Julian's Treatment
Band members Related acts
|
line up 1 (1970) - John Dover -- bass - Jackie Drummond -- drums, percussion - Cathy Pruden -- vocals - Julian Jay Savarin -- vocals, keyboards - Del Watkins -- lead guitar, flute
|
- Argus (Del Waatkins) - Jalna (John Dover) - Rare Amber (John Dover and Del Watkins) - Julian Jay Savarin (solo efforts) - The Skatalites (John Dover) - Tracks (John Dover)
|
|
Genre: progressive Rating: 3 stars *** Title: A Time Before This Company: Decca Catalog: DL
75224 Country/State: Dominica Grade (cover/record): VG+/VG+ Comments: unifold sleeve; edge is rough but intact Available: 1 Catalog ID: -- Price: $75.00
|
Here's a quick warning, or words of advice - 1970's "A Time Before This" is going to be more appealing to folks who have a background, or simply enjoy science fiction. Written by Julian Jay Savarin and produced by Miki Dallon, the original UK release featured a dense-packed, sprawling two album set. In 1972 Decca Records got around to releasing the album in the American market, but not before the label undertook some extensive editing, chopping our about ten minutes of material, in the process reducing the collection to a single set. They also slapped on a new cover designed by the late Fred Marcellino.
Original Lee Smithers and Peter Lee designed UK gatefold sleeve (Young Blood catalog number SYB 2)
Best
known as a writer having penned an extensive catalog of science fiction and later
in his career,
For
what it's worth, the US pressing includes liner notes providing a brief
explanation/plot description for each of the twelve songs. I'll
readily admit that even with those notes, getting a clear understanding of
the storyline is challenging. As far as I can figure it out, the basic
plot centers on the Earth's last surviving man who sets off across
interstellar space to the Alpha Centauri system. When he gets there he
discovers conflict between Alda, Dark Lady of the Outer Worlds and
US 1972 release featuring Fred Marcellino cover art:
"A
Time Before This" track listing: 1.) First Chapter: First Prophecy First Oracle (Julian Jay Savarin) - 1:30 rating: * star Before Cathy Pruden's spoken word segment kicked in 'First Prophecy First Oracle' sounded like a lonely Church organist warming up in an empty French cathedral. Hard to get excited over the opening, though the sample lyrics give you a warning of what's to come: "Out of the cinnamon sky a face appears, Out of the tamarind byre, come darkest fears and the first prophecies." Here's what the liner notes say about the track: "The Oracle of the Outer Rim gives warning of the advent of a Man of evil." 2.) Second Chapter: The Coming of the Mule (instrumental) (Julian Jay Savarin) - 3:26 rating: *** stars The instrumental 'The Coming of the Mule' continued Savarin's Hammond B-3 noodlings, but found Watkins and the rest of the band joining in. Again, it sounded like an in-studio warm up with Gary Brooker guesting on keyboards. "The theme of the man of evil. The Mule is a freak. He is physically weak but has an abnormally over-developed brain and is dedicated to the utter pursuit of power. He is also a very lonely man." 3.) Third Chapter: Phantom City (Julian Jay Savarin) - 4:20 rating: *** stars The first true "song", 'Phantom' brought Pruden to the forefront. Musically the jazz-rock flavored track has always reminded me of something out of the Julie Driscoll and Brian Auger catalog. The problem for me was I didn't think Pruden was a distinctive singer and I wasn't a big Driscoll-Auger fan. Bottom line is this one just didn't register. As for how it fits into the plotline? Beats me.. As the album's most conventional track the song was released as a teaser 45 shortly before the album was issued. "A man, alone in space searching for a new home planet, experiences an odd dream in which he sees a hauntingly beautiful city. He is startled to realize he is also searching for someone ..."
- 1970's 'Phantom City' b/w 'Alda, Dark Lady of the Outer World' (Young Blood catalog number )
4.) Fourth Chapter: The Black Tower (Julian Jay Savarin) - 4:32 rating: *** stars It took awhile to get through Savarin's keyboard doodling, but eventually 'The Black Tower' provided Pruden another opportunity to display her vocal chops. Unfortunately the melody framed her with a weird stop-and start arrangement that came off as surprisingly MOR-ish. Watkin's extended flute solo didn't exactly help. "The place of evil is known and feared throughout the Outer Worlds. It is said that anyone taken there is never seen again, the mind being completely taken over, the victim to serve the Dark Lady forever." 5.) Fifth Chapter: Alda, Dark Lady of the Outer Worlds (Julian Jay Savarin) - 3:38 rating: *** stars Sounding life she was having one shitty day, 'Alda, Dark Lady of the Outer Worlds' finally demonstrated Pruden could belt out a song. Unfortunately the track was clearly intended as a narrative lynchpin pushing the plotline forward, which meant it didn't have a lot going on in terms melody. Showcasing a tasty Watkins guitar solo, the song got better when the band were finally allowed to kick loose, but just when it seemed they were going to make an impact the track faded out. For some odd reason the song was tapped as a single in the German market:
- 1970's 'Alda, Dark Lady of the Outer Worlds' b/w 'Phantom City' (Young Blood catalog number DV 11037)
"The beautiful, but megalomaniac lady of the Galaxy who ensnares men with her evil beauty. The Black Tower is her palace."
6.) Sixth Chapter: Altarra, Princess of the Blue Woman (Julian Jay Savarin) - 2:39 rating: *** stars Powered by a xylophone, 'Altarra, Princess of the Blue Woman' had a distinctive cocktail jazz vibe (funny to hear against the sci-fi lyrics). The track also sported the album's prettiest melody. Very laidback and calming - even if Altarra has blue skin ... "The only daughter, beautiful and unspoilt, of the Supreme ruler of the Plant Alkon. Far out in space, her thoughts tantalizingly invade those of a man on his own, giving him dreams he can't explain."
