#25
SANTANA — LOTUS
Given that they announced themselves to the world via their performance at Woodstock, it is surprising that this was Santana’s first live album. Recorded during a 1973 tour of Japan and released in May ’74, it is the pinnacle of the band’s jazz-rock phase. Musically, Lotus is a tour-de-force of mind-blowing intensity and passion.
Art Direction for the amazing package was by Tadanori YOKOO who dreamed up the concept and gathered a team of Japanese artists and photographers to realise his vision.
(Excerpt from a series on triple live albums)
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#24
GONG — YOU
The perfect melding of Daevid Allen’s pot-head pixie whimsy and cosmically inclined space explorations of Tim Blake (synths) and Steve Hillage (guitar), You is an album that is both dated and absolutely timeless. What makes it enduringly enjoyable is the way those two strands are woven together into a journey that is entrancing in its invention and a charming presentation of the hippy vision. It may sound odd to put it this way, but You is a loveable album.
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#23
FOCUS — HAMBURGER CONCERTO
It may be heretical, but for me this is the most satisfying Focus album. A delicate introduction is followed by the manic “Harem Scarem,” the perfect opening for a progressive European band who have a real sense of both musical history and a penchant for rocking out. The side-long title-suite is superb, with well articulated sections and brilliant playing throughout.
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#22
GRYPHON — RED QUEEN TO GRYPHON THREE
Adapting Classical compositions to the progressive rock idiom was rather popular in the Seventies. Keith Emerson built a stellar career on it while Trace (see #38) were a European contender. But few ventured back beyond the Baroque era.
Enter Gryphon. Trained at a proper Music School (note capitals) they initially explored folk-rock but expanded to include Medieval, Renaissance, and archaic folk themes… and instruments. Who could resist a band featuring recorders, bassoon and not one, but two Krumhorn players? A superb example of what makes progressive rock special: inventive, engaging, repeatedly enjoyable.
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#21
ROBERT WYATT — ROCK BOTTOM
The more time I spend with Robert Wyatt’s debut solo album, the more I appreciate it. Much of the music was written with a post-Soft Machine band in mind, plans that were shattered after Wyatt fell out of a fifth storey window and, after an extended stay in hospital, adjusted to life in a wheelchair. The music has delicacy and space, and shifts moods subtly like dappled sunlight on the ocean. There is beauty and whimsy, charm and comedy (Ivor Cutler guests). For those willing to have their rock boundaries extended, this luminous album comes highly recommended. Just don’t expect it to click on the first listen.
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Did any of these tickle your turntable in times past?
vinylconnection.com.au 
In this set I only know Santana though not this specific album but recognize some of the tracks. I mostly know Santana’s classic phase, which remains my favorite. Beyond “Caravanserai,” I haven’t much explored their jazz fusion phase.
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In many ways Lotus is the culmination of that first period, Christian. The jazz fusion elements of Caravanserai (my personal favourite in their catalogue) peak here. I thoroughly recommend Welcome and this to round out the ‘essential’ Santana!
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Thanks, Bruce, always grateful for your tips!
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Rock Bottom is one of the best albums of all time in my humble opinion, followed closely by Ruth Is Stranger Than Richard
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It’s a corker, Paul, that’s for sure.
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You, dated? I suppose it really is, frozen in time maybe! I just finally acquired a copy of Rock Bottom so I’m looking forward to revisiting that. Sea Song is such a special song.
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Really enjoying that Rock Bottom has rung some joyous bells for you (and Paul K, and maybe others). We need some humanity right now, right?
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Rock Bottom is just such a wonderful LP, like nothing else out there at all, even other Rob Wyatt stuff. An utterly timeless thing.
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Yes indeed. That word does get bandied around but I reckon you’ve deployed it accurately here. And do you know Shleep, Joe? Much later, but with it’s own enduring charm.
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No I don’t, I have the odd track of his here and there on my MP3 shelves but I’ve yet to listen to a further album. There’s a great BBC radio documentary on him which is well worth seeking out that I’d recommend.
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Hooray for “Hamburger Concerto”!! Love that one as well, though my absolute go-to Focus album these days is the live “At the Rainbow.” I haven’t heard (or thought about) that Gryphon album since hearing it in the late ’70s . . . need to rectify that, I think!
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“At the Rainbow” is a classic 70s live album, that’s for sure! I cannot explain how it missed making any appearance in the 73 FROM ’73 COUNTDOWN. Ah well.
“Red Queen to Gryphon Three” was my introduction to the band; it holds a special place in my musical heart. Hope you enjoy a re-acquaintance, JES.
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Santana had some VG singers on his albums.
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True! But not so prominently on this album; there are almost no tracks with lead vocals. I sometimes wondered whether this tour was instrumentally focussed because the band was ‘between’ vocalists.
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Most of Satriani’s albums are instrumental.
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I saw Gong live a few weeks ago – they were absolutely excellent and completely reinvented. all the band members, and nearly all the material, have only been around a decade or so. as much as I loved the new stuff, the highlight was this insane version of “Master Builder” which left everyone floating in space…Daevid would be very proud
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I’ve read that… different but good. Not sure they will get downunder, though.
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I think I will slap on “a tour-de-force of mind blowing intensity and passion”. I mean how can I resist that.
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Resistance (as the Daleks are wont to say) is useless.
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