Greenslade – Temple Songs: The Albums 1972-1975 (4 CD, 2021/FLAC)

 Aside from Roger Dean’s iconic cover illustrations, Greenslade weren’t like most prog brands of the 1970s. Keyboardist Dave Greenslade and bassist Tony Reeves formed the quartet in 1972 after leaving jazz-rock outfit Colosseum. Eschewing guitars, they hired Samurai’s Dave Lawson as a second keyboardist, and former Manfred Mann drummer Andrew McCulloch (he also played on King Crimson’s Lizard). The band’s approach utilized typical knotty, stop-and-start cadences, and key and tempo changes, but those are only a few elements in their complex soundscape. The rest of Greenslade’s sound reflected a penchant for catchy melodies derived from pop, jazz, classical, and folk. Keyboardist Lawson spent years backing singers including Bing Crosby and Peggy Lee. 

Greenslade, Reeves, and McCulloch came up in the British blues and jump R&B bands of the early 1960s. The remastered albums in this box mark their four studio outings: 1972’s Greenslade, 1973’s Bedside Manners Are Extra, 1974’s Spyglass Guest, and 1975’s Time & Tide. 1972’s Greenslade still reflects the jazz-fusion influence of Colosseum. The textural and tonal juxtapositions of organ, Mellotrons, synth, and acoustic and electric pianos frame the gorgeous “Feathered Friends,” while instrumental “An English Western” weds Morris Dance rhythms to boogie woogie piano, and set showcase “Sundance” delivers a dazzling prog exercise. Released a few months later, Bedside Manners Are Extra‘s title track makes use of the Beatles “Here Comes the Sun King” in the intro and bassline before moving toward jazz. “Pilgrim’s Progress” is a seven-minute adventure in layered cadences and key changes; the rhythm section counters with a punchy R&B shuffle. “Chalk Hill” is sumptuous prog-jazz fusion with fantastic keyboard soloing and swinging drums. A cover photo in lieu of a Dean illustration on 1974’s Spyglass Guest hinted at something different. Due to practical circumstances, Lawson and Greenslade composed separately for the first time. Opener “Spirit of the Dance” is a wily, lighthearted prog instrumental. “Rainbow” offers some of the band’s most elegant pop songwriting. Reeves’ “Siam Seesaw” — with guitarist Clem Clempson and violinist Graham Smith — initially sounds like an anime interlude but is transformed into a bluesy jazz groove. The set closes with a cover of “Theme from an Imaginary Western” that sounds more like Procol Harum than Greenslade. Reeves left after its release and was replaced by guitarist/bassist Martin Briley. Time & Tide (with a Dean cover illustration) reflects the more commercially viable prog of the day and somewhat marginalizes jazz and classical. Lawson’s vocals on “Animal Farm” and “Newsworth” are jarring in the midst of hooky garage prog. “Waltz for a Fallen Idol” sounds like Supertramp backed by Steely Dan. (It’s great.) “The Ass’s Ears” offers grandly majestic prog, while closer “Gangsters” gloriously returns Greenslade to swinging jazz fusion. All four albums have been remastered from analog source tapes.

(1972) Greenslade
01 - Feathered Friends (2018 Remaster)
02 - An English Western (2018 Remaster)
03 - Drowning Man
04 - Temple Song (2018 Remaster)
05 - Melange
06 - What Are You Doin' to Me (2018 Remaster)
07 - Sundance

(1973) Bedside Manners Are Extra
01 - Bedside Manners Are Extra
02 - Pilgrim's Process
03 - Time to Dream
04 - Drum Folk (2018 Remaster)
05 - Sunkissed You're Not (2018 Remaster)
06 - Chalk Hill (2018 Remaster)

(1974) Spyglass Guest
01 - Spirit of the Dance
02 - Little Red Fry Up (2018 Remaster)
03 - Rainbow (2018 Remaster)
04 - Siam Seesaw (2018 Remaster)
05 - Joie de Vivre
06 - Red Light (2018 Remaster)
07 - Melancholic Race
08 - Theme for an Imaginary Western (2018 Remaster)

(1975) Time & Tide
01 - Animal Farm (2019 Remaster)
02 - Newsworth
03 - Time (2019 Remaster)
04 - Tide (2019 Remaster)
05 - Catalan (2019 Remaster)
06 - The Flattery Stakes
07 - Waltz for a Fallen Idol
08 - The Ass's Ears
09 - Doldrums (2019 Remaster)
10 - Gangsters