Indian Summer - Indian Summer (mini-lp sleeve / SHM-CD)
SKU
Belle 172836
Indian Summer released one, quite collectable on RCA's progressive subsidiary, Neon, in 1971. It is typical of 1971 English proto-prog, featuring lots of Hammond and a somewhat bluesy rock singer. It's in the same general vein as Spring and Cressida and also, to my ears most strongly, although they never heard each other, the 1971 version of Kansas who had their demos released by us as "Proto-Kaw"! They were very good and very under known.
35 years later, Record Collector Magazine assembled this collection of demos and outtakes and this is the first CD issue. The over-all sound is bootleggy, but more than reasonable considering the rarity and age and if you are a fan of heavy, 1971 UK proto-progressive, it's more than listenable and it's very good music.
"Back in 1971, this Coventry based group were one of the first to sign to Olav Wyper’s new RCA Neon label who issued their eponymous LP. Sadly the record sold poorly and within a year the band were no more. The album has, over time, become collectable as it is a fine example of a fusion of progressive rock and jazz overlaid with the Arthur Brown like delivery of vocalist Bob Jackson.
Record Collector have licensed unheard demos and live material from this period directly from the former members of the band. So we have their first foray into the studio paid for by the band themselves where they laid down four tracks. These included The Fox and Firewater that were not recorded for the LP but are simply amazing lost gems. In addition to this we also have Walking On Water that was recorded as a single but never issued. There are also two tracks where Bob Jackson and drummer Paul Hooper backed friend Ron Abelwhite on two tracks that he recorded himself.
Better still is the live material. When original bass player Malcolm Harker was preparing to leave the group in 1971 his replacement Wez Price came along and taped a gig at the Mercer’s Arms so that he could learn the bass parts. As a result, we have a full set of the group playing live in 1971. Although the first two tracks suffer from some sonic problems as Wez got the levels right this is a fantastic and allows listeners to hear the band serve up powerful versions of tracks like Black Sunshine, Secrets Reflected and Glimpse."
- LabelBelle Antique
- UPC4527516603540