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┌────────┐
────┤ Info ├─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
└────────┘
Artist | The Greatest Show On Earth
Title | Horizons
Genre | Progressive Rock Format | Album
Source | CDDA Time | 45:00
Label | Esoteric Recordings Store | 2012
Catalog | ECLEC 2362 Rip | 2016
Bitrate | 249 kbps Size | 85.25 MB
Freq | 44.1 kHz Encoder | Lame 3.98.4
┌────────┐
────┤ Tracks ├─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
└────────┘
01. Sunflower Morning 4:58
02. Angelina 4:07
03. Skylight Man 4:31
04. Day Of The Lady 4:11
05. Real Cool World 4:49
06. I Fought For Love 4:23
07. Horizons 13:59
08. Again And Again 4:02
┌────────┐
────┤ Notes ├─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
└────────┘
This London-based octet - Ozzie Lane (vocals), Garth Watt-Roy
(guitar/vocals), Mick Deacon (keyboards), Ian Aitcheson (saxophone), Tex
Philpotts (saxophone), Dick Hanson (trumpet), Norman Watt-Roy (bass) and
Ron Prudence (drums) - was formed in 1968 as a soul band. New Orleans-born
Lane later returned to America leaving his erstwhile colleagues to forge a
more progressive direction with new singer Colin Horton-Jennings.
The group completed two albums which displayed a strong compositional skill
as well as an imaginative use of brass. They enjoyed a brief popularity in
Europe following the success of the single, "Real Cool World", but The
Greatest Show On Earth found little favour at home and broke up in 1971.
Norman Watt-Roy then formed Glencoe, and later became a member of Ian
DuryÆs Blockheads.
Although The Greatest Show On Earth (GSOE) were not the first bunch of
rockers to incorporate a powerful brass and woodwind section, they are
among the best and heaviest-sounding British bands to have emerged from the
post-psychedelia of the late 60s and early 70s. GSOE were, in essence, the
invention of EMI Records subsidiary Harvest, who were focusing in on new
and progressive artists such as Pink Floyd and Deep Purple. When the group
was initially signed in 1968, they were an R&B/soul revue whose forte was
more along the lines of Stax or Motown, instead of trippy acid rock.
After ditching their original vocalist, Ozzie Lane, they eventually settled
on Colin Horton Jennings, a multi-faceted performer who would begin to
compose originals that would allow the octet to incrementally abandon their
Yankee soul leanings. After a few months of woodshedding new tunes, they
emerged with a fresh sound and material for their debut, "Horizons" (1970).
The extracted single "Real Cool World" is marked by its open-throttle,
galloping tempo and some equally pungent electric organ riffs. As such, it
was also given a few cursory spins on BBC's Radio One; however, the
remainder of the disc was criminally overlooked.
To modern ears, this is a great shame, as the effort is full of
well-crafted and adeptly executed material. Of primary interest is the
aggressive rocker "Angelina" and the groovy "Skylight Man." The latter
title features a brief and buoyant trumpet-led introduction by Dick Hanson
that recalls the Tijuana Brass more so than, say, Blood, Sweat & Tears or
Chicago. The darker "I Fought for Love" stands as one of the edgier sides
and is augmented by some stellar organ leads and fills from Mick Deacon.
The title track extends over a quarter-hour and allows the combo room to
demonstrate their remarkable improvisational skills in the context of an
ensemble. In particular, Ron Prudence (drums/percussion) and Norman
Watt-Roy (bass/vocals) stand out as a rock-solid rhythm section. Although
they stuck around for a follow-up effort, "The Going's Easy", The Greatest
Show On Earth were never given the due that this release so evidently
deserves.
┌────────┐
────┤ Group ├─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
└────────┘