line up 1 (1969-74)

- Clive Brooks (aka Basil Downing) (RIP  2017) -- drums, percussion

- Mont Campbell -- vocals, bass

- Dave Stewart (aka Sam Lee-Uff) -- keybaords, tone generator

- Arzachel (Clive Brooks, Mont Campbell and Dave Stewart)

- The Australian Pink Floyd Show (Clive Brooks)

- Bearded Lady (Clive Brooks)

- Bruford (Dave Stewart)

- Mont Campbell (solo efforts)

- Dirk Campbell (Mont Campbell)

- Four X (Clive Brooks)

- Gilgamesh (Mont Campbell)

- The Groundhogs (Clive Brooks)

- Hatfield and the North (Dave Stewart)

- Kahn Dave Stewart)

- Liar (Clive Brooks)

- National Health (Clive Brooks, Mont Campbell and Dave Stewart))

- Dave Stewart and Barbara Gaskin (Dave Stewart)

- Uriel (Clive Brooks, Mont Campbell and Dave Stewart))

 Show, National Gold, The Groundhogs, Uriel (7)

Genre: progressive

Rating: *** stars

Title:  Seven Is a Jolly Good Time

Company: See for Miles

Catalog: SEE 47
Year: 1985

Country/State: London, UK

Grade (cover/record): VG+/VG+

Comments: still in shrink wrap (opened)

Available: 1

Catalog ID: --

Price: $40.00

I've always wondered why Colin Miles and Mark Rye's See for Miles label decided the world needed an Egg reissue.  Given none of the three original Egg albums generated much in the way of sales, I doubt it had anything to do with potential profit margins.  

Taking its name from the band's sole 45, 1985 "Seven Is a Jolly Good Time" was a compilation pulling together their 1970 self-titled debut "Egg" LP (Deram/Nova catalog SDN 14) and both sides of the debut 45.  I'll warn you Egg is not going to be for everyone.  For a band that didn't sell squat, there's a surprising amount of biographical information out there on them.  Egg traces its roots to the band Uriel which featured school buddies singer/bassist Mont Campbell, guitarist Steve Hillage and keyboard player Dave Stewart.  They recruited drummer Clive Brooks through an added in the British music magazine Melody Maker and started playing local clubs.  In 1968 Hillage headed off to the University of Kent leaving the remaining three to continue their musical partnership.  Having signed a management deal with London's Middle Earth night club, they were urged to change their name (there was concern the name was too close to "urinal"), ultimately coming up with Egg.  They were signed by Decca's progressive oriented Deram subsidiary, debuting with an instantly obscure single:

- 1969's 'Seven Is a Jolly Good Time' b/w/ 'You are All Prince' (Deram catalog number DM 269)

In an unusual move for a new, unproved band, Deram allowed the trio to self-produced their debut.  Musically "Egg" featured a series of band originals rounded out by an adaptation of Bach's 'Fugue In D Minor'.  The originals offered up a mixture of out-there experiments (the painful instrumentals 'Boilk' and 'Blane'), jazz-progressive mash-ups like The Song Of McGuillicudie')and classical influences, including the side long 'Symphony No. 2'.  With Campbell handling vocals, 'While Growing My Hair' even offered up a mildly commercial effort.  The album was mostly instrumental, with complex melodies and song structures,.  While you hadto give the trio credit for apparently recording the collection with little in the way of production support, it certainly wasn't an album to get your party started.  As for the handful of vocals, be warned that Campbell's dry, flat voice wasn't the most commercial instrument you'd ever heard.  These guys were clearly talented musicians, but I'll admit those skills were largely wasted on my plebian tastes.  

So is there a reason to buy this album?  Well I guess you can make an economic argument.  In good condition an original British stereo copy of the album will set up back about $130.  A mono copy considerably more. A US copy would be about $100.  If you can find one, a copy of the single would easily set you back $100.  The reissue is a bargain in comparison.  Also, Barry Lazell's band write-up was an interesting read.

"Seven Is a Jolly Good Time track listing:
(side 1)

1.) Bulb (Peter Gallen) (instrumental) - 0:09 rating: * star

Essentially a sound collage fragment, 'Bulb' sounded like church bells being rung through a long distance phone line.  Geez, what have I gotten myself into here?

2.) While Growing My Hair (Mont Campbell - Dave Stewart - Clive Brooks) - 3:53 rating: *** stars

Praise the Lord, at least 'While Growing My Hair' exhibit a recognizable melody with the swaying, seasaw beat reminding me of something out of a circus. Powered by Stewart's organ washes (echoes of ELP), the track was surprisingly bouncy and even had a touch of commercial potential.  The lyrics also displayed a quirky sense of humor ... "While growing my hair They heard a strange air Played on a French Horn All shaven and shorn ..."  Admittedly Campbell's dry, stylized  vocals were an acquired taste, but it didn't take too long for me to get acclimated to his lounge act crooner stylings.  Imagine the late actor VIncent Price fronting a band.  

