Greenslade

Esoteric Recordings are pleased to announce the release of a new re-mastered edition collection by the legendary band Greenslade.

Not long after the disintegration of Colosseum, Greenslade was born, with their inaugural self-titled album whetting the appetites of progressive rock fans worldwide. Dave Greenslade used the group to showcase his illustrious keyboard intricacies alongside Tony Reeves' bass guitar, Andrew McCulloch's predominant percussion work, and Dave Lawson's vocals, all of which made Greenslade a quintessential prog album…

Greenslade were something of a prog rock supergroup when they formed in 1972. Dave Greenslade (son of Arthur Greenslade, noted arranger for Scott Walker, Dusty Springfield and many more) had been the keyboard player in jazz rock oufits Colosseum and If. Bass player Tony Reeves also came from the ranks of Colosseum, while drummer Andy McCulloch had been in the "Lizard" line-up of King Crimson. Vocalist/second keyboard player Dave Lawson had been in Episode Six and The Alan Bown Set and the unique ‘two keyboards/no guitar lineup’ gave them a signature sound. This Edsel package contains the group’s third and fourth albums, originally issued on the Warner Bros. label in 1974 and 1975. The booklet contains all the lyrics, and annotation by Alan Robinson.

Aside from a few minor differences, 1973's Bedside Manners Are Extra is equivalent to Greenslade's debut album, inundated with the same dazzling synthesizer work and atmospheric guitar implementations from Tony Reeves…

Not long after the disintegration of Colosseum, Greenslade was born, with their inaugural self-titled album whetting the appetites of progressive rock fans worldwide. Dave Greenslade used the group to showcase his illustrious keyboard intricacies alongside Tony Reeves' bass guitar, Andrew McCulloch's predominant percussion work, and Dave Lawson's vocals, all of which made Greenslade a quintessential prog album. The attention almost never veers from David Greenslade's beautiful organ texturing, alternating between hard and delicate patterns while defining the album's pure progressive sound. Reeves' bass riffs are spatial and thorough, complimenting the keyboard runs when needed while falling in behind the music at the proper times.

Aside from a few minor differences, 1973's Bedside Manners Are Extra is equivalent to Greenslade's debut album, inundated with the same dazzling synthesizer work and atmospheric guitar implementations from Tony Reeves. Andrew McCulloch's drumming is a little more effective the whole album through, balancing out Dave Greenslade's keyboards and Dave Lawson's singing. The songs alternate from vocal to instrumental, beginning with the beautifully lush title track that exploits the ease in which Greenslade applies his techniques. "Pilgrims Progress" picks up the pace, with McCulloch and Greenslade wonderfully playing off one another. The eight and a half minutes of "Drum Folk" really opens things up, with the synthesizer switching to different tempos and brilliancies while McCulloch gets some well-deserved solo time.

Unlike many fellow reviewers, I don't think at all that "Spyglass Guest" is a major artistic turndown in Greenslade's career; while not being obviously as brilliant as its two preceding albums, it is full of good musical ideas, and the energy is still there, palpable and shining brightly.