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6360 014 - 6360 033
* NOTE: ALBUMS WITH AN IRREGULAR CATALOGUE NUMBER ARE EVALUATED AT THE REAR OF THE SERIES.



6360 014

JUICY LUCY - LIE BACK AND ENJOY IT (october 1970)

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Line-up: Glenn Campbell, mand, steel/ Rod Coombes, dr/ Keith Ellis, bsgtr/ Chris Mercer, sax, keyb/ Mick Moody, gtr/ Paul Williams, voc, keyb.
Production: Gerry Bron & Nigel Thomas for Hit Record Productions Ltd.
Cover-design by Nigel Thomas.
Photography by Peter Smith.
Liner notes: none.
Cover manufactured by Howard Printers.
Recorded at unknown

Track listing A-side: Thinking Of My Life (Paul Williams) 4'27''/ Built For Comfort (Willie Dixon) 6'00''/ Pretty Woman (Paul Williams) 3'12''/ Whisky In My Jar (Mick Moody + Keith Ellis + Paul Williams) 4'00''.
Track listing B-side: Hello L.A., Bye Bye Birmingham (Delaney Bramlett + M. Davis) 4'15''/ Changed My Mind (Neil Hubbard + Glenn Campbell) 3'07''/ That Woman's Got Something (Glen Campbell + Paul Williams + Mick Moody) 2'53''/ Willie The Pimp (Frank Zappa) 7'08''/ Lie Back And Enjoy It (Paul Williams) 7'08''.

The label carries no composer credits. The inside of the fold-out does.
Running time is mentioned in the fold-out.
The Vertigo logo on front is yellow.

Matrix number A-side:
6360014 1Y//1 ▼420 1 1 1 0
Matrix number B-side:
6360014 2Y//2 ▼420 1 1 6

Rarity scale: R1


The burning question remains: Can blue men sing the whites?, and though they occasionally have proven they can, mostly they can't and that's what we got here. Guitarist Moody surely is a bonus, but singer Williams is not and the choice of repertoire is thoroughly conservative. Except, of course, for the unexpected Zappa track, but unfortunately they make it sound like everything else. Most remarkable feat here must be the inclusion of two tracks that are exactly 7 minutes and 8 seconds long. How did they achieve that??

Another leap into the realm of complictated packaging is executed with this cover. It is a large six-part folding piece of board. All six band members are kept for eternity through excellent portrait photographs of the men at work.
The lettering is indeed quite juicy and rather original.
The inside of the enormous cover is taken by an outstanding live shot of the band.

A cassette release in Britain has been confirmed, the catalogue number is 7138 014.

Notes: This was issued in the USA on Atco (SD 33-345) in 1970.



6360 015

WARHORSE - ''same'' (end of 1970)

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Line-up: Ashley Holt, voc/ Ged Peck, gtr/ Mac Poole, dr/ Nick Simper, bsgtr/ Frank Wilson, keyb.
Production: Ian Kimmet & Warhorse.
Cover-design  by Marcus Keef
Photography by Marcus Keef.
Graphics by Sandy Field.
Liner notes: none.
Cover manufactured by Howard Printers.
Recorded at Trident Studios

Track listing A-side: Vulture Blood (Warhorse)/ No Chance (Warhorse)/ Burning (Warhorse)/ St. Louis (Harry Vanda + George Young).
Track listing B-side: Ritual (Warhorse)/ Solitude (Warhorse)/ Woman Of The Devil (Warhorse).

Running time is not mentioned
The Vertigo logo on front is brown.

Matrix number A-side:
6360015 A//2  1 1 7
Matrix number B-side:
6360015 B//2   1 1 4

Rarity scale: R2



Maybe it's all Deep Purple's fugitive Simper's fault, that this sounds uncomfortably akin to that particular band. A lot of organ and mannered and gruffy vocals are the main ingredients. Some bolero-like rhythms are enjoyable enough, but the main objection - as often with this kind of venture - remains the meagre compositions. Bands who cannot write songs should take refuge in cover versions, but the Easybeats' St. Louis isn't much help unfortunately. Very dated now.

Old-fashioned. soldiers rest in a bleak landscape of dirt, crates and barbed wire coils. A horse waits in the dust beside his tired rider. Brown in brown and very gloomy.
The lettering is the kind that is sprayed through a stencil to mark military goods. Very apt!
The inside shows five photographs of the faces of the band in neat and completely unfitting frames. The lettering here is like a menu in a bourgeois restaurant. What a blunder!

Notes: there are two label variations known: one shown above and the other with ''Made in England'' at 1 o'clock and a slightly altered lay-out.

A cassette release in Britain has been confirmed, the catalogue number is 7138 021 and it looks like this:

cassUKwarh




6360 016

PATTO - ''same'' (end of 1970)

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6360016outside 6360016inside

Line-up: Clive Griffiths, bsgtr/ Olly Halsall, gtr, vibr, keyb/ John Halsey, dr/ Mike Patto, voc.
Production: Muff Winwood.
Cover-art  by Tony Benyon
Photography by Allen Melina
Liner notes: by unknown.
Cover manufactured by Howard Printers.
Recorded at unknown

Track listing A-side: The Man (Patto)/ Hold Me Back (Patto)/ Time To Die (Patto)/ Red Glow (Patto).
Track listing B-side: San Antone (Olly Halsall + Mike Patto)/ Government Man (Olly Halsall + Mike Patto)/ Money Bag (Olly Halsall + Mike Patto)/ Sittin' Back Easy (Olly Halsall + Mike Patto).

Running time is not mentioned
The Vertigo logo on front is red.

