Temple Songs - The Albums 1973-1975: 4CD Clamshell Boxset

Aside from Roger Deans iconic cover illustrations, Greenslade werent 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 Samurais Dave Lawson as a second keyboardist, and former Manfred Mann drummer Andrew McCulloch (he also played on King Crimsons Lizard) . The bands 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 Greenslades 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: 1973s Greenslade and Bedside Manners Are Extra, 1974s Spyglass Guest, and 1975s Time & Tide. 1973s 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 Extras 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 1974s 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 bands 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. Lawsons 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. (Its great.) The Asss 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. There is no dodgy, distracting, subpar bonus material. They are packaged in LP reproduction sleeves in a handsome box. Journalist and historian Malcom Dome contributed an exhaustive liner essay for the photo-illustrated booklet; it also includes a poster. Highly recommended. ~ Thom Jurek