Week of November 20, 2005
Personnel:
John Dover – Bass
Jack Drummond – Drums
Julian Jay Savarin – Keyboards
Cathy Pruden - Vocals
Del Watkins - Guitar, Flute
Album:
A Time Before This (2LP - Youngblood SYB 2) 1970
(issued by Decca in the US; reissued on See For Miles (SEELP 288) 1990, and on
CD (SEECD 288).
CD:
Akarma AK192, 2002
45:
Phantom City/Alda Dark Lady Of The Outer Worlds (Youngblood YB 1009) 1972
Julian Jay Savarin wrote and directed this rare concept album, which is
one for connoisseurs of progressive rock. It's full of dramatic keyboard playing
and equally dramatic semi-spoken vocals from Cathy Pruden. Side one commences
with the spoken ‘First Oracle’, which is followed by ‘The Coming Of
The Mule’, an organ-led piece of progressive rock which is quite cosmic in
places, with appealing vocals from Pruden. ‘Phantom City’ is again
keyboard-dominated but quite jazzy. ‘The Black Tower’ is the weak link
and previews the mediocre music which plagues much of side two. Pruden's
melodramatic vocals introduce ‘Alda’, ‘Park Lady Of The Outer Worlds’
and the side's final cut, ‘Altarra’. ‘Princess Of The Blue Women’,
features some delightful, melodic vocals from Pruden rather in the style of US
band The United States Of America. Side two begins with another spoken
'oracle' but is weaker than the first side save for the album's finale and
highpoint - the title cut which starts with some haunting keyboards and features
more vocal melodramas from Pruden.
Savarin was born in Dominica and moved to Britain along with his family in 1962.
Cathy Pruden was an Australian resident.
Savarin, a noted poet and writer, also made a solo album, ‘Waiters Of The
Dance’.
Taken from The Tapestry of Delights - The Comprehensive Guide to British Music of the Beat, R&B, Psychedelic and Progressive Eras 1963-1976, Vernon Joynson ISBN 1 899855 04 1