Rare 1969 Orig CLOUDS Up Above UK KEYS PROG Psych

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EARLY '69 UK PROGRESSIVE ROCK           

         HARD TO FIND ORIGINAL FROM 40 YEARS AGO!

                           CLOUDS

             Up Above Our Heads

                       USA - DERAM RECORDS - DES 18044 
   

Hard to find circa 1969 original first pressing on the highly collected DERAM Records label of the third and final Lp by CLOUDS an interesting early progressive UK trio that features lots of creative keyboards around the self composed, well played 'tunes' ...

BILLY RITCHIE : Hammond organ - piano - guitars - vocals
IAN ELLIS : bass - acoustic guitar - vocals
HARRY HUGHES : drums

This album by is in some ways the most complex of the three released by Clouds. It is indisputably the best example of the musicianship, yet it contains the least of the composition and excellent song-writing which defines the other two releases, "The Clouds Scrapbook" and "Watercolour Days."

In fact, each snapshot you get of this group seems to show something different, organic changes abound. From the striking invention and Canterbury-like sounds of 1-2-3, through the mixture of songs and creativity of The Clouds Scrapbook, followed by the muso concert phase which contains "Up Above our Heads", to the uncut diamond that is Watercolour Days. Each phase shows aspects of a group that are difficult to pin down by trite phrases or neat labels.

Imagine me opens the album, careering along a dizzy path of improvisation and a decent song too, a blistering organ ends proceedings, topped off by a spine-chilling vocal rall from Ellis. This is how the band must have sounded 'live' circa 1969-70.

Sing Sing Sing is the old jazz-swing classic, complete with instrumental solos from all three musicians, stand-out piano and organ underlines Ritchie's reputation as one of the great keyboard players of the era, while Hughes' drumming bristles with technical excellence and Ellis gives value for money in bass invention and solid support for his two virtuoso sidekicks.

Take me to your Leader yet again reveals the schism between group and song-writing. This is effectively a non-song, an excuse to show off Canturbury-like sound sensibilities, and the band, with the always-excellent David Palmer's help, pull off the performance well.

Carpenter is something of the same ilk, a slightly-better 'song', but essentially, a platform for musicians rather than a statement of substance. One of several tracks lifted from The Clouds Scrapbook for inclusion here.

Old Man is the Ellis song, previously-heard on the first album. Neat and well-presented. Though on the first album it lent something in blues credibility to offset against the more mainstream offerings, it seems unnecessary on this outing, with all that surrounds it.

Big Noise from Winetka, along with Sing Sing Sing, somewhat defines the character of this album, and perhaps the group at this point, a Rock version of one of Swing's most emblematic numbers. This one is put together well, excellent harmonies and re-writing of melody, but the central point, the drumsticks playing on the bass guitar, while no doubt excellent in concert, doesn't carry the same weight on record. Perhaps that's why the gimmicky effects were introduced? The number is probably included here because of the concert popularity of the bass-drums novelty. To be fair, when seen on the video 'live' from Beat club (see: youtube), the technique is something of a tour-de-force by Hughes and Ellis, but has to be seen as much as heard.

In the Mine is, with the possible exception of Imagine Me, perhaps the only full-blown new song included on the album. That familiar melodic grandeur and serious tone once again pervades proceedings, with a beautiful 5/4 interlude which would have sounded quite breath-taking. As an ideas band, Clouds were second to none, only the studio time and experience was needed to complete the circle, but it never happened, and this has to be a cause for great regret.

As if to underscore that point, the album closes with Waiter there's something in my Soup, from the first album, but a slightly-different mix or pressing, giving more dynamics at some points (and some strange noises (effects!) at others!). As mentioned before, the song-drama is a wonderful piece of invention, with sometimes-fragmented edges, and the reward is in sections where it is nothing less than classic in its timeless quality, suggesting something far more serious than mere prog-rock music. David Palmer has once again to be commended for his part in this production with his fine and thoughtful arrangements.

Overall Up Above our Heads is an excellent album, albeit containing that familiar mix of brilliance and sloppiness so prevalent to Clouds. It also contains the strains of the tension between songs and group music, though in the case of this album, the group has won - the opposite perhaps of the first album, which puzzled the Clouds audience at the time. Perhaps this album was to appease those disgruntled fans of the 'live' band. If so, it was a mistake, as the album remains the lesser-known of the three, something of an obscurity.

BILLY RITCHIE : Hammond organ - piano - guitars - vocals
IAN ELLIS : bass - acoustic guitar - vocals
HARRY HUGHES : drums
Arrangements written and conducted by DAVID PALMER                     

Imagine Me - 3:19
Sing, Sing, Sing - 13:43
Take Me to your Leader - 2:53
Carpenter - 4:28
Old Man - 3:34
Big Noise From Winnetka - 3:51
In The Mine - 3:54
Waiter There's Something In My Soup - 7:51

CONDITION: The thick cover is solid on all seams, VG++ just very small shelf wear on front, a little more on back cover since it is dark color, but nothing too bad and overall nothing anyone would 'put down' ...very collectible = is a rare Lp that is hard to find...

The vinyl is all glossy VG++ having some small light soft handling scuffs,nothing to be concerned about and plays enjoyable without problem.

      A cool addition to anyone's music library!

SEE: SELLERS OTher items for similar cool sounds for "head" people...

EFFICIENT/CAREFUL GRADING

All imperfections are noted both cover & record