The progressive rock genre spawned many groups that became top-grossing arena acts -- Pink Floyd and Genesis are two -- as well as many who progressed right into obscurity. Henry Cow were one of the best known and most widely traveled English bands of the progressive era (though only a cult favorite in the U.S. and actually more popular in Continental Europe than in their home country), and their music has aged amazingly well over the ensuing decades due to the group's diverse influences (Oliver Messiaen, Kurt Weill, Frank Zappa, and Soft Machine were a few) and uncompromising creativity. Henry Cow functioned more or less as a collective, with a true group identity that changed from album to album as members came and went. This turnover was one factor in their consistent vitality; another was the dedicated core of the band, a serious, politicized trio whose interest in improvisation served to leaven the complexity they supplied as primary writers.
The 40th Anniversary Henry Cow Box Set (also known as The Road) is a nine-CD plus one-DVD limited edition box set by English avant-rock group Henry Cow, and was released by RēR Megacorp in January 2009. It consists of almost 10 hours of previously unreleased recordings made between 1972 and 1978 from concerts, radio broadcasts, one-off projects, events and the studio. Included are new compositions, over four hours of free improvisation, and live performances of some of Henry Cow's original LP repertoire.
Chris Cutler, of Henry Cow and Recommended Records, planned and coordinated the whole project. Assembly of the recordings began in the mid-1990s and were edited by Cutler. He also prepared and edited two books that are included in the box set. Bob Drake remastered and, where possible, non-invasively remixed the original recordings at Studio Midi-Pyrenees in France between 2004 and 2008.
The box set was expected to be ready before the end of 2008 to coincide with the 40th anniversary of the formation of Henry Cow, but the discovery of additional material delayed its release. Volume 6 of the box set, Stockholm & Göteborg was released separately by RēR Megacorp in September 2008 in advance of the box set's release. A limited edition bonus CD, A Cow Cabinet of Curiosities was given to subscribers of the box set.
In March 2017 Volumes 1 to 5 and 7 to 10 of the box set, plus the bonus CD were each released by RēR Megacorp as separate albums.
Volume 1: Beginnings
01 - "Pre-Teenbeat I" (Frith) – 1:44
02 - "Pre-Teenbeat II" (Frith) – 1:28
03 - "Rapt in a Blanket" (Frith) – 5:06
04 - "Came to See You" (Frith) – 6:43
05 - "Amygdala extract (pre-Legend demo)" (Hodgkinson) – 3:35
06 - "Teenbeat" (Frith) – 10:19
07 - "Citizen King" (Hodgkinson) – 5:21
08 - "Nirvana for Moles" (Frith) – 4:09 "With the Yellow Half Moon and Blue Star" (Frith)
09 - "Introduction" – 0:46
10 - "Invocation" – 2:08
11 - "Demi-Lune Jaune" – 2:10
12 - "Three Little Steps" – 2:13
13 - "Red Riff" – 1:50
14 - "Chorale Flautando" – 1:51
15 - "Cycling Over the Cliff" – 4:08
16 - "First Light" – 0:51 "Guider Tells of Silent Airborne Machine"
17 - "Olwyn Grainger" (Cutler, Frith, Greaves, Hodgkinson) – 2:24
18 - "Betty McGowan" (Cutler, Frith, Greaves, Hodgkinson, Leigh) – 6:12
19 - "Lottie Hare" (Greaves) – 1:24
Extracts from rehearsal and other tapes from 1971-73.
