Someone in high places must have expected great things from the enigmatic Colin, since Rod (or ‘Fingers on beautiful strings’ as
he appears on the credits) and Alan Hull (otherwise ‘All-in “Hinney” Hull’)
are just two of a galaxy of incipient superstars drafted in for this eponymous album. Memorable chiefly for the
illustrious guest list, other instrumental contributors were Robert Fripp,
Brinsley Schwartz, Davey Johnstone and
Rick Wakeman. Rod was one of two credited bass players (the other was
Nic Potter) but there is no indication given of who did exactly what. Alan put in a rare
guest appearance as one of what is on paper at least a heavenly choir of backing vocalists, the others being
Peter Hammill, Steve Gould,
Peter Gabriel, Phil Collins,
Anne Steuart, Jane Relf,
Jon Anderson and Linda Hoyle. However, it
is difficult to pin-point any particular individual contribution.
Originally released as United Artists UAG 19154 in 1971, the album was produced
by John Anthony and engineered by Robin Cable.
In 2006, it re-emerged in CD format, digitally re-mastered from the original master tapes and released as
Eclectic Discs ECLCD 1036. Four additional CD tracks were also recorded at
Trident Studios between January and March 1971 but only one of these, Track 12,
is a bona fide bonus track, the other three being alternative takes of songs already included on the album.
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