- Peter Banks -- lead guitar, keyboards, synthesizers

  supporting musicians: (1973)

- Jan Akkerman -- lead guitar 

- Ray Bennett -- bass 

- Phil Collins -- drums, percussion

- Steve Hackett -- lead guitar 

- Mike Hough -- drums, percussion

- John Whetton (aka John Wetton) -- bass

- Jan Akkerman (solo efforts)

- Empire (Peter Banks)

- Flash (Peter Banks)

- Focus (Jan Akkerman)

- Jabberwocky (Peter Banks)

- Mabel Greer's Toyshop (Peter Banks)

- Neat Chance (Peter Banks)

- The Syn (Peter Banks)

- Yes (Peter Banks)

Genre: progressive

Rating: 2 stars **

Title:  Two Sides of Peter Banks

Company: Sovereign

Catalog: SMAS-11217
Year: 1973

Country/State: UK

Grade (cover/record): VG+/VG+

Comments: minor crease back cover; lower right; gatefold sleeve

Available: 1

Catalog ID: 5638

Price: $15.00

Even if he were only known as the initial lead guitarist for Yes (Chris Squire replaced him after the band's first two albums), Peter Banks would have an impressive resume.  The fact is that he has a far more impressive recording catalog including stints with The Syn, Mabel Greer's Toyshop, The Neat, and Flash.

Flash released three studio albums during 1972-73 and following the project's collapse Bank's next move was to embark on a solo career.

To be honest this one's always been kind of a marketing mystery to me.  Billed as a Banks solo effort, for all intents and purposes 1973's "Two Sides of Peter Banks" was an outright collaboration ex-Brainbox/Focus guitarist Jan Akkerman.  Banks was credited with producing the album and wrote, or co-wrote all of the material, but Akkerman co-wrote five of the nine tracks; the pastoral 'Beyond the Loneliest Sea' was an Akkerman original, and he played on eight of the nine songs.  Banks was backed by an all-star cast of friends including former Flash bassist Ray Bennett and drummer Mike Hough.  If that weren't enough star power, there was also a healthy chunk of Genesis in the form of drummer Phil Collins and guitarist Steve Hackett.  Musically the album showcased a series of nine progressive-influenced instrumentals.  Actually that probably wasn't an entirely apt description.  Throughout the set, including the side two opener 'Beyond the Loneliest Sea'  Akkerman brought along his growing interest in folk and medieval music, while 'Knight (Reprise)' made for a surprisingly funky number and parts of 'The White House Vale' found Banks and company working in a pseudo-jazzy mode.  The album was far from perfect.  Buoyed by the thirteen minute 'Stop That',side two came off as being little more than an extended impromptu jam session and while it had a couple of moments, for the most part it didn't come close to the more structured first side.  Regardless of how you felt about the music, from a purely technical standpoint tracks like 'Vision of the King' and 'Get Out of My Fridge' were cool to hear with a good set of headphones, or a nice stereo system since they were recorded with Akkerman on one channel (left) and Banks the other (right).  The album wasn't a massive seller, but still managed to hit # 156 on the US charts.

I always thought the inner sleeve photo was kind of cute:

"Two Sides of Peter Banks" track listing:
(side 1)

1.) Vision of the King (instrumental)   (Peter Banks - Jan Akkerman) - 1:23   rating: *** stars

Not sure what the opening sound effects were, but the had a haunting, distant feel.  Kind of a Robert Fripp and Eno vibe going on here.  Shame the track just cut off without any warning.

2.) The White House Vale (instrumental)   (Peter Banks) - 7:13   rating: *** stars

     a.) On the Hill

'On the Hill' introduced Akkerman's gorgeous acoustic guitar with a touch of Charles Pitts "Shaft" styled wah-wah guitar and Bank's synthesizers occasionally popping up.  The song was pretty, but probably a little too adult contemporary jazzy for most folks.

     b.) Lord of the Dragon

The second part of the suite went off in a more experimental direction, the guitar sound effects recalling the opener 'Vision of the King'.  

3.) Knight   (Peter Banks) - 6:14

4.) Battles (instrumental)   (Peter Banks - Jan Akkerman) - 1:38

5. Knight (reprise) (instrumental)   (Peter Banks) - 2:11

6.) Last Eclipse (instrumental)   (Peter Banks - Jan Akkerman) - 2:25

(side 2)
1.) Beyond the Loneliest Sea (instrumental)   (Jan Akkerman) - 3:06

2.) Stop That (instrumental)   (Peter Banks - Jan Akkerman) - 13:47

3.) Get Out of My Fridge (instrumental)   (Peter Banks - Jan Akkerman) - 3:21