Cirkus - 1973 - Cirkus One

Genre:Symphonic/Eclectic Prog

Country:UK
Size: 112 MB
Bitrate: 256mp3
Artwork Included
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Good early British soft progressive symphonic that will appeal to fans of Cressida, Moody Blues, Barclay James Harvest and Spring. The album varies between quite catchy numbers like "You Are", "April 73'" and "Brotherly Love" to more mellow and melancholic songs like "Seasons", "Song for Tavish" and "A Prayer". The latter seems to be a song about trans-sexuality! "Title Track" is a two-part track, and probably the most progressive song here. The arrangements are very nice and tasteful with organ, mellotron and real strings. No plastic crap. And the songwriting is very strong and inspired through the whole album. This is not complex progressive, but good old melody-based, British soft progressive that anyone who likes good melodies will enjoy.
The album is a significant collector's item among fans of progressive music. The Geordie band financed the album themselves and paid for 1,000 copies to be released. Musically it's competent progressive symphonic rock with mellotrons etc. very much in the mould of bands like Yes. The later reissue on Five Hours Back should be easier to obtain and will save you quite a lot of money. It retained the original gatefold sleeve and more recently the album has been issued on CD with bonus tracks. They also recorded a second album Future Shock (Shock 1) 1977.

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Track Listing

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1. You Are (3:20)

2. Seasons (3:37)

3. April '73 (5:04)

4. Song For Tavish (4:35)

5. A Prayer (5:37)

6. Brotherly Love (3:49)

7. Those Were The Days (3:54)

8. Jenny (4:09)

9. Title Track

. .a. Breach (4:19)

. .b. Ad Infinitum (3:12)

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Bonus Tracks from the remastered Audio Archives CD:

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10. Castles (2:51)

11. The Heaviest Stone (4:56)

12. Amsterdam (4:03)

13. Melissa (3:22)

14. Pickupaphone (3:26)

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Total Time: 60:33

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Tracks 1-9 recorded in 1973. Tracks 10 & 11 recorded in 1971. Tracks 12-14 recorded in 1976.

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Line-up / Musicians

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- Paul Robson / lead vocals

- John Taylor / bass

- Derek G. Miller / organ, piano, mellotron

- Stu McDade / drums, percussion, backing vocals

- Dogg / electric and acoustic guitars

- Alan Roadhouse (replaces Paul Robson on tracks 12 & 14) / lead vocals, saxophone

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Enjoy!