(2018) Greenslade - Greenslade [Expanded Edition]

Review:
This Esoteric Recordings expanded edition has been newly re-mastered from the original master tapes and includes a bonus CD of recordings made for BBC Radio One between January and April 1973. Not long after the disintegration of Colosseum, Greenslade was born, with their inaugural self-titled album whetting the appetites of progressive rock fans worldwide. Dave Greenslade used the group to showcase his illustrious keyboard intricacies alongside Tony Reeves’ bass guitar, Andrew McCulloch’s predominant percussion work, and Dave Lawson’s vocals, all of which made Greenslade a quintessential prog album. The attention almost never veers from David Greenslade’s beautiful organ texturing, alternating between hard and delicate patterns while defining the album’s pure progressive sound. Reeves’ bass riffs are spatial and thorough, complimenting the keyboard runs when needed while falling in behind the music at the proper times. Although the three instrumental pieces (“An English Western,” “Melange,” and “Sundance”) aim the spotlight straight at Greenslade, the vocal tracks are just as worthy. The lyrics are of a simple nature, unlike Yes’ brand of fantastical poetry, and they adhere perfectly to the instruments, especially on the sincere “What Are You Doin’ to Me.” For this project and the rest of Greenslade’s albums, Dave Greenslade exchanges the jazz-infused stylishness of his Colosseum days for the complexities of a progressive rock realm, and his transition ends up being faultless. Bedside Manners carries on with the same rich, keyboard-led sound, while another member from Colosseum, guitarist Dave Clempson, joins on for 1974’s Spyglass Guest, in which the electronics were noticeably toned down.

Tracklist:

Disc 1
01 Feathered Friends
02 An English Western
03 Drowning Man
04 Temple Song
05 Melange
06 What Are You Doin' To Me
07 Sundance

Disc 2
01 Temple Song (BBC Recordings January 1973)
02 Feathered Friends (BBC Recordings January 1973)
03 An English Western (BBC Recordings January 1973)
04 Sundance (BBC Recordings April 1973)
05 Drowning Man (BBC Recordings April 1973)
06 Feathered Friends (BBC Recordings April 1973)
07 Mélange (BBC Recordings April 1973)

Summary:
Country: UK
Genre: prog-rock