album, then this 2009 Greg Calbi 2CD Remaster is the place to strike your first match...

"Hergest Ridge" by MIKE OLDFIELD – August 1974 UK Second Album on Virgin Records featuring Guests Sally Oldfield of The Sallyangie and Clodagh Simmonds of Mellow Candle, William Murray of Kevin Ayers Band, Tom Hobart, William Murray of The Kevin Ayers Band and The London Sinfonietta Choir Arranged by David Bedford (June 2010 UK Mercury/Universal Single CD 2010 Expanded Edition Remaster – Mike Oldfield and Paschal Byrne Remixes and Remasters) - A Review by Mark Barry...

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"...Wordlessly Beautiful..."

When Mike Oldfield issued solo platter No. 2 to a public hungry for more sidelong Progtastic Folk Rock - Virgin V 2013 took until the chart of 14 September 1974 to hit the number one spot (it was released in Blighty on 28 August 1974). 

"Hergest Ridge" (named after a real place near the town of Kington in Wales) stayed atop for three weeks only to be replaced (yet again) by his first album "Tubular Bells" from 1973 - interest in the first reignited by the Celtic musical beauty conjured up in the second. 

For Oldfield aficionados "Hergest Ridge" is "The Empire Strikes Back" in his voluminous catalogue. Not quite the groundbreaking "Star Wars: A New Hope" meisterwerk of the original 1973 template "Tubular Bells" - and considered by critics and large wads of the public to be a wee bit of a disappointment on release - it has nonetheless been beloved by real fans ever since. In fact (like others of the same persuasion) - I'd rather listen to the 1974 Celtic-influenced Folk Rock beauty that is inherently in Side One of "Hergest Ridge" than return to Side 2 of "Tubular Bells". 

Can't say I'm digging the non-Bootleg artwork either that has been replaced by some glider thingy (Bootleg was the Irish Wolfhound who lived at the Manor Studio and graced the original 1974 artwork front and rear - its given a full page in the booklet). But the 2010 Mike Oldfield Remix and the following Paschal Byrne Remaster have lifted up the Acoustics in this to a point where it suddenly feels so damn fresh. To Grid Reference SO296565 (starting point in the Kington Car Park)...

UK released 7 June 2010 - "Hergest Ridge" by MIKE OLDFIELD on Mercury/Universal UMC 532 675-5 (Barcode 600753267554) is a 2010 Single CD Expanded Edition Remaster that plays out as follows (44:10 minutes):

1. Hergest Ridge (Part One) 19:21 minutes 

2. Hergest Ridge (Part Two) 18:46 minutes 

2010 Stereo Remix by Mike Oldfield 

BONUS TRACKS: 

3. In Dulci Jubilo (For Maureen) 2:45 minutes 

Non-Album B-side of "Don Alfonso" - a February 1975 UK 45-single on Virgin VS 117 - a cover/rearrangement of a Bach melody

4. Spanish Tune (3:11 minutes) – 1A withdrawn 1974 UK Promotional-only One-Sided 45-single on Virgin VS 112 – Previously Unreleased on CD – it is a remixed edit of the final section of "Hergest Ridge (Part Two)". 

The 16-page booklet (with new interviews from MO, trade adverts, original LP artwork etc) provides a deep insight into the personal and musical turmoil that seemed to surround the album at every turn – Oldfield under not entirely unreasonable pressure from Richard Branson at Virgin to provide Opus Two – and right quick my son. Oldfield admits that he had been running on musical empty since the years he had spent putting T Bells together - and got away to the country to seek inspiration. He bought a house called The Beacon on the edge of Bradnor Hill by the Welsh border near the town of Kington that needed renovation. 

After teaming up with a local multi-instrumentalist called Leslie Penning – they hit the local restaurant and played multi-instrument gigs – Hurdy Gurdy, Recorders and The Crumhorn – for free wine. This got the spirit up, the Mediaeval tunes out and the creative juices flowing. And a local guidebook suggested rambling up the ancient path to a beauty spot called "Hergest Ridge"...

With Tom Newman engineering - again we get extensive overdubbing of a huge range of instruments for both Part One and Part Two passages. Mike Oldfield wielded armies of Acoustic and Electric Guitars, Mandolin, Organ, Glockenspiel, Timpani, Tubular Bells, Gongs and even Sleigh Bells (ring-ding-a-dinging). Ted Hobart played Trumpet, his brother Terry and sister Sally provided Flute and Backing vocals respectively (Sally Oldfield used to be in The Sallyangie with Mike). Backing Singers came from two other sources – the David Bedford arranged Choir of The London Sinfonietta and the well revered Clodagh Simmonds of cult Folk-Rock group Mellow Candle. William Murray of the Kevin Ayers Band provided Percussion too. 

The new Stereo Mix for 2010 makes a real point of bringing out the acoustic guitar whilst that penny whistle theme that opens Part One is simply gorgeous. Even as it gets overly crowded on Side One – the Remaster lets out those Trumpet fills – those cymbals crashing as they introduce another coda – and I’d love to know just what the hell it is that the ladies are singing on Side 2. Both bonuses are interesting shall we say, but the real bully beef lies with the density and at times pastoral beauty of both principal parts. 

Second best – maybe. But I find I come back for second helpings – and this major audio overhaul has only made that repeat decision all the more likely. 

In one of the full-page period adverts Virgin ran in the trades – it states the music is "...Wordlessly Beautiful..." I agree. Soar over the magical landscape of this CD Reissue and soak up its deeply lovely greenery. Way to go minimalist M.O....