3.) I Will Be Absorbed (Mont Campbell - Dave Stewart - Clive Brooks) - 5:10  rating: *** stars

The jazzy ballad 'I Will Be Absorbed' opened up with some pretty Stewart keyboards. Perhaps just my ears, but the tune has always reminded me of of a mash-up of Brian Auger and Arthur Brown.  In theory this one was just too jazzy for my normal tastes.  Once again Campbell's vocals veered towards Holiday Inn lounge act territory, bbut there was something beguiling in the performance.  Egg seldom sounded as catchy.

4.) Fugue In D Minor (insturmental) (Johann Sebastian Bach) - 2:46 rating: **** stars

I was admittedly skeptical of this - trio of long-haired hippies trotting out their interpretation of a classic Bach composition ... what kind of a mess were they going to make of this magical piece of music?  Well they stuck pretty close to the original melody and certainly captured the piece's spirit.  Listening to Stewardt's light tough on the organ and keyboards was a delight, simultaneously reminding me of all those hours sitting in Catholic church as an alter boy.  

5.) They Laughed When I sat Down At The Piano… (instrumental)  (Mont Campbell - Dave Stewart - Clive Brooks) - 1:17 rating: * star

Essentially a Stewart solo effort, the brief tune was pretty enough, though I have no idea what the intent was adding the electronic modulations on top of the melody.  Might as well have run their fingernails across a chalkboard.

6.) The Song Of McGuillicudie The Pusillanimous (or don't worry James, your socks are hanging in the coal cellar with Thomas) (Mont Campbell - Dave Stewart - Clive Brooks) - 5:07 rating: ** stars

What the world ...  The hyperspeed 'The Song of McGullicudie' was another jazz/progressive track that reminded me of Brian Auger and the Oblivion Express.  Can't say it was particularly catchy, but it gave all three members a change to stretch out and showcase their technical skills.

7.) Boilk (instrumental)  (Mont Campbell - Dave Stewart - Clive Brooks) -1:00  rating: * star

Slasher film soundtrack noises ...  Pass.

8.) You Are All Princes (Mont Campbell - Dave Stewart - Clive Brooks) - 3:46  rating: *** stars

Complete with discordant harpsichord moves and Campbell's lounge act vocals, 'You Are All Princes' was one of their more mainstream, if not particularly commercial offerings.  It originally appeared as the "B: side on their 'Seven Is a Jolly Good Time' 45.

(side 2)
1.) Symphony No. 2

- Movement 1 (instrumental) (Mont Campbell - Dave Stewart - Clive Brooks) - 5:47 rating: ** stars

The first secton of 'Movement 1' sounded like something off a early Atari video game.  It abruptly morphed into a bit of Edvard Grieg's 'Hall of the Mountain King' before moving on to more Brian Auger-styled organ dominated jazz.and ultimately returning to the Atari melody.  Not meant as a compliment, but to be honest, the track reminded me of something out of the ELP catalog.

- Movement 2 (instrumental) (Mont Campbell - Dave Stewart - Clive Brooks) - 6:20 rating: *** stars

Initially I thought I was hearing some lead guitar, but eventually realized it was Stewart's keyboards slapped with some sort of effect.  'Movement 2' was a little more rock oriented than the first section serving to showcase Campbell's bass moves.  You also got a short Brooks drum solo.  

- Blane (instrumental) (Mont Campbell - Dave Stewart - Clive Brooks) - 5:42 rating: * star

Original copies of the album included 'Movement 3'.  Later copies substituted the track 'Blane'.  The original liner notes included this description of the piece: "Movement 3 is taken from the "Danse des Adolescents" from Stravinsky's "Rite of Spring". The repeated chord effect is used on stage, continuing for several minutes, but this would obviously not have worked on record." So anyone listening to a reissue owas going to wonder what happened to 'Movement 3'?  Turns out the trio decided to drop it out of fears of getting hit with a copyright suit.  The song also apparently leaned heavily on part of Gustav Holst's orchestral suite 'The Planets'.  The album's longest performance, 'Blane' started out with some irritating tone generator noise.  Best description I can come up for it is imagine something used to punish Taliban prisoners while in captivity.  Discordant and painful.

- Movement 4 (Mont Campbell - Dave Stewart - Clive Brooks) - 4:51  rating: *** stars

More of Stewart's faux-guitar coupled with an extended Campbell bass solo, though it was wrapped up in a recognizable melody.

2.) Seven Is A Jolly Good Time (Mont Campbell - Dave Stewart - Clive Brooks) - 2:45 rating: *** stars

The late-'60s were clearly a different age in terms of creativity and the music industry's willingness to try things outside of the norm.  Witness the title track.  Apparently inspired by the odd time structure it utilized - 7/4, 'Seven Is A Jolly Good Time' was unlike anything else in the band's catalog - bouncy, fun and surprisingly commercial (in a weird way).  Campbell even sounded radio friendly.  That's not to say you're going to go around humming this baby, though the refrain was quite catchy.  

 © Scott R. Blackerby November, 2024