What Are You Listening To?

[Ruby]

^Another one to look out for!

KEATS – Keats


 
Yet another of those vinyls. A project put together, or encouraged by Eric Woolfson and Alan Parsons (who produced). The membership was drawn from the core of the Alan Parsons Project and affiliates, the idea being to allow these musicians to shine on their own, outside of the APP. According to Ian Bairnson, Woolfson was the driving force behind assembling the membership and he also says that while the line-up looked great on paper, and in theory should have worked brilliantly, it was a rather clinical ‘pairing’, and ultimately, there was just no zing. The band name is nothing to do with the romantic poet and everything to do with Woolfson’s favourite restaurant at the time! Bairnson said they were lucky the flavour of the month wasn’t Fat Bob’s Café, or the Bombay Curry Den! Lol! James Marsh (of Talk Talk artwork renown) is responsible for the rather strange cover which I simply cannot fathom – perhaps that is the point. They folded after this one album.

Personnel:

Ian Bairnson – lead guitarist (Pilot, APP, and a lot more session work)
Colin Blunstone – vocalist (the Zombies, APP, solo and more)
David Paton – bass guitarist (Pilot, APP, Camel)
Peter Bardens – keyboards/synths (Them, Camel)
Stuart Elliot – drummer (Steve Harley & Cockney Rebel)
Plus – not credited as a member, but playing a substantial role – Richard Cottle – keys and synths.

I have listened to this before - it’s quite a bit more commercial sounding than the early APP albums and probably a shining example of the AOR/melodic rock of that era. Some catchy melodies, well executed, of course, but hmmmm – a bit bland and lacking in emotion.

Coupla picks …
 
“Tragedy” (primarily for the Spanish guitar solo) … written by Blunstone and Elliot - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MQccxLTIqGY
 
“Walking on Ice”, written and sung by David Paton … https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t_grjpdLaSU
 
The single “Turn Your Heart Around”, written by Pete Bardens …