Tony Duhig and Jon Field created art rock band Jade Warrior at the birth of the 1970s. After three albums on Vertigo, they shifted to the Island record label and produced a fascinating quartet of albums between and 1974 and 1978. Characterised by an eclectic range of influences and instrumentation, their albums presaged ‘Fourth World’ music. The records have a cinematic quality based around the largely instrumental compositions, with drifting reverie disrupted by an occasional guitar squall or flute meanderings punctuated by gongs.
In keeping with the band name, these four Jade Warrior LPs have a pleasing design continuity that reflects Duhig and Field’s interest in the orient.
*
*
Floating World [1974]
Waves [1975]
Kites [1976]
Way Of The Sun [1978]
*
vinylconnection.com.au 
Hey!! I have all four of those! And on vinyl no less… Happy to still be connecting with Vinyl Connection!
LikeLiked by 1 person
And I’m still delighted you are, Vic.
You know, I would not have picked you as a Jade Warrior type of chap, so that’s rather neat. Was it the exotic, often dynamic music or the covers?
LikeLiked by 1 person
It was Way of the Sun that I first sought out after reading somewhere that it had a Latin American bent. While I’m not sure I hear the LatAm in it so much beyond the occasional acoustic guitar phrases, I found it quite calming and mentally transporting. After subsequently finding a copy of the album in the used bins and being further enthralled by the deeper non-streaming experience of it, I was hooked and began picking up additional Jade Warrior offerings whenever I came across them.
While it’s true I tend to wear my heavy guitar-driven fandom most prominently in public, you might be surprised at what else lurks in the collection. If I were conducting a forensic investigation, I would probably be able to trace the seeds of my often dynamic taste for exotic instrumental music back to the early Al Di Meola cassettes I took a chance on in my teens.
And don’t get me started on my Exotica proclivities…
LikeLiked by 1 person
Hehehe. A most bodacious revelation.
Yes, the ‘world music’ elements are certainly in JW’s music, though more as colours or subtle flavours. Yet I’m convinced either Field or Duhig had the 45rpm of ‘El Condor Pasa’. 😉
LikeLike
Question is did the music equal the album cover art? Dabbled with Jade Warrior at the time after acquiring ‘Waves’ in a Myer discount bin at the Lonsdale St store. The floor eludes me but it was near the top of the building. The Leyland P76 had been released onto to the market at the time with a big splash of publicity. Mooted to directly take on the big manufacturers from Detroit, Ford and General Motors it was a spectacular flop. I was with my Dad at the time, surprisingly he had some switched on selections in his vinyl collection. Including Deodato Prelude which had the massive hit version of ‘Also Sprach Zarathustra’. He was the stereophile pioneer in the family, something I’m grateful for inheriting. Another album I bought at the sale was Jimi Hendrix’s ‘The Cry of Love’ which was released posthumously, ‘Angel’ was a lovely song.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I remember that Myer record section. Along a back wall on the nth floor. In particular, I recall when it closed down. They had a rather good sale, wherein I picked up the Grateful Dead’s triple Europe ’72 (which I still have).
The P76 became a joke, didn’t it? Not a joke was Deodato’s brilliant LP. I cannot believe I haven’t posted on ‘Prelude’, something that needs to be remedied!
Thanks again for sharing a postcard, WoodyD.
LikeLike
Love the artwork. The music’s not bad, either!
LikeLiked by 1 person
It’s different, for sure. Can’t think of any bands either then or since who have quite the same eclectic approach. In the right mood, very entertaining!
LikeLike
I had waves as a teenager. I could never get into it. The cover however was a wonder. I should give it another go.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I’d sure be interested to hear how you respond after a rather long break. 😉
LikeLike
I call your bluff Bruce, you just made this up.
What do I win?
LikeLiked by 1 person
I wish I’d made up Jade Warrior. They are quite unique! But come over and we’ll spin a couple over an exotic drink of some description.
LikeLiked by 1 person