Dear Mr. Time - Grandfather vinyl lp (due to size and weight, this price for the USA only. Outside of the USA, the price will be adjusted as needed)
SKU
21-MFM 011
First time ever legitimate lp reissue for this very obscure, very rare, 1970 UK proto-progressive album concept album about the life of a man born at the beginning of the 20th century until the time of his death. This was released in a tiny edition on the tiny Square Records label The sound channels The Moody Blues combined with In the Court of the Crimson King-era King Crimson and absolutely has a huge amount of period charm. This was their only album and is comparable to other short-lived bands of the same era, such as Cressida, Czar and Spring.
"Grandfather's sole effort - "Mr.Time", recorded and released on Square label in 1970, remains until now one of the most accomplished (and neglected) masterpieces of early British psych/prog.
This is concept album (mini rock-suite, if you wish) based on philosophical, almost Biblical, attempt to describe the life of a man from his birth to the death. Often compared to uninspiring although ambitious effort by Pretty Things (S.F. Sorrow) it's far superior in all aspects. I would suggest that Grandfather stands closer to Procol Harum, Moody Blues, and, aesthetically, next to lesser known Grannie, although Grandfather is more mellow. In a way, it paved the road for another lesser miracle of British prog - The Alchemist.
The album consists of 11 parts - superb psych/prog, with excellent acoustic elements, great strings and flute, competent and pleasant vocal harmonies. Almost all compositions were written by Chris Baker (except "Make Your Piece" by Barry Everitt and "Prelude" - credited to the whole band). "A Prayer For Her" could easily have commercial success even now (I cannot understand why it didn't happen?), "Your's Claudia" has interesting sound effects, while "Years & Fortunes" and "Grandfather" have strong flavour of medieval pieces, and "Out Of Time", "Your Country Needs You?" are rather hard-edge about them.
Little is known about the band, which didn't even make it into The Tapestry of Delights, but they were: Barry Everitt - lead vocals + organ, piano, harpsichord; Chris Baker - lead guitar, backing vocals; Jim Sturgeon - sax, flute, acoustic guitar; John Clements - drums; David Sewell - bass."-Alexey Golovanov
- LabelMayfair
- UPC760137643814