Browse by Label: ORK (UK)

Artist:	WRITING ON THE WALL
Title:	Power of the Picts
Label:	ORK (UK)
Format:	2CD
Price:	$17.00
Catalog #:	ORK 002CD

"Scottish heavy rock band Writing On The Wall made it big on the underground rock scene in the late 1960s through a highly dramatic stage act. They regularly played the Middle Earth club, went on tour with the likes of Ten Years After, held a lengthy residency at the Marquee where they were supported by up-and-coming acts such as Wishbone Ash. As others retreated to 'be-denimed slothfulness' Writing On The Wall became more theatrical, featuring choreographed fights, dressing up as a caveman, a high priest, a monk and a witchfinder, and the destruction of a bubble car in support of the recently introduced breathalyzer test. Melody Maker felt sufficiently disturbed to comment that the band had 'the reputation of being violent to frightening extremes.' However John Peel was suitably impressed and the band recorded two Top Gear sessions for Radio 1. The Middle Earth club launched a label with this maniacal rock band as lead off act, releasing a single and LP in 1969. Both items today are rare, and highly collectable, holding their worth in the price guides. These items form disc one of this Power of the Picts double CD collection, its title repeating the title of the only LP. The band continued to record demos but a second LP deal failed to materialize with any label. Live work continued to impress and in 1972 they were invited to play in Brazil at the Rio Song Festival, which they did in front of a 60,000 strong live audience and millions of South American TV viewers. Enough was earned to fund the recording of a full second LP. Although never released, from it came the band's most fully realized creation, the song 'Buffalo,' managing at turns to be both menacing and elegiac. A severely truncated version was released as a single by PYE in 1973 and graces comps today such as Sanctuary's Gather In The Mushrooms. Fortunately the original full length version survives and we kick off disc two with it. The rest of disc two contains the best of the other recordings made during 1971-1973, including two stand out rockers in 'Man Of Renown' and 'Bellyful of Rock,' recorded for a Scottish TV show."

Artist:	CANTERBURY GLASS
Title:	Sacred Scenes and Characters
Label:	ORK (UK)
Format:	CD
Price:	$17.00
Catalog #:	ORK 005CD

"Mainstays of the band Canterbury Glass, Malcolm Ironton and Mike Hall were Hornsey Art College students, where Pink Floyd developed their experimental light shows. An early brush with Pye and John Schroeder, releasing a duo single as Mick and Malcolm, led to them building up a band and playing the university circuit. Malcolm's formative years in the Royal School Of Church Music singing at venues such as Westminster Cathedral and Canterbury Cathedral, combined with his more recent experience playing supports to Caravan, Ten Years After, Jimi Hendrix, and regular stints at the Middle Earth, shaped his view of rock music when it came time to write material for the newly christened Canterbury Glass. Recording at Olympic Studios in 1969, with Chris Kimsey in the chair, the group delivered a full on concept rock chorale, which included a guest appearance by future Genesis guitarist Steve Hackett (the track 'Prologue'). Bids from Polydor, EMI and CBS were played off against each other by the band's manager, who duly lost the lot and the album remained unreleased (though it did reach the front cover stage; the artwork survived and we have it here). A further session track from a Regent Sound session has since been recovered and added to this rather unique package."

Artist:	BACHDENKEL
Title:	Lemmings
Label:	ORK (UK)
Format:	CD
Price:	$17.00
Catalog #:	ORK 006CD

"A prog rarity by an English band in France, 1971, plus bonus tracks. From the ashes of Apple Music Publishing band The U (Don't) No Who (3 tracks on RPM 312 An Apple A Day), came Bachdenkel, who in 1969 relocated from Birmingham to France. During their time in France a number of recording sessions were undertaken, an early single resulted ('Through The Eyes Of A Child'), and eventually an LPs worth of material collected. The song 'Translation' was written following an association with choreographer Graziella Martinez (who had previously worked with The Soft Machine) working on a ballet of the same title. Already experimenting with mixing their influences from Beatles psych era, Joni Mitchell style songs, Eastern and hippie philosophies, Bachdenkel were further tempted by visiting musicians to Paris such as avant garde jazz artists The Art Ensemble of Chicago and Anthony Braxton. The result is magnificent, great songs with beautiful and unusual lyrics, epic music, warm vocals, and a truly captivating listening experience."

Artist:	TRAPEZE
Title:	Medusa
Label:	ORK (UK)
Format:	CD
Price:	$17.00
Catalog #:	ORK 009CD

"A truly classic rock album that has stood the test of time. A blend of classic blues based rock music fused with soul, funk and occasional heavier elements it marks the crowning glory of Trapeze. Recorded in 1970 just as the band changed from being a five piece to becoming a power trio, with Glenn Hughes, Mel Galley, Dave Holland. With hindsight you could say rather like one of their influences Cream, Trapeze were something of a budding super group with Hughes later joining Deep Purple, Galley joining Whitesnake and Holland joining Judas Priest. Medusa the album was written by the band members and produced by John Lodge, of the Moody Blues, and released on the Moodies own Threshold label. They toured the world with it, and on occasion even had John Bonham sit in when they played his favorite song 'Jury.' Our reissue has been digitally re-mastered and the package features a personal note from Glenn Hughes, plus pics and reminiscences from the Deep Purple Appreciation Society."

Artist:	RABBIT
Title:	Dark Saloon/Broken Arrows
Label:	ORK (UK)
Format:	CD
Price:	$17.00
Catalog #:	ORK 010CD

"Considering John 'Rabbit' Bundrick's reputation and high profile career, playing keyboards with everyone from Free and Bob Marley right up to The Who, it's amazing that his solo work still remains largely unrecognized. After Free split in early 1973, Rabbit continued his association with Island Records and, as well as recording innumerable sessions for them, made two excellent solo albums which Ork Records is proud to release on CD for the first time. Broken Arrows from 1973, and Dark Saloon from 1974, were Rabbit putting his songwriting talents to good use ('Salt Annie Ginger Tree' was later covered by Johnny Nash). On Dark Saloon, Rabbit was joined by string arranger Marty Ford, ABBA's Swedish musicians and his Texas friends Terry Wilson and Tony Braunagel (soon to be in Paul Kossoff's Back Street Crawler) along with repeat appearances from Snuffy Walden and Al Roberts from Stray Dog (also on Broken Arrows) and even Free's Tetsu turns up to play some bass! Rabbit was so busy with sessions, he didn't have time to promote these albums, hence them lying under the radar ever since. Rabbit himself, however, retains a high profile due to his ongoing tenure with The Who, and now-reissued work with Free. Thus these underrated releases stand a better chance this time around, not least with Rabbit assisting on the project."

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