(side
2) 'Second Prophecy Second Oracle" opened side two with a brief instrumental segment - more Church organ and piano, before introducing another spoken word section from Pruden. "The Oracle gives warning of a second coming." 2.) Eight Chapter: Part One Twin Suns of Cetauri (instrumental) / Part Two Alkon, Planet of Centauri (Julian Jay Savarin) - 2:52 rating: *** stars What gave this one away as having a sci-fi there? LOL For some reason the pretty opening instrumental section has always reminded me of something out of the Focus catalog. 'Part Two Alkon, Planet of Centauri' brought in Pruden's vocals and featured one of the album's most progressive sounding efforts. "Descriptive theme of the Binary Star System." "Home of Altarra and now home of the man who's been searching for such a long, long time." 3.) Ninth Chapter: The Terran (instrumental) (Julian Jay Savarin) - 2:37 rating: *** stars Another dose of Brian Auger-styled jazz-rock, 'The Terran' gave drummer Jackie Drummond a shot at the spotlight and featured Watkin's longest guitar solo. "The Earthman's theme, the Oracle has spoken to him." 4.) Tenth Chapter: Fourth From the Sun (Julian Jay Savarin) - 2:50 rating: *** stars 'Fourth From the Sun' was a relatively conventional and commercial song. Geez, did I put on a Julie Driscoll album by mistake? "Alkon is the fourth planet out from the nearest of the Twin Suns, and in dreams. Altarra lets the Earthman know their paths were destined to meet from the beginning of time, that she is the embodiment of all womanhood, that mankind is immortal." 5.) Eleventh Chapter: Strange Things (Julian Jay Savarin) - 4:11 rating: **** stars If there was a radio friendly performance on this album it was the rocker 'Strange Things.' The song actually sported a catchy melody and for once you got to hear Pruden (her voice was double tracked), freed from the clunky plotline narratives that burdened most of the earlier performances. For me this was easily the album's standout performance. Wish it didn't end so soon and they investigated this sound more in-depth. "There Terran's mind is filled with thoughts of Altarra, induced by the dream images he received on his long voyage. Now he know he will so find her." 6.) Twelfth Chapter: A Time Before This (Julian Jay Savarin) - 8:15 rating: ** stars Closing out the album, the title track was the collection's longest and most progressive-styled performance. Musically it was all over the place, though Savarin kept the whole thing together with a weird "circus" refrain on his Hammond B-3. Like much of the album, "A Time Before This" didn't have much of a melody and the "summation" plotline lyrics were clunky. Kudos to Pruden for managing to keep a straight face through the entire eight minutes plus. "Are we the first humans on the Plant Earth? At some time in human history, there could have been a disaster so horrible that hereditary memory has carefully obliterated all trace of its existence from out minds. It's a fact that we can trace the origin of man up to a certain point only. Too many gaps are left unfilled. Why was this piece of the memory erased? Was it a safety measure? Was the human race once-might civilization and do we now live and exist in a state of comparative savagery in relation to that time? Perhaps to know would frighten us to insanity? Perhaps one day our minds will mature, enabling us to take the impact of this knowledge. The Earthman who came to Alkon was the last surviving member of his entire planet ..."
© Scott R. Blackerby June 2024
|
BACK TO BADCAT PAYMENT INFORMATION
action thriller works, Julian's Treatment was the brain
child of Dominican-born
Julian Jay Savarin.
His family immigrated to the UK in the early 1960s, settling in
London. Apparently hankering for a piece of the rock and roll
lifestyle, the late-'60s found Savarin turning his attentions from writing
to forming the band Julian's Treatment. In addition to showcasing
himself on keyboards, the band featured bassist John Dover, drummer Jackie
Drummond, Australian singer Cathy Pruden and lead guitarist Del
Watkins. Dover and Watkins had previous been members of Rare Amber.
The band found a mentor and supported in the form of producer Miki Dallon,
who promptly signed them
to his Young Blood label. Decca subsequently acquired American
distribution rights. Produced by Dallon, "A
Time Before This" was an elaborate concept piece
featuring Savarin's sci-fi lyrics. The album was apparently based on
Savarin's sci-fi trilogy "Lemmus: A Time Odyssey." (I
have to admit that while in high school I started reading "Waiters on
the Dance" but couldn't get through it.) 
her
ally the Mule. On the other side of the conflict stands Altarra, Princess of
the Blue Women and Supreme Ruler
of the planet Alkon. And
then it starts to get really weird. I'm trying not laugh as I write
this. Musically this one gets dumped into the progressive niche, but
what hear is more attuned to early-'70s jazz-rock. Powered by
Savarin's keyboards and Pruden's voice, tracks like 'Alda,
Dark Lady of the Outer Worlds', the instrumental 'The Coming of the Mule'
and 'The Black Tower' reminded me of Brian Auger's catalog (with or without
Oblivion Express). That's not a musical niche I'm particularly
infatuated which serves
to capture my general feelings for this collection. The plotline may
have been intriguing (as you've seen, I've never really figured it out), but
for the uninitiated it's liable to be an impenetrable mess. Adding to
the problem, there are not a lot of memorable melodies or strong rhythms.
For me it's just not an essential addition to anyone's collection unless
they subscribe to the sex, drugs and sci-fi school of rock and
roll By the way, Savarin's
series of action thriller books are much easier to follow. 