Personnel
Chris Cutler – drums, piano (start of track 18)
Fred Frith – guitar, violin, voice (tracks 3,4)
John Greaves – bass guitar, piano (end of tracks 18,19), voice (tracks 7,18)
Tim Hodgkinson – organ, alto saxophone, melodica, clarinet, voice (track 7)
Geoff Leigh – tenor saxophone (tracks 1,2,5-19), flute (tracks 1,2,5-19), voice (tracks 7,9,16)
Guests
Amanda Parsons – conversation (track 6)
Ann Rosenthal – conversation (track 6)
D.J. Perry – spoken passage (tracks 9,16)
Dave Stewart – celeste (track 6), conversation (track 6)
Track notes
Tracks 1,2,5 are from rehearsal tapes, recorded by Jack Balchin before Legend
Other tracks are from various unmarked tapes, 1971-3
Volume 2: 1974-5
01 - "Introduction" (Cooper) – 1:52
02 - "Ruins I" (Frith) – 6:35
03 - "Half Asleep, Half Awake" (Greaves) – 4:11
04 - "Ruins II" (Frith) – 0:59
05 - "Heron Shower over Hamburg" (Frith) – 2:29
06 - "Nix" – 0:06
"Halsteren" (Hodgkinson, Frith, Greaves, Cutler on themes by Hodgkinson)
07 - "Halsteren 1" – 1:08
08 - "Solo 1" (Hodgkinson) – 1:08
09 - "Solo Extension 1" – 2:21
10 - "Halsteren 2" – 1:24
11 - "Extension 1" – 0:17
12 - "Halsteren 3" – 0:52
13 - "First Suspension" – 4:28
14 - "Extension 2" – 2:58
15 - "Extension 3" – 1:19
16 - "Solo 2" (Frith) – 1:20
17 - "Solo Extension 2" – 2:32
18 - "Halsteren 4" – 0:17
19 - "Second Suspension" – 2:34
20 - "Extension 4" – 1:58
21 - "Solo 3" (Greaves) – 0:49
22 - "Solo Extension 3" – 3:17
23 - "Halsteren 5" – 1:21
24-32. "Living in the Heart of the Beast" (Hodgkinson) – 13:46
A collection of live performances from 1974 and 1975.
Personnel
Lindsay Cooper – oboe (tracks 1-5,24-32), bassoon (tracks 1-5,24-32), piano (tracks 24-32)
Chris Cutler – drums, glass bowls and clatter (tracks 7-23)
Fred Frith – guitar (tracks 1-5,24-32), viola (tracks 1-5,24-32), piano (track 1), electric and acoustic guitars (tracks 7-23), prism (tracks 7-23), xylophone (tracks 24-32)
John Greaves – bass guitar, piano (track 3), clothes pegs (tracks 7-23)
Tim Hodgkinson – organ, alto saxophone, clarinet (tracks 7-23)
Dagmar Krause – voice (tracks 24-32)
Guests
Robert Wyatt – voice (tracks 29,32)
Track notes
Tracks 1-5 are from an unmarked tape, 1974
Tracks 7-23 are from a concert at the Verenigingsgebouw in Halsteren, 26 September 1974, recorded by Jan Smagge on a stereo reel-to-reel
Tracks 24-32 are from a concert at the Théâtre des Champs-Élysées, Paris, 8 May 1975, with live mix by Sarah Greaves
Volume 3: Hamburg
01 - "Fair as the Moon" (Cutler, Frith) – 6:01
02 - "Nirvana for Rabbits" (Frith) – 4:48
03 - "Ottawa Song" (Cutler, Frith) – 3:41
04 - "Twilight Bridge" (Cooper, Cutler, Frith, Greaves, Hodgkinson, Krause) – 2:04
05 - "Gloria Gloom" (Wyatt, McCormick) – 2:17
06 - "Hamburg 1" (Cooper, Cutler, Frith, Greaves, Hodgkinson, Krause) – 4:15
07 - "Hamburg 2" (Cooper, Cutler, Frith, Greaves, Hodgkinson, Krause) – 3:27
08 - "Red Noise 10" (Cooper, Cutler, Frith, Greaves, Hodgkinson, Krause) – 3:16
09 - "Hamburg 3" (Cooper, Cutler, Frith, Greaves, Hodgkinson, Krause) – 5:30
10 - "Hamburg 4" (Cooper, Cutler, Frith, Greaves, Hodgkinson, Krause) – 2:40
11 - "Hamburg 5" (Cooper, Cutler, Frith, Greaves, Hodgkinson, Krause) – 5:25
12 - "Terrible As an Army with Banners" (Cutler, Frith) – 3:34
13 - "A Heart" (Cooper, Cutler, Frith, Greaves, Hodgkinson, Krause) – 9:03
14 - "Little Red Riding Hood Hit the Road" (Wyatt) – 5:12
15 - "We Did It Again" (Ayers) – 6:31
Recordings from the March 1976 Hamburg, Germany concert.
