Freedom to Music
Posts tagged Wally
Wally – Valley Gardens (1975) (@256)
16 Jul 2010
(Review from progarchives.com)
Before they released their second album in 1975, Paul Gerrett leaves the band is replaced by Nick Glennie-Smith.
The music on this album is a lot more symphonic and space rock’ed than the debut album. The sound is pretty full of spacey elements. Pink Floyd is a natural inspiration, it seems. Yet the music is still rooted in country & western, with the violin still omni-present.
The nineteen minutes long “The Reason Why” is noteworthy, a work out of astronomical proportions with space rock and country vocal harmonies.
This is an interesting album, with a sound that promised more than they delivered by the time the band broke up.
Line-up:
- Pete Cosker / Electric and acoustic guitars, vocals, bass
- Nick Glennie-Smith / Keyboards
- Paul Middleton / Steel guitar, bass
- Roger Narraway / Percussion
- Pete Sage / Electric violin, bass, mandolin
- Roy Webber / Lead vocals, acoustic guitar
with
- Jan Glennie Smith / Vocals
- Madeline Bell / Vocals
- Ray Wherstein / Sax
Track List:
01. Valley Gardens – 9:51
02. Nez Perce – 5:03
03. The Mood I’m In – 7:07
04. The Reason Why – 18:28
Link in comments.
Wally – Wally (1974) (@256)
15 Jul 2010
(Review from progarchives.com)
While much of the sixties were marked by the British invasion of America and all points west and east of Liverpool, there seem to have been some points in time where the influences flowed the other direction, if only in isolated pockets. Wally are one of those rare examples of this phenomenon.
Wally was formed in the early 70s, discovered in 1972 when they reached the finals of a “Melody Maker” contest. Bob Harris, one of the judges, got them a contract and with the support of Rick Wakeman co-produced their debut self titled album in 1974.
The album has a clear symphonic sound, specially in the opener “Martyr” and the twelve minutes epic “To the Urban Man” with great mellotron but a good deal of country music influence, more evident in songs as “I Just Wanna Be a Cowboy” that mixes some Eagles sound.
Line-up:
- Pete Cosker / Electric and acoustic guitars, vocals, bass guitar
- Paul Gerrett / Fender Rhodes, harmonium, grand piano, harpischord, Mellotron, hammond organ, vocals
- Paul Middleton / Steel guitar, bass guitar
- Roger Narraway / percussion
- Pete Sage / Electric violin, bass guitar, mandolin
- Roy Webber / lead vocals, acoustic guitar
Track List:
01. The Martyr – 7:59
02. I Just Wanna Be A Cowboy – 4:03
03. What To Do – 7:37
04. Sunday Walking Lady – 2:36
05. To The Urban Man – 13:45
06. Your Own Way – 5:27
Link in comments.