Soft soundin' music (Harpers Bizarre) (LP 3404 - 3407)

Fanny  Live on Beat-club '71-'72 (Vinyl, Real Gone Music, 2024) ****  

Focus  Ship of Memories (Vinyl, Sire Records, 1977) **** 

Harpers Bizarre 4 (Vinyl, Warner Bros Records, 1969) ****  

Jade Warrior  Kites (Vinyl, Island Records, 1976) ***  

Genre: Rock, prog rock, pop.

Places I remember: The next installment of albums I bought recently in California/Colorado - Amoeba Music (Hollywood Blvd), Wax Trax Records (Denver)

Fab, and all the other pimply hyperboles: Hey Bulldog (Fanny)

Gear costume: Soft Soundin' Music (Harpers Bizarre)

They loom large in his legend (The Album Collection playlists): Part 1; Part 2; Part 3; Part 4; Part 5

Active compensatory factors: I stupidly sold my collection of Fanny's albums years ago and have been slowly buying it back ever since. I still have a few to go, and although I found one in Amoeba Music it was really expensive so I opted for Live on Beat-club '71-'72 instead.

It's a great set. The liner notes by the band indicate that they had been road tested before these live in the studio tracks were recorded (no audience so the sound is perfect). With gusto is probably the best adjective I'd use, as the band tears into these songs with full confidence.

The Focus album is a kind of lost album. The tracks were compiled by their producer Mike Vernon. He selected previously unreleased material and compiled without any active involvement by any band member. The recordings date from January 1970 to mid-1975, and largely during unproductive recording sessions in 1973 for a follow-up studio album to Focus 3 (1972).

It sounds pretty damn fine to me. Classic Focus - adventurous, playful, and succinct (as far as prog wig-outs go). I was delighted to find it and it hasn't disappointed in the slightest.

Harpers Bizarre 4 is the final album of theirs that I have been searching for, for some time. It's actually pretty great. It kicks off with the terrific Soft Soundin' Music and keeps the quality level high throughout. Their version of The Beatles' Blackbird is well worth hearing. Ry Cooder appears on slide guitar and he's always worth listening to.

Finally in this set is another Jade Warrior album - Kites. It is described as 'intense ambient music' by the AllMusic reviewer and I do get that. I'll need to listen to it a few more times to get into it. I've found that with Jade Warrior in general. Their music rewards repeat listens.

Where do they all belong? A final post of the American A to O purchases coming up next.

Morning hymn (Jade Warrior) (LP 2879)

Jade Warrior  Last Autumn's Dream (Vinyl, Vertigo Records, 1972) ****  

Genre: Prog rock

Places I remember: The Record Store (Palmerston North). This is a new store that's just popped up in Palmy. Well worth a repeat look next time we visit.

Fab, and all the other pimply hyperboles: Morning Hymn

Gear costume: A Winter's Tale

They loom large in his legend (The Album Collection playlists): Part 1; Part 2; Part 3; Part 4

Active compensatory factors: This was the band's third album and their last on Vertigo. I wrote about their first album for Island, Way of the Sun, just a short while ago. That one was released straight after Last Autumn Dream, but it sounds like a different band in many ways.

This earlier album is a lot more experimental and varied. From a guitar wig out on Snake and the funky May Queen to a potential hit single - The Demon Trucker. Along the way are ambient flute tracks! 

This band is never less than interesting!

Where do they all belong? I'll keep an eye out for their first two albums on Vertigo.

Sun child (Jade Warrior) (LP 2821)

Jade Warrior  Way of the Sun (Vinyl, Island Records, 1974) ****  

Genre: Prog rock

Places I remember: Slow Boat Records

Fab, and all the other pimply hyperboles: Heaven Stone

Gear costume: River Song 

Active compensatory factors: The AllMusic review labels this one 'arguably their best'. It was their last for Island Records after having a stint on Vertigo, and their seventh album overall.

The sound is described as cinematic, and I get that as the orchestral passages definitely paint a vivid portrait of South American colonisation - the album's theme.

It's lush and beautiful instrumental music that rewards repeat plays.

Where do they all belong? The earlier Jade Warrior albums have always been fairly rare and therfore highly priced, but I would certainly get those first three earlier Vertigo albums if I could.