Matrix number A-side:
6360016 1Y//2 ▼420 1 1
Matrix number B-side:
6360016 2Y//3 ▼420 1 1 4

Rarity scale: R2




Patto shows us that driving and heavy can be gorgeous weapons, if only the right men handle them. Almost every track is a winner and it is hard to understand why this wasn't instantly world-famous when it came out. Loaded with emotion, highly expressive, still no frills and tricks anywhere, quite a feat. The mean time/measure changes in Time to die, the pushing harmonies on Hold me back, the world-record pace and anarchy of San Antone, are just a few points in case. Masculine and mature, this album puts a whole bunch of better selling bands to shame.


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A strange cover, no doubt. From out of the open window in rushes the Patto-monster in glowing red on yellow. His hair is mustachioed Norse heroes, his mouth is agape, his teeth are readable: Patto!! The cover is structured as a cheap sort of tapestry (see scan above).
The lettering is just as discomfitting as the whole drawing and so scores a point.
The inside shows the name Patto in small patterned squares in red ink. Small photographs of the boys, too.

A cassette release in Britain has been confirmed, the catalogue number is 7138 018.



6360 017
COLOSSEUM - DAUGHTER OF TIME (end of 1970)


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Line-up: Fred Alexander, vlc/ Harold Becket, trp, flhrn/ Louis Cennamo, bsgtr/ Mark Clarke, bsgtr/ Dave Clempson, gtr, voc/ Chris Farlowe, voc/ Dave Greenslade, voc, keyb/ Dick Heckstall-Smith, sax, narr/ Jon Hiseman, dr/ Nicholas Kraemer, vla/ Jack Rothstein, vl/ Barbara Thompson, fl, sax, voc/ Derek Wadsworth, trb/ Trevor Williams, vl.
Production: Gerry Bron for Hit Record Productions Ltd.
Cover-design by Robin Nicol for Design Machine..
Liner notes: none
Cover manufactured
by unknown
Recorded at Lansdowne Studios.

Track listing A-side: Three Score And Ten, Amen (Dave Clempson + Dave Greenslade + Jon Hiseman) 5'36''/ Time Lament (Dave Greenslade + Jon Hiseman) 6'04''/ Take Me Back To Doomsday (Dave Clempson + Dave Greenslade + Jon Hiseman + Dick Heckstall-Smith) 3'12''/ The Daughter Of Time (Barry Dennen + Dave Greenslade + Dick Heckstall-Smith) 3'30''.
Track listing B-side: Theme For An Imaginary Western (Pete Brown + Jack Bruce) 4'05''/ Bring Out Your Dead (Dave Clempson + Dave Greenslade) 4'25''/ Downhill And Shadows (Dave Clempson + Dave Greenslade) 6'11''/ The Time Machine (Jon Hiseman) 8'12''

The Vertigo logo on front is brown.

Matrix number A-side
6360017 1Y//1 ▼420 1 1 2
Matrix number B-side
6360017 2Y//1 ▼420 1 1 1

Rarity scale: SC



Inclusion of the soulful vocals of Farlowe makes this album even better than the previous one. The more precise integration of the reeds makes for a heady mixture of rock, jazz and folk that at times reaches impeccable quality. Only sporadically the pretensions carry the music in too lofty areas. Highlight on side A must be the boiling emotions of Take Me Back To Doomsday, where Thompson plays one of the best flute parts I have ever heard in such a context. The fake-classical music of the title track tastes also well. Unexpected folk brings the instrumental Bring Out Your Dead. It is highly unfortunate that the album ends with the hopelessly outdated The Time Machine, where a macho drumsolo does exactly what the record up till there knew to avoid: technical display without musical substance and emotion. What a pity, after such a fine album.

Classical overtones mark the cover. A kind of bronze adorns the cover, which on the back also carries a Hellenistic relief of a woman, complete with wildly flourishing robes.
The lettering is quasi carved from bronze too and fits seamlessly.
The inside continues the classical attitude and displays the surprisingly good lyrics, including a brilliant one by Pete Brown.

A cassette release in Britain has been confirmed, the catalogue number is 7138 016.

Notes: This was issued in the USA on Dunhill (DS 50101) in 1970.

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There are British copies with the info divided on both labels, too. No big swirl anywhere in sight...
The matrix is
6360017 1Y//3 ▼420 1 1
and
6360017 1Y//1 ▼420 1 1 4
so somehow they used a later mother for the A-side on this one. This seems to be more common than the big swirl release.



6360 018
BEGGAR'S OPERA - ACT ONE (end of 1970)


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Line-up: Marshall Erskine, bsgtr/ Ricky Gardener, gtr/ Martin Griffiths, voc/ Alan Park, keyb/ Raymond Wilson, dr.
Production: Bill Martin & Phil Coulter.
Cover-design by Marcus Keef.
Photography by Marcus Keef.
Liner notes: none
Cover manufactured
by Howards Printers
Recorded at De Lane Lee Studios.

Track listing A-side: Poet And Peasant (Franz von Suppé + Beggar's Opera)/ Passacaglia (Marshall Erskine + Virginia Scott)/ Memory (Marshall Erskine + Virginia Scott)
Track listing B-side: Raymond's Road (Beggars's Opera)/ Light Cavalry (Franz von Suppé + Beggar's Opera).

There are no running time indications
The Vertigo logo on front is dark pink.

Matrix number A-side:
6360018 1Y//1 ▼420 1 1 1
Matrix number B-side:
6360018 2Y//1 ▼420 1 1 1

Rarity scale: R1



We're at the heart of early seventies prog here and this fulfills all your expectations, the best and the worst. Mock-classical music on the ominously titled Passacaglia (no, it's not a track by Benjamin Britten in case you wondered) illustrates convincingly everything that can go awry. Pretentious doodling executed with great technical skill plus especially irritating organ pyrotechnics. Baroque influences are everywhere and they are mostly displayed with the intention to impress. But when the organ restrains itself to accompaniment, the music at times rises to the occasion and gets genuinely moving. Almost all of Memory serves like an oasis with arching melodies in the classical desert and the profuse quoting of Light cavalry contains just enough irony to make it worthwhile. A checquered effort. The band took their name from the opera by John Gay from 1728.