Personnel
Chris Cutler – drums
Lindsay Cooper – obeo, bassoon, piano (tracks 8-11)
Fred Frith – guitar, piano (tracks 1,4,12,13)
John Greaves – bass guitar, voice (track 3)
Tim Hodgkinson – organ, alto saxophone
Dagmar Krause – voice
Guests
Robert Wyatt – voice (tracks 14,15)
Track notes
Tracks 1-13 are from a public concert recorded for the NDR Jazz Workshop, Hamburg, 26 March 1976
Track 14 are from a concert at the Piazza Navona, Rome, 27 June 1975, mixed by Sarah Greaves
Track 15 are from a concert at the Théâtre des Champs-Élysées, Paris, 8 May 1975, with live mix by Sarah Greaves
Volume 4-5: Trondheim
Disk 1
01-10 - "Trondheim I" (Cooper, Cutler, Frith, Hodgkinson) – 48:25
Disk 2
01-06 - "Trondheim II" (Cooper, Cutler, Frith, Hodgkinson) – 31:54
07 - "The March" (Frith arr. Henry Cow) – 6:25
A double CD of a complete concert recorded in Trondheim, Norway in May 1976
Personnel
Lindsay Cooper – oboe, bassoon, tapes, voice, flute (CD 1), recorder (CD 1), piano (CD 1, tracks 7-9), jaw harp (CD 2)
Chris Cutler – drums, telephone mouthpieces, amplification, flotsam (CD 1), voice (CD 1), jetsam (CD 2), piano (CD 2)
Fred Frith – guitar, 6-string bass guitar, xylophone, tapes, violin (CD 1), tubular bells (CD 1),
Tim Hodgkinson – organ, clarinet, voice, tapes, alto saxophone (CD 2), mbira (CD 2)
Track notes
All tracks from a cassette recording made by Henry Cow at the mixing desk at a concert at Studentersamfundet, Trondheim, 26 May 1976, mixed by Joel Schwartz
Volume 6: Stockholm & Göteborg
01 - "Stockholm 1" (Born, Cooper, Cutler, Frith, Hodgkinson) – 6:38
02-06 - "Erk Gah" (aka "Hold to the Zero Burn") (Hodgkinson) – 16:46
07 - "A Bridge to Ruins" (Hodgkinson) – 5:08
08 - "Ottawa Song" (Cutler, Frith) – 3:27
09-11 - "Göteborg 1" (Cooper, Cutler, Frith, Hodgkinson) – 16:53
12 - "No More Songs" (Ochs arr. Frith) – 3:35
13 - "Stockholm 2" (Born, Cooper, Cutler, Frith, Hodgkinson, Krause) – 6:13
14 - "March" (Frith) – 4:15
Swedish Radio recordings of concerts performed in May 1976 in Gothenburg and May 1977 in Stockholm.
Personnel
Georgie Born – bass guitar, cello (tracks 1-7,12-14)
Lindsay Cooper – bassoon, flute, recorder, piano (tracks 1-2), tapes (tracks 9-11)
Chris Cutler – drums, electrification, piano (track 10)
Fred Frith – guitar, xylophone, tapes (tracks 9-11), piano (tracks 13-14)
Tim Hodgkinson – organ, alto saxophone, clarinet, voice (tracks 9-11), tapes (tracks 9-11)
Dagmar Krause – singing (tracks 1-7,12-14)
John Greaves – bass guitar (track 8), voice (track 8)
Track notes
Tracks 1-7 and 12-14 were recorded for Tonkraft by Sveriges Radio at a concert in Stockholm on 9 May 1977 and broadcast on 8 June and 11 June 1977; the programme producer was S. Vermalin
Track 8 was recorded for the NDR Jazz Workshop in Hamburg on 26 March 1976
Tracks 9-11 were recorded for Tonkraft by Sveriges Radio at a concert in Gothenburg on 28 May 1976 and broadcast on 14 July and 17 July 1976; the programme producer was Christer Eklund
Volume 7: Later and Post-Virgin
01 - "Joan" (Cutler, Frith) – 5:26
02 - "Teenbeat 2" (Frith) – 8:05
03 - "Would You Prefer Us to Lie?" (Cutler, Greaves) – 4:28
04 - "Untitled Piece" (Cooper) – 11:31
05 - "Chaumont 1" (Born, Cooper, Cutler, Frith, Hodgkinson) – 9:01
06 - "Chaumont 2" (Cooper, Hodgkinson) – 2:14
07 - "March" (Frith) – 7:00
08 - "Brain Storm Over Barnsley" (Frith) – 3:23
09 - "Teenbeat 3" (Frith) – 6:45
10 - "Post-Teen Auditorium Invasion" (Cooper, Hodgkinson, Geoff Leigh, Roelofs) – 3:56
11 - "Bucket Waltz" (Born, Cooper, Cutler, Frith, Hodgkinson, Geoff Leigh, Roelofs) – 4:26
12 - "On Suicide" (Brecht, Eisler) – 3:42
A collection of live performances from late 1976 and 1977.
