Esoteric Recordings are pleased to announce the next release in their series of compilations celebrating the so-called “underground” rock music – “Taking Some Time On – Underground Sounds of 1970”, is a 4 CD clamshell boxed set which gathers together over five hours of music from 1970, the first year of a new decade that would see Progressive music in all its forms become a dominating force with the album-buying public.
The innocence of psychedelia and the optimism expressed by such vast expressions of the Hippy ideal as the Woodstock Festival in New York State and the Hyde Park Free Festivals of 1969 in London were shattered by the violence of the Altamont Festival in California at the end of the year. As 1970 dawned, a more cynical tone began to appear in the counter-culture which was also reflected in some of the music by “Progressive” artists as some music got heavier or more anarchic. Jazz, blues, hard rock, folk and classical music influences melded together to form a diversity of music among so-called Underground artists, championed by “underground” figures of the day such as John Peel on his BBC Radio One show Top Gear.
These artists retained a common audience who anticipated their albums eagerly, resulting in the “progressive” imprints of major record labels such as EMI’s Harvest, Decca’s Deram and Philips Records’ Vertigo imprints and the independent Island Records enjoying healthy sales with some artists enjoying success in the UK singles charts.
Universities and Colleges were regular venues on burgeoning live music circuit in the UK for these artists, most of whom earned loyal followings through regular concert performances both in Britain and in Europe. 1970 was also a year of major rock festivals in Britain, all of whom featured “Progressive” album focussed artists. Free concerts in London’s Hyde Park and events such as Plumpton Festival, The Bath Festival of Blues and Progressive Music and the infamous Isle of Wight Festival of 1970 (gate-crashed by underground agitators protesting against the entrance fee being charged by the organisers) all showcased some of the best music of the time.
“Taking Some Time On – Underground Sounds of 1970” is a lovingly compiled collection of music from this momentous year, featuring artists such as ATOMIC ROOSTER, KEVIN AYERS, BARCLAY JAMES HARVEST, BLODWYN PIG, EDGAR BROUGHTON BAND, CARAVAN, CURVED AIR, DEEP PURPLE, EMERSON LAKE & PALMER, FAMILY, FLEETWOOD MAC, GENTLE GIANT, HAWKWIND, JETHRO TULL, LINDISFARNE, McDONALD & GILES, THE MOVE, PRETTY THINGS, PROCOL HARUM, RARE BIRD, STATUS QUO, AL STEWART, TRAFFIC, VAN DER GRAAF GENERATOR, WISHBONE ASH & YES. This compilation also features lesser-known acts who failed to make a wider known impression, but produced excellent work of a wide breadth such as AFFINITY, PETE BROWN & PIBLOKTO!, CLEAR BLUE SKY, MICHAEL CHAPMAN, CRESSIDA, BRIAN DAVISON’S EVERY WHICH WAY, EGG, GRACIOUS, HIGH TIDE, LOCOMOTIVE, LOVE SCULPTURE, PATTO, QUATERMASS, STRAY and T2. Feed your head with the fabulously diverse underground sounds of 1970.
Track Listing:
DISC ONE:
1. TAKING SOME TIME ON – Barclay James Harvest
2. THE GREEN MANALISHI (WITH THE TWO PRONG CROWN) – Fleetwood Mac
3. IF I COULD DO IT ALL OVER AGAIN, I’D DO IT ALL OVER YOU – Caravan
4. BLACK NIGHT – Deep Purple
5. REFUGEES (SINGLE VERSION) –Van Der Graaf Generator
6. LADY ELEANOR – Lindisfarne
7. WINTER – Atomic Rooster
8. HURRY ON SUNDOWN – Hawkwind
9. THE WITCH’S PROMISE – Jethro Tull
10. NOTHING AT ALL – Gentle Giant
11. SEE MY WAY – Blodwyn Pig
12. SMALL FRUIT SONG – Al Stewart
13. NO MORE WHITE HORSES – T2
14. THE SONG OF MCGUILLICUDIE THE PUSILLANIMOUS (OR DON’T WORRY JAMES, YOUR SOCKS ARE HANGING IN THE COAL CELLAR WITH THOMAS) – Egg
15. APACHE DROPOUT – Edgar Broughton Band
16. SITTIN’ BACK EASY – Patto
DISC TWO:
1. SINGING A SONG IN THE MORNING – Kevin Ayers
2. EMPTY PAGES – Traffic
3. ALAN IN THE RIVER WITH FLOWERS – Lindisfarne
4. SYMPATHY (SINGLE VERSION) – Rare Bird
5. GERDUNDULA (SINGLE VERSION) – Status Quo
6. RAIN – Locomotive
7. CAN’T BE LONG NOW / FRANCOISE/ FOR RICHARD / WARLOCK – Caravan
8. AROUND THE WORLD IN EIGHTY DAYS – Stray
9. A SONG FOR ME – Family
10. GRASS – Pretty Things
11. WHALING STORIES – Procol Harum
12. FUNNY WAYS – Gentle Giant
13. PHOENIX – Wishbone Ash
14. NO OPPORTUNITY NECESSARY, NO EXPERIENCE NEEDED – Yes
DISC THREE:
1. BLACK SHEEP OF THE FAMILY – Quatermass
2. IN THE LAND OF THE FEW – Love Sculpture
3. JIG-A-JIG – East Of Eden
4. THINGS MAY COME AND THINGS MAY GO, BUT THE ART SCHOOL DANCE GOES ON FOREVER – Pete Brown & Piblokto!
5. TOMORROW’S PEOPLE – THE CHILDREN OF TODAY – McDonald & Giles
6. LUCKY MAN – Emerson, Lake & Palmer
7. MIRROR OF ILLUSION – Hawkwind
8. MY HEAVEN – Clear Blue Sky
9. ALL IN TIME – Brian Davison’s Every Which Way
10. DOWN, DOWN – Cressida
11. THE SUN WILL NEVER SHINE – Barclay James Harvest
12. LUNATIC’S LAMENT – Kevin Ayers & The Whole World
13. THREE SISTERS – Affinity
14. MOMMA’S REWARD (KEEP THEM FREAK’S A ROLLIN’) – Edgar Broughton Band
15. WHY? (HOW – NOW) – Love Sculpture
DISC FOUR:
1. BLANKMAN CRIES AGAIN – High Tide
2. ALL IN YOUR MIND – Stray
3. SOULFUL LADY – Michael Chapman
4. SITUATIONS – Curved Air
5. HEAVEN – Gracious
6. GOOD NEWS, BAD NEWS – Family
7. OCTOBER 26 – Pretty Things
8. LOVE LIKE A MAN – Ten Years After
9. ELECTRIC LOS ANGELES SUNSET – Al Stewart
10. WHAT? – The Move
11. THOUSANDS ON A RAFT – Pete Brown & Piblokto!
12. ASTRAL TRAVELLER – Yes