And another fine surrealistic cover shot by Keef. Dressed as figurines from Little Nemo, the band looks at us as from a another planet, just like the barren landscape would suggest.
The lettering is Italian restaurant pizza box jugendstil and why not? Hardly readable, though, due to a colour not contrasting enough with the background.
Inside they stand on a bridge twice: once like they are and once quasi reflected in the water. The text is mirrored too and even undulating along with the water..

A cassette release in Britain has been confirmed, the catalogue number is 7138 022.

Notes: This was issued in the USA on Verve (V6-5080) in 1970.
The official website is to be found at www.beggarsopera.co.uk




6360 019
LEGEND - ''same'' (end of 1970)

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Line-up: John Bobin, bsgtr, voc/ Bill Fifield, dr/ Mickey Jupp, voc, keyb, gtr/ Mo Whitham, gtr, voc.
Production: Tony Visconti for David Knights Productions.
Cover-design by Karl Stoecker.
Photography by Karl Stoecker.
Liner notes: by unknown
Cover manufactured
by Howards Printers
Recorded at Advision.

Track listing A-side: Cross Country/ Cheque Book/ Lorraine Part 1/ Nothing Wrong with Me/ Somebody In Love/ Goin' To.
Track listing B-side: Anything You Do/ My Typewriter/ Five Years/ Hole In My Poicket/ Lorraine Part 2/ I Feel Like Sleeping.
All tracks by Mickey Jupp.

There are no running time indications
The Vertigo logo on front is white.

Matrix number A-side:
6360019 1Y//3 ▼420 1 1 4
Matrix number B-side:
6360019 2Y//4 ▼420 1 1 4

Rarity scale: R2



What a waste of time this is! A hybrid out of doo-wop (the choirs), blues (sort of), boogie and country. This could have been a heart-felt effort, but the polished production of Visconti erases anything that could have sounded like sweat and will-power. A horrible Fats Domino clone on  Somebody In Love is pretty bad, but even worse is the false rock 'n' roll of Nothing's Wrong With Me, akin to Status Quo at its very laziest. There is even an attempt at humor on My typewriter. Pub-rock at its most useless. Of course, this is how they want it. The liner notes state somewhat proudly: in the spirit of the wild west... and of course the heroes of the golden fifties are - legend. Just in case you wanted to know.

The idea of the cover is nice enough, but it is poorly executed. Boots aflame, let's dance? The backcover is a mirror image of the front, always an indication of meagre content.
The lettering is a well-known font, slightly out of sync with the image..
Inside there's an excellent and sombre shot of the band against an unidentifyable and intriguing background in black and white.

A cassette release in Britain has been confirmed, the catalogue number is 7138 022.

Notes: The record is often called ''red boot'', probably to discern it from Jupp's first album on Bell which is also a ''same'' by Legend.



6360 020
GENTLE GIANT - ''same'' (end of 1970)

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Line-up: Paul Cosh, hrn/ Claire Denis, vlc/ Gary Green, gtr/ Ketty Minnear, voc, keyb, bsgtr, vlc, perc/ Derek Shulman, voc, bsgtr/ Philips Shulman, voc, rec, sax, trp/ Ray Shulman, bsgtr, vl, gtr, voc/ Martin Smith, dr.
Production: Tony Visconti.
Cover-art by George Underwood.
Liner notes: Toni Visconti.
Cover manufactured
by Howards Printers
Recorded at unknown.

Track listing A-side: Giant/ Funny Ways/ Alucard/ Isn't It Quiet And Cold?.
Track listing B-side: Nothing At All/ Why Not?/ The Queen.
All tracks by Derek Shulman + Philip Shulman + Ray Shulman + Kerry Minnear..

There are no running time indications
The Vertigo logo on front is brown.

Matrix number A-side:
6360020 1Y//1 ▼420 1 3 5
Matrix number B-side:
6360020 2Y//1 ▼420 1 1 1

Rarity scale: R1

6360020open


First of ten (!) studio albums by this unique crew that tries to incorporate influences as disparate as madrigal singing, free jazz, hard-rock, classical composition techniques and serial 50's music. On this debut things aren't that complicated yet, but the album possesses enough diversity of vision to earn the term eclectic. The rock parts suffer strongly from murky production, but the quiet songs steal the show. Isn't it quiet and cold is serene and urban simultaneously and boasts surprising strings too, which are applied in a totally unexpected way. Funny ways is very disarming and parts of Nothing at all are just as lovable: well-arranged and adventurous. Several negative points show up too. The tedious drumsolo on again Nothing at all (thanks a lot Mr.Wyatt!) and the bleak block-singing  in the rocking parts. A nice and promising album nonetheless, which is a thing easily remarked in retrospect.

Ugly but very impressive looms the giant on the cover. Folded-out he holds the band as small mannikins in his huge hands. Quite an image, including some sneaky elementals that creep into and out of his beard.
The lettering is the typical english variation of fractals and is in complete discord with the content of the music, apart maybe from the backwards spelled Alucard.
The lyrics are inside, unfortunately also printed in fractals, as well as a repetition of the drawing of the band.

A cassette release in Britain has been confirmed, the catalogue number is 7138 023.



6360 021
GRAHAM BOND - HOLY MAGICK (end of 1970)


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Line-up: Aliki Ashman, voc/ Pete Bailey, dr/ Graham Bond, voc, keyb, sax/Annette Brox, voc/ Victor Brox, keyb, voc, crnt/ Alex Dmochowski, bsgtr/ Rick Gretch, bsgtr/ John Gross, sax/ John Morsehead, gtr/ Godfrey McLean., dr/ Jerry Salisbury, crnt/ Kevin Stacey, gtr/ Diane Stewart, voc/ Steve York, bsgtr.
Production: unknown
Cover-design by unknown
Photography by unknown
Liner notes by Graham Bond
Cover manufactured
by unknown.
Recorded at unknown.