Personnel
Tim Hodgkinson – organ, alto saxophone, clarinet (track 12), voice (track 5), tapes
Fred Frith – guitar, xylophone, tubular bells, violin, piano (track 7)
Lindsay Cooper – bassoon, oboe, jaw harp, flute, piano (tracks 3-5), accordion (track 5)
Georgie Born – bass guitar, cello
Dagmar Krause – voice (track 1,3,7)
Chris Cutler – drums, contact microphone amplification (tracks 5-7)
Guests
Geoff Leigh – tenor saxophone (tracks 10-11)
Annemarie Roelofs – trombone (tracks 10-11)
Track notes
Tracks 1-3 were recorded on cassette from the audience at Wandsworth Town Hall, London, 13 February 1977, live mix by Jack Balchin
Track 4 was recorded on cassette from the audience at De Plek, Vlissingen, 22 May 1977, live mix by Jack Balchin
Tracks 5-7 were recorded on cassette from the audience at Salle des Fetes, Chaumont, Paris 25 November 1976, live mix by Jack Balchin
Tracks 8-11 were recorded on cassette from the audience at Melkweg, Amsterdam, 16 December 1977, live mix by Jack Balchin
Track 12 was from an unidentified cassette recording, probably Italy, May/June 1977
Volume 8: Bremen
01 - "Armed Maniac/Things We Forgot" (Born, Cooper, Cutler, Frith, Hodgkinson) – 11:55
"New Suite"
02 - "Van Fleet" (Frith) – 1:49
03 - "Viva Pa Ubu instrumental extract" (Hodgkinson) – 4:35
04 - "The Big Tune Begins" (Frith) – 0:45
05 - "The Big Tune Continues" (Frith) – 2:11
06 - "The Big Tune Ends" (Frith) – 1:30
07 - "March" (Frith) – 3:46
"Die Kunst Der Orgel"
08-12 - "Bremen" (Born, Cooper, Cutler, Frith, Hodgkinson) – 34:25
13-14 - "Erk Gah instrumental extract" (Hodgkinson) – 13:04
Extracts from a Radio Bremen radio broadcast in March 1978.
Personnel
Tim Hodgkinson – organ, alto saxophone, clarinet, mbira, voice (track 9)
Fred Frith – guitar, tubular bells, marimba (track 8), xylophone (track 14), violin, piano (track 7)
Lindsay Cooper – bassoon, oboe, sopranino saxophone, recorder, piano (tracks 9-11,14), accordion, egg-slicer
Georgie Born – bass guitar, cello
Chris Cutler – drums, marimba (tracks 9-10), piano (tracks 1,14)
Track notes
Recorded for New Jazz Live at a public concert at Sendesall, Studio F, Radio Bremen, 22 March 1978, produced by Bernd Meier, concert mix by Jack Balchin
Volume 9: Late
01 - "Joy of Sax" – 3:50
02 - "Jackie-ing" (Monk arr. Westbrook) – 1:15
03 - "Untitled 2" (Cooper) – 1:32
04 - "The Herring People" (Frith) – 2:07
05-08 - "RIO" (Born, Cooper, Cutler, Frith, Hodgkinson) – 17:09
09 - "Half the Sky" (Cooper) – 5:05
10 - "Virgins of Illinois" (trad.) – 2:13
11 - "Viva Pa Ubu" (Hodgkinson) – 2:18
A collection of performances from June and July 1978, plus Henry Cow's set at the inaugural Rock in Opposition Festival in March 1978.
