Genre: progressive
Rating: *** (3 stars)
Title: Indian Summer
Company: Neon/RCA
Catalog: NE 3
Year: 1971
Country/State: UK
Grade (cover/record): NM/NM
Comments: still in shrink wrap; gatefold sleeve; cutout hole
Available: 1
GEMM catalog ID:
Price: $55.00
Formed in Coventry, England, this short-lived
outfit boasted a lineup consisting of bassist Malcolm Harker, drummer Paul
Hooped , keyboardist Bob Jackson and guitarist Colin Williams. According to
the liner notes on their sole album, managed by Jim Simpson, the group was
one of two outfits auditioned for a contract by RCA. Ozzy Osborne and Black
Sabbath walked away with the deal. A year later the quartet were signed to
RCA's newly formed Neon label.
Produced by Rodger Bain, 1971's "Indian
Summer" offered up a competent and occasionally engaging
set of progressive-cum-psych moves. Musically the set focused on extended
keyboard dominated pieces that mixed together early-'70s progressive rock
with pseudo-jazzy moves (the instrumental "From the Film of the Same
Name"). Taken individually material such as "God Is the Dog"
and "Black Sunshine" wasn't bad (assuming your tastes leaned in a
progressive direction). Unfortunately, if you were forced to listen to the
whole album in one sitting, numbers such as "Secrets Reflected"
tended to a certain numbing consistency. (The album was originally released
with a gatefold sleeve.) Inexplicably the set's been widely counterfitted and
in the early-'90s the Repetoire label reissued the collection in CD format.
"Indian Summer" track listing:
(side 1)
1.) God Is the Dog
2.) Emotions of Men
3.) Glimpse
4.) Half Changed Again
(side 2)
1.) Black Sunshine
2.) From the Film of the Same Name (instrumental)
3.) Secrets Reflected
4.) Another Tree Will Grow
In case anyone cared, Jackson briefly reappeared in a Badfinger lineup (see
separate entry).