Track listing A-side: Meditation Aumgn/ The Qabalistic Cross/ The Word Of The Aeon/ Invocation To The Light/ The Pentagram Ritual/ Qabalistic Cross/ Hymn Of Praise/ 12 Gates To The City/ The Holy Words Iao Sabao/ Aquarian Mantra/ Enochian [Atlantean] Call/ Abrahadabra The Word Of The Aeon/ Praise ''City Of Light''/ The Qabalistic Cross Aumgn.
Track listing B-side: Return Of Arthur (Graham Bond)/ The Magician (Graham Bond)/ The Judgement. (Diane Stewart)/ My Archangel Mikael (Diane Stewart).

There are no running time indications
The Vertigo logo on front is orange.
Side A lacks composer credits on both the label and the cover. As these tracks are not composed anyway, we do not really mind. The label doesn't even carry the titles of the A-side!

Matrix number A-side:
6360021 1Y//1 ▼420 1 1
Matrix number B-side:
6360018 2Y//3 ▼420 1 1 5

Rarity scale: R1



Holy shit! Just read some of the liner notes: This record is dedicated to the true seekers of light or even worse: Side two consists of shorter numbers all of which have a purpose... And all the while you're listening to some of the most uninspired records ever to hit Vertigo vinyl. Allegedly this music builds an ''astral temple'' around you. Probably this is cleansing through suffering, then, as it is very hard to even sit through the whole of side A, even with some knitting to do. It's just an endless doodling devoid of any structure. Side B is marginally better: almost acceptable blues-rock. As useless as it gets...

Naturally the cover depicts Stonehenge, including some figures in ritual poses..
The lettering is common ground, but even so by far the best feature of this album.
Inside you'll find a hodge-podge of Egyptian fake, tarot symbols and general occultism. Which was to be expected.

A cassette release in Britain has been confirmed, the catalogue number is 7138 024.

Notes: This was issued in the USA on Mercury (SR 61327) in 1970.



6360 022
as far as we know this was never issued: any information would be very welcome!




6360 023
GRAVY TRAIN - ''same'' (end of 1970)


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Line-up: Norman Barrett, voc, gtr/ Barry Davenport, dr/ J.D.Hughes, voc, fl/ Les Williams, voc, bsgtr.
Production: John Peel for Mike Vaughan Productions Ltd..
Cover-design by Hipgnosis
Photography by Hipgnosis
Liner notes: none
Cover manufactured
by unknown
Recorded at Olympic Sound Studios.

Track listing A-side: The New One (5'15'')/ Deduication to Sid (7'17'')/ Coast Road (6'46'')/ Enterprise (6'20'').
Track listing B-side: Think Of Life (5'10'')/ Earl Of Pocket Nook (16'11'').
All tracks by Gravy Train.

The running time indications are inside the gatefold.
The Vertigo logo on front is red.

Matrix number A-side:
63600223 A▼1 1 1
Matrix number B-side:
6360023 2Y* 3 1 3
The second ''3'' is hand-etched, probably someone was asleep at the plant and they had to fill in the omission later.

Rarity scale: R2



A very typical Vertigo early prog-rock LP. The tasty interventions of the flute provide the music with a character of its own, although the composition department is just good enough, definitely nothing more than that. Most tracks make use of contrast between heavy rocking passages and rural, almost folky, episodes. In this they resemble a side of Jethro Tull, but without that band's use of a dominant personality. They ensemble play is excellent, the instruments are played with taste and skill, but the songs, well, some are really nice nevertheless. Dedicated to Sid is full of finely honed opposites and at least half of the extremely long Earl of pocket nook is outstanding too. There's just a tad too much half-blues to make the record wholly convincing.

If it weren't for the natural colours, this could have been a Keef cover too. The lilliputian reads his magazine in placidity against the wall of a country station long ago abandoned. Horrifying details abound, like the window-mannikin in the wheel-chair and the outstretched arm from the side-window. It is only natural that the backcover has our little citizen peering at the horizon where no train appears. Vegetation is already taking over the rails. The sun sets... The cover has a minutely structured texture to its surface.
The lettering is much too voluptuous to blend into the image..
Inside a large photograph of the band shows that they are rough and ready..

A cassette release in Britain has been confirmed, the catalogue number is 7138 023.

Notes: This was issued in the USA on Polydor (24-4056) in 1970.
There are copies reported of this record that look like genuine UK releases, but have the matrix numbers hand-etched. For all we know, these could be counterfeits.



6360 024
  KEITH TIPPETT GROUP - DEDICATED TO YOU, BUT YOU WEREN'T LISTENING (beginning of 1971)


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Line-up: Roy Babbington, bsgtr, cb/ Gary Boyle, gtr/ Marc Charig, crnt/ Elton Dean, sax/ Nick Evans, trb/ Phil Howard, dr/ Bryan Spring, dr/ Keith Tippett, keyb/ Tony Uta, perc/ Nedville Whitehead, cb/ Robert Wyatt, dr.
Production: Pete King for Ronnie Scott Directions..
Cover-art by Roger Dean & Martyn Dean.
Photography by unknown
Liner notes by Richard Williams (Melody Maker)
Cover manufactured
by Howards Printers
Recorded at unknown.

Track listing A-side: This Is What Happens (Nick Evans)/ Thought To Geoff (Keith Tippett)/ Green And Orange Night Park (Keith Tipppett).
Track listing B-side: Gridal Suite (Elton Dean)/ Five After Dawn (Keith Tippett)/ Dedicated To You, But You Weren't Listening (Marc Charig + Elton Dean + Hugh Hopper)/ Black Horse (Nick Evans).