Personnel
Tim Hodgkinson – organ, alto saxophone, clarinet, voice (track 7)
Fred Frith – guitar, violin, xylophone
Lindsay Cooper – bassoon, oboe, recorder, sopranino saxophone
Georgie Born – bass guitar, cello
Chris Cutler – drums
Guests
Annemarie Roelofs – trombone (tracks 4,10)
Dave Chambers – saxophone (tracks 1,2)
Track notes
Tracks 1-4,10 are from a source unknown, probably outdoors in Italy, June or July 1978, live concert mix by E. M. Thomas
Tracks 5-9 are from the Rock in Opposition Festival at New London Theatre, Drury Lane, London, 12 March 1978, recorded by Hasse Bruniusson of Samla Mammas Manna, live concert mix by Jack Balchin
Track 11 was recorded on cassette from the audience at Cervia, 23 July 1978, live concert mix by E. M. Thomas
Bonus CD: A Cow Cabinet of Curiosities
01 - "Pre Virgin Demo 1" (mostly Frith) – 3.55
02 - "Pre Virgin Demo 2" (mostly Hodgkinson) – 1:02
03 - "Unidentified Improvisation 1" (Cooper, Cutler, Frith, Greaves, Hodgkinson) – 1:30
04 - "Unidentified Improvisation 2" (Cooper, Cutler, Frith, Greaves, Hodgkinson, Krause) – 5:37
05 - "Unidentified late composition" (probably Cooper) – 2:04
06 - "Exploded Amygdala/Teen Introduction" (Cutler, Frith, Greaves, Hodgkinson, Leigh) – 3:37
07 - "Lovers of Gold" (Cooper, Cutler, Frith, Greaves, Hodgkinson, Krause) – 6:29
08 - "Hamburg 6" (Cooper, Cutler, Frith, Greaves, Hodgkinson, Krause) – 5:33
09 - "Ruins extract" (Cooper, Cutler, Frith, Greaves, Hodgkinson, Krause) – 8:24
10 - "Hamburg 7" (Cooper, Cutler, Frith, Greaves, Hodgkinson, Krause) – 9:44
11 - "Half the Sky" (Cooper) – 5:03
12 - "Extract from The Glove" (Cooper, Cutler, Frith, Greaves, Hodgkinson) – 2:19
A limited edition CD given to subscribers of the box set. The title alludes to the name of Bob Drake's band, Cabinet of Curiosities.
Personnel
Chris Cutler – all tracks, piano (track 10), voice (track 12)
Fred Frith – all tracks, voice (track 12)
Tim Hodgkinson – all tracks, voice (track 12)
John Greaves – tracks 1-10,12, voice (track 12)
Geoff Leigh – tracks 1,2,6, voice (track 1)
Lindsay Cooper – tracks 3-5,7-12, voice (track 12)
Dagmar Krause – tracks 4,8-10
Guests
Peter Blegvad – clarinet (track 7)
Anthony Moore – mounted and amplified tuning forks (track 7)
Track notes
Tracks 1,2 were recorded in Henry Cow's rehearsal space by Jack Balchin, probably 1972
Tracks 3-6 were extracted from a forgotten tape from 1978 which surfaced while this box set was being compiled
Track 7 is an out-take from In Praise of Learning mixed by Tim Hodgkinson at Cold Storage in 1984
Tracks 8-10 were recorded at a pubic concert for NDR Jazz Workshop, Hamburg, 26 March 1976
Track 11 recorded at a pubic concert at Sendesaal, Studio F, Radio Bremen, 22 March 1978, produced by Bernd Meier
Track 12 is an extract from an Unrest out-take mixed by Tim Hodgkinson at Cold Storage in 1984
