Sunday, September 21, 2008

Magna Carta - Magna Carta (1969)



Καθώς η μουνταμάρα του καιρού συνεχίζεται με προδιαθέτει σε κάτι πιο ήρεμο. Το ποιοτικότατο φολκ φωνητικό σύνολο των Magna Carta (φτιάχτηκαν στο Λονδίνο στις 10 Μαίου το 1969) , το οποίο ενίοτε βάζω στο μπαράκι μπας και ο κόσμος μπορέσει να ακούσει και κάτι άγνωστο για αυτόν (δυστυχώς όμως χωρίς ανταπόκριση). Στο μέλλον θα ανεβάσω και άλλα άλμπουμ των Magna Carta, οι οποίοι αξίζουν της προσοχής μας. Ξεχωρίζω τα καταπληκτικά Sea and Sand (The Isle of Pabay), I Am No More και Emily Thru' the Window Pane.

Personnel:
CHRIS SIMPSON gtr, vcls A B C D
GLEN STUART vcls A B C D
LYELL TRANTER gtr, vcls A
DAVEY JOHNSTONE gtr B
STAN GORDON gtr C
(GRAHAM SMITH bs C)

ALBUMS: (up to 1976)
1(A) MAGNA CARTA (Mercury SMCL 20166) 1969 R1 -
2(A) SEASONS (Vertigo 6360 003) 1970 SC 55
3(B) SONGS FROM WASTIES ORCHARD (Vertigo 6360 040) 1971 SC -
4(B) IN CONCERT (Vertigo 6360 068) 1972 -
5(C) LORD OF THE AGES (Vertigo 6360 093) 1973 -
6( ) PUTTING IT BACK TOGETHER (GTO GTLP 012) 1975 -
NB: (1) reissued in remastered form by HTD (HTD CD 68) 1996. (3) reissued on CD (Repertoire REP 4447-WP). (5) reissued on CD (Vertigo 846 448-2) in 1990. (6) reissued on CD (Repertoire REP 4447-WP) 1994. There's also a CD, Live At The BBC (Pseudonym CDP 1022 DD) 1995.

45s:
1 Romeo Jack/Seven O'Clock Hymn (Fontana TF 1060) 1969
2 Mid-Winter/Spinning Wheels Of Time (Mercury MF 1096) 1969
3 All My Life/Falkland Green (Vertigo 6059 073) 1972
4 Give Me Luv/Song Of Evening (Vertigo 6059 092) 1973

This folk trio formed in the late sixties. In fact they were originally a duo - of Yorkshire-born Simpson and Australian Tranter. Glen Stuart joined them after they got a recording deal with Fontana. After what is now a very rare album on Mercury, they recorded a series of fine progressive contemporary folk albums on Vertigo. Seasons is beautiful, its subject matter being as the title suggests. It got to No 55 in the UK Album Charts. Guitarist Davey Johnstone was added to the line-up for the third album which also featured a guest appearance from Rick Wakeman. The In Concert album, which featured them live in Amsterdam, was disappointing in comparison to Songs From Wasties Orchard, which many consider to be their magnum opus. Johnstone departed after these two albums to work with Elton John and Kiki Dee.
Stan Gordon was added for Lord Of The Ages, which was well received. Bassist Graham Smith who'd done session work on the album joined the group shortly after. Within the year, though, Gordon and Smith had both departed, leaving Simpson and Stuart as a duo.
In the mid-seventies they briefly experimented with a more rock-based format, but this, like most of their subsequent line-ups, was short-lived. Stuart then quit the band for good in this era but Simpson remained to work with various line-ups over the next 15 years. He also recorded a solo album, Listen To The Man, in 1983.
You'll also find the band on Vertigo's 1971 compilation Heads Together, First Round, playing Good Morning Sun and on Vertigo Annual 1970, singing Goin' My Way (Road Song).
The BBC radio sessions CD contains three tracks from 1969, four from 1987, but concentrates on 1971, showcasing their distinctive brand of folk favourably.
Prior to recording for Vertigo Magna Carta made a record for the Road Safety Campaign. When You're Young put across a road safety message in the lyrics and featured pleasant harmonies and acoustic guitar. The 45 appeared on various labels credited to individual London boroughs including Enfield and Camden. In each case the 'A' side was a song about 'The Green Cross Code' performed by kids from Argyle School in Camden. None of the 45s had catalogue numbers.
Retrospective compilation appearances include: The Bridge At Knaresborough Town on Electric Psychedelic Sitar Headswirlers Vol. 6 (CD).
For more information on the band check their website: http://www.geocities.com/Broadway/3389
(Vernon Joynson/Gra Culpin)

Tracks:
1. Times of Change (2:50)
2. Daughter Daughter (4:08)
3. Old John Parker (2:47)
4. I Am No More (4:14)
5. Ballad of Francis Alabadalejo (5:22)
6. Spinning Wheels of Time (3:23)
7. Romeo Jack (3:39)
8. Mid Winter (3:35)
9. Shades of Grey (3:13)
10. Emily Thru' the Window Pane (3:31)
11. Sea and Sand (The Isle of Pabay) (3:25)
12. Seven O'Clock Hymn (6:18)

2 comments:

Rochacrimson said...

Great album!
But please rapidshare it's very slow.
Use sharebee if you can ;-)
Cheers

Psych-Spaniolos said...

Sometimes sharebbe is closing the last second before upload finish. Anyhow i'll try sharebee