There are no running time indications.
There are no composers credits on the label, they are on the backcover.
The Vertigo logo on front is green.

Matrix number A-side:
6360024 1Y*1 420 1 1 1
Matrix number B-side:
6360024 2Y//1 ▼420 1 1 1

Rarity scale: R2



So many great musicians and so little inspiration, such a disappointment! Apart from the almost incredible sounds that leave the bells of the brass in Five after dawn and the tiny replay of the Soft Machine on the title-track, there is very little to please the ear. Maybe the Mingus Workshop-clone Green and orange night park is fine too.

Fine cover this is, but also one that inadvertently gives the content away. The Germans have the great expression ''Kopfgeburt''  (meaning something like head-birth) for a creation that was concepted by the brains rather than by the heart and lo! there it is... The backcover holds the information and the small photographs of only four band-members.
The lettering is neutral and this is very effective in contrast to the painting.
Inside there are two typical Dean concoctions made out of large moths and fairy virgins. The liner notes consist of the expected ridiculous praise and raving, as usual wholly undeserved and even badly formulated too.

A cassette release in Britain has been confirmed, the catalogue number is 7138 024.



6360 025
CRESSIDA - ASYLUM (beginning of 1971)


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Line-up: Iain Clark, dr/ Agnus Cullen, voc/ John Culley, gtr/ Peter Hennings, keyb/ Kevin McCarthy, bsgtr/ Harold McNair, fl.
Production: Ossie Byrne..
Cover-design by Marcus Keef.
Photography by Marcus Keef.
Liner notes: none
Cover manufactured
by Howards Printers
Recorded at I.B.C Studios.

Track listing A-side: Asylum (Angus Cullen)/ Munich (Peter Jennings)/ Goodbye Post Office Tower Goodbye (Angus Cullen)/ Survivor (Angus Cullen)/ Reprieved (Peter Jennings).
Track listing B-side: Lisa (Angus Cullen)/ Summer Weekend Of A Lifetime (Angus Cullen)/ Let Them Come When They Will (John Heyworth).

There are no running time indications
There are no composer credits on the label, they are inside the gatefold.
The Vertigo logo on front is red.

Matrix number A-side:
6360025 1Y//1 ▼420 1 1 2
Matrix number B-side:
6360025 2Y//1 ▼420 1 1 1

Rarity scale: R3



Another Vertigo highlight! Culley is more of an electric guitarist than Heyworth was and quite naturally this fact influences the overall sound, when compared with the debut album. Tracks are longer, arrangements more elaborate, but the atmosphere of resigned emotion is maintained. The modesty of the singer is still examplary, the melodies are still brimming with pastel colours and wistful progressions. The band is at its very best on the highly emotional Munich, one of very few long tracks in this realm that are enjoyable from the first to the last note. Great sadness and diversity is found on Lisa with trumpet en cello and the uncrowned Queen of Melodies is featured on Summer weekend of a lifetime. In fact it is only the closing track that tends too much to massiveness, something that this full-fledged prog band miraculously avoids on the rest of the LP. Top-notch!

And another fine surrealistic cover shot by Keef. A typical British seaside with multi-coloured stones and a pier. The poleheads are crowned with earless white heads, while another bunch of those stands among the stones. The one in front is burning. Why? The backcover gives the mirror-image of the front and as usual this is a bad idea and a waste of dear space.
Simple but adequate lettering is provided.
Inside the band poses as earnest people, which they probably were.

A cassette release in Britain has been confirmed, the catalogue number is 7138 025


Now look what has been spotted here! Looks like a UK label, but has an impossible catalogue number. Anyone who can shed any light on this?

AC025lbl
Never seen before label for Cressida's Asylum with AC 025 as catalogue number.




6360 026
STILL LIFE - ''same'' (beginning of 1971)


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Line-up: Graham Amos, bsgtr/ Martin Cure, voc/ Terry Howells, keyb/ Alan Savage, dr.
Production: Stephen Shane.
Cover-design by Design Machine.
Photography by Design Machine.
Liner notes: none
Cover manufactured
by Howards Printers
Recorded at Recorded Sound Studios.

Track listing A-side: People In Black (Howells)/ Don't Go (Howells + Cure)/ October Witches (Howells).
Track listing B-side: Love Song No.6 (Howells)/ Dreams (Howells + Cure)/ Time(Howells + Amos).

There are no running time indications
The Vertigo logo on front is violet.

Matrix number A-side:
6360026 1Y//1 ▼420 1 1 2
Matrix number B-side:
6360026 2Y//1 ▼420 1 1 1

Rarity scale: R3

6360026open


This is prog-rock's obscurity incarnate. We did not know the line-up until we found it on a Peruvian sampler! The music is quite obscure too: typical early prog with dual vocals that carry a lot of vibrato. The organ is very dexterously played and the combination of this and the double vocals make for a recognizable sound. The lyrics are concerned with unusual subjects like writers of angry letters to the press. Some of the tracks are too average to excite, but the rhythmical explorations of Love song no.6 are very convincing. An agreeable piece of prog, but just a pinch too ordinary probably.

The cover works at best when opened. After the sweet flowery front the backcover comes as a shock: a weathered skull with some teeth missing. Surely the phrase ''still life'' is expressed here at full value and thus this is a worthwhile packaging.
Gorgeous lettering, placed at exactly the right spot is a bonus.
Inside the band poses sitting very close together, an empty bottle at their feet. Too much symbolism for me.

A cassette release in Britain has been confirmed, the catalogue number is 7138 026. How many of those could ever have been sold?

Notes: A single by a band named ''Still Life'' was released on Columbia in 1968. The tracks are What did we miss/ My kingdom cannot lose. We could not with any certainty find out whether or not this is the same band. The composer's credits would not suggest so, as none of the names mentioned are identical.
Thanks to our diligent readers we now know that this is not the same band after all...




