UK group founded 1964 and still playing. Through their carreer moving through a number of genres - bluegrass, folk, glam, prog, psych - involving over forty different members and long time supports with a total production of thirtythree original albums and thirty plus singles. With a few exceptions they were never big sellers, but had a substantial following that for some reason have thinned out through the years and today the band and especially their seventies albums are sadly underrated by many. Of all the great stuff they did this is my favorite. Listening now it's hard to understand why it isn't already on more "greatest albums" lists. The construction is similar to "Sgt. Pepper" or "Dark Side..." - a number of top songs in very different styles held together by common production and atmosphere thus giving a joint expression. Happy tunes and darkness within the same flow. "Part Of The Union" (re-write of an old Joe Hill song) is hardy and positive. "Tears And Pavan" starts in a melancholy mood but ends up as a consoling greek folky melody. "Flying" and "Lay Down" are catchy soft pop and "Down By The Sea" long and adventurous with tempo changes and an enthralling guitar riff. No need jumping tracks here - it's all good. First US on A&M (SP-4383). German 1998 CD (A&M 540936-2) and Japan 2002 CD (A&M UICY-9215) both came with same three bonus cuts, including "Lay Down" single version. Premiere UK had label as shown here, thin matt sleeve and structured "silver" lyric/credit inner.
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