FLAC (tracks, .cue, log) | Genre: Prog Rock | Label: Esoteric Recordings | 572 MBTracklist:CD 1:01. Animal Farm (3:24)02. Newsworth (3:03)03. Time (1:16)04. Tide (2:51)05. Catalan (5:03)06. The Flattery Stakes (3:57)07. Waltz for a Fallen Idol (3:19)08. The ass’s Ears (3:21)09. Doldrums (3:42)10. Gangsters (2:27)Bonus Tracks:11. Catalan (Single Edit) (3:52)12. Rubber Face and Lonely Eyes (2:40)CD 2 (The Swedish Radio Concert 1975):01. Pilgrim’s Progress (8:03)02. Newsworth (3:03)03. The Flattery Stakes (4:42)04. Bedside Manners Are Extra (6:26)05. Joie de Vivre (10:58)06. Waltz For A Fallen Idol (3:11)07. The Ass’s Ear (3:47)08. Drum Folk (11:59)09. Spirit Of The Dance (3:44)Line-up::Dave Greenslade / keyboards (all except 1,9)Dave Lawson / keyboards (all except 3,4)Martin Briley / bass, guitar, back vocal (all except 3,4,9)Andrew McCulloch / drums (all except 3,4,9)Guests:Ann Simmons / back vocal on 10Jill MacIntosh / back vocalBarry Morgan / timbalesThe Treverva Male Choir Directed by Edgar KesselFounded in London, England in 1972 – Disbanded in 1976 – Reformed in 1999After the demise of COLOSSEUM in ’71, keyboardplayer Dave Greenslade founded his own band GREENSLADE, featuring Tony Reeves (bass), Dave Lawson (keyboards, clarinet, flute) and Andrew McCulloch (drums), he had left KING CRIMSON.

In ’73, GREENSLADE released their eponymous debut album, followed by “Bedside Manner Are Extra” (’73), “Spyless Guest” (’74) and finally “Time and Tide” (’75).

Then the band call it a day and Dave Greenslade went solo.

The album “Shades of Green” (’97) is a comprehensive compilation-CD and “Live” (’99) a live-CD including recordings from ’73 and ’75.

A few years ago Dave Greenslade and Tony Reeves teamed up to re-unite GREENSLADE with John Young (guitar and vocals) and Chris Cozens (drums).

They released the albums “Large Afternoon” and “Greenslade live 2001” (same line-up except John Troter on drums).

The first two albums are an excellent blend of classic, jazz, rock, blues and symphonic rock with elaborate compositions and inventive and exciting dual-keyboardplay by Greenslade and Lawson.

The omnipresence of the Mellotron is very pleasant with majestic waves of the violin-Mellotron (like early KING CRIMSON) and glorious eruptions of the sumptuous choir-Mellotron.

In comparison with the ‘progrock-dinosaurs’, GREENSLADE played more varied styles, the songs were shorter and it lacked the usual ‘progrock self-indulgence’ (like ELP and YES), no endless soloing.

I’m very pleased with the swinging and powerful sound of the clavinet, an underestimated keyboard within the progrock world (only Rick WAKEMAN was a frequent user).

A good start to this unique band is the compilation “Shades of Green” and an even better introduction is the live-album “Live” (with tracks from ’73 and ’75), containing some spectacular play on the Minimoog (with pitchbend).

It’s the most keyboard-loaden album with hints from WAKEMAN, MANFRED MANN’S EARTH BAND and SUPERTRAMP.

GREENSLADE is a band to discover and they deserve more appreciation by the progrock aficionados.