6360 027
NUCLEUS - WE'LL TALK ABOUT IT LATER (beginning of 1971)


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Line-up: Ian Carr, trp, flhrn/ Jeff Clyne, bsgtr, cb/ Karl Jenkins, sax, ob, keyb/ John Marshall, dr/ .Brian Smith, sax/ Chris Spedding, gtr, bouz.
Production: Pete King for Ronnie Scott Productions.
Engineer: Roger Wake
Cover-design by Roger Dean.
Photography by unknown.
Liner notes: almost none
Cover manufactured
by E.J.Day Group.
Recorded at Phonogram Studios, Stanhope Place, UK.

Track listing A-side: Song For The Bearded Lady (Karl Jenkins)/ Sun Child (Jeff Clyne + John Marshall)/ Lullaby For A Lonely Child (Karl Jenkins)/ We'll Talk About It Later (Karl Jenkins).
Track listing B-side: Oasis (Karl Jenkins)/ Ballad Of Joe Pimp (Jeff Clyne + Ian Carr)/Easter 1916 (Karl Jenkins + Ian Carr).

There are no running time indications
The Vertigo logo on front is red.

Matrix number A-side:
6360027 A (THIS IS HAND-ETCHED ON OUR COPY!!)
Matrix number B-side:
6360027 B  (THIS IS HAND-ETCHED ON OUR COPY!!)
Is there anyone with a machine-stamped matrix out there?

And yes, there was, of course! The ''normal'' matrix seems to have been:
Matrix number A-side:
6360027 1Y//1 ▼420 1 1 2
Matrix number B-side:
6360027 2Y//1 ▼420 1 1 2

Rarity scale: R2



Typically a second album with too little time in between: there are no new musical points of view discernable or it must be the heavy riffs in unisono between bass and brass. The Lullaby for a lonely child is very subtle, though. The last two tracks suddenly feature vocals, but these are uncredited. Anyone who knows? This still is quite acceptable rock-jazz, but it lacks a bit excitement.

A very dark die-cut cover with a window in the front. Framed by the band we see a photograph of a Dublin barricade from 1916, belonging to the last track of the LP. On the backcover a treated picture of the band in spooky grey.
The lettering fits in very nicely.
Inside the record info and the said photograph. The cover opens from the inside, but not too smoothly.

A cassette release in Britain has been confirmed, the catalogue number is 7138 026.

Notes: This seems the first cover not to be manufactured by Howards, but by E.J.Day.
The title appears to stem from a conversation between Roger Wake and Ian Carr. At the start of recording the title track, the engineer asked for the title. Carr replied ''We'll talk about it later''. This went onto the tape box label - and...



6360 028
URIAH HEEP - SALISBURY (beginning of 1971)


6360028
6360028lbl

Line-up: Keith Baker, dr/ Mick Box, gtr, voc/ David Byron, voc/ Ken Hensley, keyb, gtr, voc/ Paul Newton, bsgtr, voc.
Production: Gerry Bron for Hit record Productions Ltd.
Brass and woodwinds arranged by John Fiddy.
Cover-design by Bloomsbury Group
Photography by Central Office of Information.
Liner notes: by Ken Hensley.
Cover manufactured
by unknown.
Recorded at Lansdowne Studios.

Track listing A-side: Bird Of Prey (Mick Box + David Byron + Ken Hensley + Paul Newton) 4'05''/ The Park (Ken Hensley) 5'38''/ Time To Live (Mick Box + David Byron + Ken Hensley) 4'02''/ Lady In Black (Ken Hensley).
Track listing B-side: High Priestess (Ken Hensley) 3'39''/ Salisbury (Mick Box + David Byron + Ken Hensley) 16'22''.

There are no running time indications on the label, they are inside the gatefold.
The Vertigo logo on front is blue.

Matrix number A-side:
6360028 1Y*1 420 1 9
Matrix number B-side:
6360028 2Y*1  1 9

Rarity scale: R2



Yes, Heep is developing. If you can stand the high piercing vibrato of Byron, there is quite some improvent to enjoy. Subtle vocal hamonies are featured on The park and Lady in black even vaguely recalls early Strawbs! The long tour-de-force that is the title-track works much better than expected. Great flute and oboe parts galore and the orchestration is at least mostly tasteful. Spanish elements, jazzy Auger-alike passages and more delicate interplay betray the developments. A great advancement, some dud tracks notwithstanding.

Nasty cover, though. A tank emerges from a red cloud of gas and is heading directly for you, guns and all. Tired soldiers look the part.
The lettering is too frivolous for the image and hard to read as well.
A tank, just before toppling into a void, and a rose with a broken stem are again no images to make you enjoy the look you took inside the cover.

A cassette release in Britain has been confirmed, the catalogue number is 7138 027.

Notes: This was issued in the USA on Mercury (SR 61319) in 1970 with completely different artwork.



As we are approaching a label design change in the course of 1971, we could not find all albums from this transitional period with the ''old'' design. You will therefore find some labels with ''new'' and some with ''old'' designs during this interval. The main difference consists of the placement of the wording ''Vertigo'', which now is above the spindle hole, rendering the swirl logo smaller than on the previous design. The placing of most elements has been adapted. Please see scans below for the differences in detail.


6360020lbl
6360020_2lbl
First label design with ''Vertigo'' below the spindle hole and a large swirl logo.
Second label design with ''Vertigo'' above the spindle hole and a smaller swirl logo.






6360 029
CATAPILLA - ''same'' (beginning of 1971)


6360029
 6360029lbl

Line-up: Robert Calvert, sax/ Hugh Eaglestone, sax/ Malcolm Frith, dr/ Anna Meek, voc/ Thierry Reinhardt, sax, cl, fl/ Dave Taylor, bsgtr/ Graham Wilson, gtr.
Production: Patrick Meehan Jr..
Cover-art by Rick Breach
Photography by unknown
Liner notes: none
Cover manufactured
by Howards Printers
Recorded at unknown

Track listing A-side: Naked Death/ Tumble Weed/ Promises.
Track listing B-side: Embryonic Fusions.
All tracks by Graham Wilson + Thierry Reinhardt + Robert Calvert + Malcolm Frith + Anna Meek.

