Sky: The Studio Albums 1979-1987 - 8 Disc Clamshell Box Set

RE-PRESS: CD ORIGINALLY RELEASED IN 2018                                                                             

New Clamshell Box Release Comprising All Seven Studio Albums by the Masters of Classical Rock - Sky

Includes a Bonus Remastered DVD (NTSC / Region Free) – “Sky – Live in Nottingham 1990” with Two Previously Unreleased & Un-broadcast Tracks

CDs Remastered from the Original Master Tapes

Esoteric Recordings is pleased to announce the release of “THE STUDIO ALBUMS 1979 – 1987”, a new clamshell boxed set that gathers together all seven studio albums released by the legendary classical rock band SKY over a nine year period.

Formed in 1979, Sky brought together the worlds of rock and classical music in a highly successful and inspiring way. Featuring the gifted talents of guitarist JOHN WILLIAMS, percussionist Tristan Fry, legendary bass player Herbie Flowers, former Curved Air keyboard player Francis Monkman and guitarist Kevin Peek, Sky recorded their debut album at Abbey Road studios in the early months of 1979. The band’s self-titled debut reached the UK top ten in May 1979 and went on to achieve Platinum status in the UK and was also a major hit in Europe and Australia.

Also a huge live attraction, SKY released their second album in April 1980. “SKY 2” was a fine achievement, featuring the hit single ‘Toccata’, and topped the UK album charts upon its release. For this, the band’s third album, STEVE GRAY replaced Francis Monkman on keyboards, but the band continued their run of success as SKY 3 reached the UK top ten upon its release in March 1981.

The albums “SKY 4” and “CADMIUM” continued the run of best-selling albums, following which JOHN WILLIAMS departed the band in December 1983.

In March 1985, the album “THE GREAT BALLOON RACE” was recorded in Australia and the UK, becoming another hit album. In 1987 they recorded their final album, which saw SKY arrange pieces composed by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. “MOZART” featured the Academy of St. Martin in the Fields conducted by Sir Neville Marriner and earned the group their highest ever US chart placing upon release.

This set also includes a bonus DVD (NTSC / Region Free), “SKY – LIVE IN NOTTINGHAM 1990”, a performance recorded for Central Television on the 24th June 1990 and featuring a line-up of HERBIE FLOWERS, TRISTAN FRY, STEVE GREY, KEVIN PEEK and PAUL HART, which has been newly re-mastered from the original video tape masters and features un-broadcast and previously unreleased performances of ‘Toccata’ and ‘Tuba Smarties’.

Track Listing:

DISC ONE: CD
SKY
RELEASED IN MAY 1979
1. WESTWAY
2. CARILLON
3. DANZA
4. GYMNOPEDLE NO. 1
5. CANNONBALL
6. WHERE OPPOSITES MEET

DISC TWO: CD
SKY 2
RELEASED IN APRIL 1980
1. HOTTA
2. DANCE OF THE LITTLE FAIRIES
3. SAHARA
4. FIFO - a. FIFO b. ADAGIO c. SCHERZO d. WATCHING THE AEROPLANES
5. TUBA SMARTIES
6. BALLET-VOLTA
7. GAVOTTE & VARIATIONS
8. ADANTE
9. TRISTAN’S MAGIC GARDEN
10. EL CIELO
11. VIVALDI
12. SCIPIO
13. TOCCATA

DISC THREE: CD
SKY 3
RELEASED IN MARCH 1981
1. THE GRACE
2. CHIROPODIE 1
3. WESTWIND
4. SARABANDE
5. CONNECTING ROOMS
6. MOONROOF
7. SISTER ROSE
8. HELLO
9. DANCE OF THE BIG FAIRIES
10. MEHECCO
11. KEEP ME SAFE AND KEEP ME WARM, SHELTER ME FROM DARKNESS

DISC FOUR: CD
SKY 4: FORTHCOMING
RELEASED IN APRIL 1982
1. MASQUERADE
2. RIDE OF THE VALKYRIES
3. MARCH TO THE SCAFFOLD
4. TO YELASTO PEDI
5. WALTZ NO. 2
6. FANTASY
7. MY GISELLE
8. XANGO
9. FANTASIA
10. SKYLARK

DISC FIVE: CD
CADMIUM
RELEASED IN DECEMBER 1983
1. TROIKA
2. FAYRE
3. A GIRL IN WINTER
4. MOTHER RUSSIA
5. TELEX FROM PERU
6. THE BOY FROM DUNDEE 7. NIGHT
8. THEN AND NOW
9. RETURN TO ME
10. SON OF HOTTA

DISC SIX: CD
THE GREAT BALLOON RACE
RELEASED IN APRIL 1985
1. DESPERATE FOR YOUR LOVE 2. ALLEGRO
3. THE LAND
4. PETER’S WEDDING
5. THE GREAT BALLOON RACE 6. THE LADY AND THE IMP
7. CALDANO
8. ROLEYSTONE
9. NIGHT SKY

DISC SEVEN: CD
MOZART
RELEASED IN NOVEMBER 1987
1. THE MARRIAGE OF FIGARO: OVERTURE
2. EINE KLEINE NACHTMUSIK: RONDO
3. THE MARRIAGE OF FIGARO: NON SO PLU, COSA SON
4. SYMPHONY NO. 34: LAST MOVEMENT
5. THE MAGIC FLUTE: OVERTURE
6. EINE KLEINE NACHTMUSIK: ROMANZA
7. HORN CONCERTO NO. 4 IN EB: RONDO
8. DON GIOVANNI: LA CI DAREM LA MANO
9. A MUSICAL JOKE: PRESTO
10. COME, SWEET MAY (SPRING SONG)
11. RONDO ALLA TURKA: RONDO

DISC EIGHT: DVD
LIVE IN NOTTINGHAM 1990
RECORDED FOR CENTRAL TV 24TH JUNE 1990
1. SON OF HOTTA
2. CANNONBALL
3. FOUND
4. REVERIE
5. TOCCATA *
6. MEHEECO
7. WOULD YOU SAY I’M IN LOVE WITH YOU
8. TUBA SMARTIES *
9. PRAELUDIUM
10. HOTTA
* PREVIOUSLY UNRELEASED