There are no running time indications.
The Vertigo logo on front is black.

Matrix number A-side:
6360029 1Y//1 ▼420 1 1 2
Matrix number B-side:
6360029 2Y//1 ▼420 1 1 2

Rarity scale: R3



Boy, this is scary! Much more so than any hard-rock flirting with the adversary. It all starts innocently enough, but soon diverts into half-lit and spooky side-streets. Strange threatening dissonants abound, suddenly it's cool jazz-rock that finds no end. The suite on side B is even more creepy. You may think Meek is singing, but in reality she is exorcising her very soul. She means it! Some jazz-voodoo sets in and holy mackerel, there she is again! How much katharsis can you take?

You can hardly think of anything else than Eve's apple while looking at the cover during the listening sessions. The lilac leaf is a nice find, but the execution of the painting is quite below average.
The lettering fits both the image and the music and is therefore a success.
An apple silhouette inside the gatefold holds a picture of the musicians. If you want to see a really starry-eyed girl, then look at Anna Meek. Incredible!

A cassette release in Britain has NOT been confirmed. Anyone?

Notes: A promotional folder by Vertigo from 1971 shows this album with the wrong band name ''Caterpillar''. If there is anyone who owns such a sleeve, please contact us.

6360029alt



6360 030
ASSAGAI - ''same'' (beginning of 1971)


6360030
6360030lbl

Line-up: Fred Coker, voc, gtr/ Mongezi Feza, cornet/ Louis Moholo, dr/ Bizo Muggikana, sax/ Charles Ononogbo, bsgtr/ Dudu Pukwana, sax.
Production: Dave Watson.
Cover-design by Winston Branch.
Photography by unknown.
Liner notes: by Dave Watson.
Cover manufactured
by unknown.
Recorded at unknown

Track listing A-side: Telephone Girl (Tony Duhig + Jon Field + Glyn Harvard)/ Akasa (Fred Coker + Charles Ononogbo)/ Hey Jude (John Lennon + Paul McCartney)/ Cocoa (Fred Coker).
Track listing B-side: Irin Ajolawa (Tony Duhig + Fred Coker)/ Ayieo (Fred Coker)/ Beka (Dudu Pukwana)/ I'll Wait For You (Fred Coker).

There are no running time indications.
The Vertigo logo on front is black.

Matrix number A-side:
6360030 1Y*1 1 1 1
Matrix number B-side:
6360030 2Y*1  1 1 1

Rarity scale: R2



Very cosy indeed! The brass have just enough looseness and just enough discipline and precision. A fine rhythm change is featured on Irin Ajolawa and the Beatles' cover is sung in a language that could be what they speak in Nigeria; we have no way to tell. There are no singing credits anyway. It's light-hearted and buoyant, certainly a nice way to spend a rainy afternoon. The liner notes on the contrary are some of the worst ever. What about a sentence like this: It had to happen - African music and musicians are now atrracting the kind of attention last experienced when the Mersey sound erupted and spawned the Beatles. Now, really?

Colourful cover that holds its ground. A map of Gabon and Congo Brazzaville is coloured in and a lively mask is fronting it. Simple and effective.
The lettering is too European, slightly dislocated as it may be, probably to suggest some kind of African abandon. Some people have strange notions.
The gentlemen are at work inside the gatefold and seem to enjoy it. Well, why not?

A cassette release in Britain has been confirmed, the catalogue number is 7138 028.
It looks as if this was the last album to appear on cassette. If you have a cassette release of an album released later then this one, please contact us.



6360 031
NIRVANA - LOCAL ANAESTHETIC (beginning of 1971)


6360031
6360031lbl

Line-up: Patrick Campbell-Lyons with help from Jade Warrior, Sunbird, Mrs.Kelly, Jeremy Barlow, Mother and Dave, Mel Collins, Glenn and Nicky..
Production: Patrick Campbell-Lyons.
Cover-art by Marcus Keef.
Photography by Marcus Keef.
Liner notes: by Patrick Campbell-Lyons.
Cover manufactured
by Howards Printers.
Recorded at Island Studios.

Track listing A-side: Modus Operandi (Method Of Work).
Track listing B-side: Home: a) Salutation. b) Construction. c) Destruction. d) Re-construction. e) Fanfare.
All tracks by Patrick Campbell-Lyons.

There are no running time indications.
The Vertigo logo on front is white.

Matrix number A-side:
6360031 1Y//1 1 1 1
Matrix number B-side:
6360031 2Y//1  1 1 1

Rarity scale: R2



In the short liner-notes Campbell distances himself quite portenteously from the former Nirvana, the pop group that gave birth to Rainbow chaser and the likes. This here, he claims, is the real Nirvana. Well, if that's so, too bad! Side A consists of superficial rock-songs that are bound together in some kind of a suite but that do not have any connection apart from the fact that they are as shallow as you could wish for. There are no contours whatsoever anywhere. Side B is more like singer/songwriter fare with the only remarkable feat being the appearance of some harpsichord parts. Sounds almost like an inadvertent parody, especially the episode with the lyrics I wanna go home repeated some thirty-odd times. Local anaesthetic would be very welcome now, especially on the ears.

Oh, those great Keef cover-shots! A lady all in white and grey in a room all white and grey, a desolate piece of a garden peeps in. A scene from a yet unknown fairy-tale.
The lettering is adequate and fits the image well..
Inside the lady and the child are absent. Patrick is looking in through one of the windows. He looks worried, and rightly so!

(A cassette release in Britain has NOT been confirmed.)
So I stated, but as of now it has been confirmed and carries the catalogue number 7138 029.


Somewhat similar to the strange Fairfield Parlour release from the first UK page, a diverging copy of this has shown up. The details are as follows: a single cover, the backcover with a white border. The matrix numbers are hand-etched and read: NIRV 1 and NIRV 2. The spine is unprinted. Again, as with the Fairfield, extra music was inserted: I wanna go home, a non-album single track, appears as A2. Anyone who can shed any light on this is very welcome to do so!
6360031+lbl






6360 032
PATTO - HOLD YOUR FIRE (beginning of 1971)


6360032
6360032lbl

Line-up: Clive Griffiths, bsgtr, voc/ Olly Halsall, gtr, vibr, keyb, voc/ John Halsey, dr/ Mike Patto, voc.
Production: Muff Winwood.
Cover-art by Roger Dean, designed by Patto.
Photography by unknown.
Liner notes: none.
Cover manufactured
by Howards Printers.
Recorded at Island Studios.

Track listing A-side: Hold Your Fire (Mike Patto + Olly Halsall)/ You, You Point Your Finger (Mike Patto + Olly Halsall)/ Hows Your Father Tonight (Olly Halsall)/ See You At The Dance Tonight (Olly Halsall).
Track listing B-side: Give It All Away (Mike Patto + Olly Halsall)/ Air Raid Shelter (Olly Halsall)/ Tell Me Where You've Been (Mike Patto + Olly Halsall)/ Magic Door (Mike Patto + Olly Halsall)).

There are no running time indications.
There are no composers credits on the label, they are inside the gatefold.
The Vertigo logo on front is black.

Matrix number A-side:
6360032 1Y//1 ▼420 1 1 4
Matrix number B-side:
6360032 2Y//1 ▼420 1 1 5

Rarity scale: R3



Finally another real highlight on Vertigo! Great and emotional compositions (except maybe the conventional opening track), brilliant instrumental playing, extremely confident vocals, good lyrics, clear and modest production, what more do you want? Halsall steals the show by playing both incredibly complex and yet accessible. Listen to the fills in Give it all away! Some subtle vibraphone is featured too, most convincingly so on the closing Magic door. Our favourite still is Air raid shelter, that effortlessly switches from a freaky cauldron filled with jazz to pumping rock. Anarchistic guitar hurricanes in a quiet context, an excellent idea! The ever dodging harmonies of Tell me where you've been are also top-notch. Even better than the debut.

A gimmicks cover in grand-style. The front is cut into three flaps that can be folded out independently. This means that you can have 8 different covers if you want to (try it and you will find out....) just by folding the flaps differently. The back cover holds the lyrics (!). The construction of the cover is not very sturdy, so chances are good that there is some damage after 36 years.
The lettering is exactly in the right cartoon style, no way to better this.
Inside some sparse information and four photographs of the faces. They look friendly people, after all.

A cassette release in Britain has NOT been confirmed.


6360032alt
pattoholdad
Here's one of the possibilities to alter the cover. We have just folded back the middle flap and pronto! This ad was taken from an unknown magazine, dated 27th of november 1971





6360 032
was released as the second Patto album. We know, though, that this was the projected catalogue number for a 3rd Black Sabbath LP, as is shown in the scan of a Vertigo promo folder below.


bsIII




6360 033
JADE WARRIOR - ''same'' (spring 1971)


6360033
6360033lbl

Line-up: Tony Duhig, gtr/ Jon Field, fl, perc/ Glyn Havard, voc, bsgtr.
Production: Jade Warrior.
Cover-art by unknown.
Photography by unknown.
Liner notes: none.
Cover manufactured
by unknown.
Recorded at unknown.

Track listing A-side: The Traveller (2'25'')/ A Prenormal Day At Brighton (2'40'')/ Masai Morning [including: Casting Of The Bones, The Hunt, A Ritual Of Kings] (6'47'')/ Windweaver (3'50'')/ Dragonfly Day [including Metamorphosis, Dance Of The Sun Spirit, Death] (7'47'').
Track listing B-side: Petunia (4'45'')/ Telephone Girl (4'50'')/ Psychiatric Sergeant (3'02'')/ Slow Ride (2'30'')/ Sundial Song (4'28'').
All tracks by Jade Warrior.

There are no running time indications on the label, they are inside the gatefold..
The Vertigo logo on front is green.

Matrix number A-side:
6360033 1Y//1 1 1 3
Matrix number B-side:
6360033 2Y//1  1 1 1

Rarity scale: R2



Africa and the Far East seem to have been the inspirational sources for this band; just check the titles and much of the percussion used on this LP. The sound is characterised by the opposition between meditational quiet passages and wild hard-rock with flute to the fore, naturally asking for comparisons with Jethro Tull. A track as Windweaver combines high flying fuzz guitars with a tranquil sort of melody and works rather well. Side B rocks more and also contains the very embodiment of their attitude in Sundial song, that is partly very keen and assertive rock, partly very etherical soundscape. Uncommon and worthwhile.

Such a pity that this is the first Vertigo release that does not give any credit for the cover-art. The placidity and dreamlike quality of the image are exemplary. We have received the translation of the lettering in the sails. It reads approximately:

The moon in the evening sky flickers upon the heart of the small lake casting broken shadows of intertwined branches.
Through the opening between the rocks the wind comes blowing mixing up the leaves of the apple trees.
(loosely translated by Maggie Liu and Dave Platt)

Beautiful lettering too: perfectly placed and in stylistic concordance.
Inside the lyrics again (which are readable) and a photograph of the band in purple/white.

A cassette release in Britain has NOT been confirmed.



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Britain general overview

VO 1 - 6360 013

6360 034 - 6360 053

6360 054 - 6360 073

6360 074 - 636083 + irregular numbers

singles Britain



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