VERY RARE ORIGINAL LP VINYL RECORD on the legendary highly collectable VERTIGO SWIRL Label

The self-titled ONE and ONLY classic PROGRESSIVE Psychedelic British album by

 Still Life

Still Life ORIGINAL Gatefold 33.1/3 rpm Vertigo Records, 1971 Stereo 1st CANADIAN PRESS [ 6360 026 ] UK progressive psych group made in CANADA.

Still Life was a British progressive rock band characterized by expert Hammond organ playing, intricate and original vocal harmonies, and an agile and precise rhythm section. They had one self-titled album that was originally released in 1971. The album credits kept an aura of mystery about their membership. Martin Cure (Martin Cure And The Peeps), and Graham Amos (Rainbows (band)), Terry Howells and Alan Savage were believed to be involved.

Condition:

Record Vinyl: VG- .

Labels are excellent clean: EX 

Cover Sleeve: VG-

NO RESERVE !!!

Still Life biography
This English foursome can be traced as far back as 68 with a single that sank almost without a trace, but their only album appeared in 71 on the legendary Vertigo label with the Swirl design and a 6360 catalogue number, which makes it very collectible and now fetches small fortunes. They often toured with The Edgar Broughton Band and were a bit their protégé band.

Musically speaking STILL LIFE is amazing prog quartet that also toured with TITUS GROAN and ARTHUR BROWN's KINGDOM COME and their sound is organ-dominated early British prog with a good bass thread so typical of that era, that can now be considered proto-prog. With odd lyrics, and a rather strange gatefold artwork sleeve of a flowered skull (that could easily fitted a GRATEFULL DEAD album), STILL LIFE is a curiosity and enjoyable!

Martin Cure  vocal
Terry Howells keyboards
Graham Amos bass
Alan Savage drums

Side A
1. People in black (Howells)
2. Don't go (Howells/Cure)
3. October Whitches (Howells)
Side B
4. Love song no.6 (Howells)
5. Dreams (Howells/Cure)
6. Time (Howells/Amos)

This album started to be one of my favorite just after first listening. I can definitely recommend it to all early 70’ art rock fans, especially to Hammond organ afascinatos. This usually unknown band made really fascinating album with incredible solos and memorable melodies. It can be shown as one of the most representative record of these great times for good and more ambitious than nowadays music. So let’s start descibe all of these songs:

SIDE ONE: 1. “People in black” – it begins with mellow flute section and quite soft singing but suddenly Howells starts to play his organ, at first slow and tender but after a while it changes to real Hammond orgy. This keyboardist shows us that he is a real master of this instrument. We can hear memrable melodies here, but first of all a lot of aggressive, spectacular and expressive solos.

2. “Don’t go” – this is the shortest and I think that the weakest track (only in comparison to the other songs on this album of course!). In fact this is very soft song, “chorus” parts can be even called “sweet”. In general it’s almost radio-friendly, but again I have to remark that organ-playing here is very “smart” and interesting, too.

3. “October witches” – another great track comparable to “People in black” but here we don’t have any doubts who is the main person in this band ‘cause Howells electric organ plays the leading role from beginning till the end. He makes many incredible things with this instrument (for example makin’ a lot of “slides” effects when he touches all of the keys with one short move).

SIDE TWO: 4. “Love song no. 6 (I’ll never love you girl)” – it starts a little suprising with acoustic guitar, soft vocals and after a while piano playin’. But from second minute Howells starts to use his Hammond in really fury way. His solo is breathtaking and its main part includes repeated “sliding” like in some psychedelic madness attack. Another interesting moment is outro wherekeyboardist plays almost classic music. Of course I can’t pass over Cure’s vocals ‘cause he sings his “I’ll never love you girls, You’ll never love me” in really impressive & passionate way.

5. “Dreams” – first of all it has really stunning intro – some melorecitation which after a while changes to some dramatic almost hysteric screaming (in the type of ’60 psychedelic rock a la Jim Morrison or Arthur Brown). Along with cressendo organ sound makes really great atmosphere here. But this is only a beginning! In the middle of the song we can listen to couple of another Hammond solos with all of these murmurings, roarings, growlings and squekings effects which you surely expect and await for J. But prog-song couldn’t be fully progressive without some more liricist…and Still Life don’t forget ‘bout it ‘cause in the ending part of the song they changed their music to some softer and more poetical singin’ (in chorus type) and pathetic organ playin’.

6. “Time” – another gem from “Still Life”. It starts with pompous organ along with choir-like singing: “aaaaa…” and after few seconds Hammond begins riffing some insane, breaking “melody”. When this intro is over and Curve starts singin’ music tends to be almost conventional but after a while we can notice that organ become more and more important & omnipresent here. Near to the 5th minute of “Time” Howells starts something which can’t be even called Hammond solo ‘cause it’s a real, psychy madness played by lunatic in insane “delirium tremens” fury with more and more slowest & immelodic rhytm…great ending for this song and all impressive album.

Conclusion: this is “a must hear and a must have” for all progressive rock fans, especially these who admire Hammond organ-driven type of this music with some psychedelic flavour. If you are kin of Still Life, you will probably like The Nice, Aardvark, Bram Stoker, Beggar’s Opera, Quatermass, Odin, Rare Bird, 2066 & Then, Ache and Frumpy...!

From prog archives reviews that gave 5 stars *****...

VERY RARE TO FIND !!!

Discography

Firstly back to the roots. Bassist Graham Amos, vocalist Martin Cure began their musical adventure in 1963 in the Coventry band called The Sabres. They later formed The Peeps in 1965. The other two members of the band were Roy Albrighton (guitar) and Paul Wilkinson (drums). The Peeps recorded five SPs for Philips (1966-68). In 1968, they recruited Terry Howells on organ (ex-Ray King Soul Band). The drummer P.Wilkinson left the band in 1968 (he joined a band called Flying Machine). With new drums player, Gordon Reed (ex-Vampires), group's name was changed to Rainbows. They recorded two singles for CBS. The Rainbows had some gigs in Hamburg, Germany and when they were finished the guitarist, R.Albrighton decided to stay in Germany (later, he formed a band called Nektar). When Rainbows came back to England, the drummer G.Reed left the band. So then there were three musicians: Amos, Cure, Howells. They changed a band name to Still Life and wrote the songs which turned into the album. But the band had not a drummer. Alan Savage was contacted to do the session and he had about a week to learn the material prior to recording. Album was recorded at Sound Recording Studios, near Marble Arch, London Savage was involved with the recording on the following dates: 1st October 1970, 2nd October 1970, 5th October 1970, 6th October 1970, 13th October 1970. The Album was mixed Monday 26th October 1970. Obviously, the other members were doing overdubs, vocal etc.on the dates in between. S.Shane did produce the LP. The Band had a contract to make a six LPs. But unfortunately the band drifted apart. What happened with members of the band? Graham Amos was living in England, but he died in June 2003.Terry Howells now lives in Switzerland. Neither of them is involved in music anymore. Alan Savage lives in Northampton, still in music business as drummer. Martin Cure joined Cupid's Inspiration in 1971. In 1979/1980, he and his friends from Cupid's Inspiration formed group called Chevy. In 1981 they had a record deal with Avatar Records and recorded one album and three singles. In 1983, Martin played with group Red on Red. Now, Martin has PA Company but still does occasional gigs with Cupid's Inspiration and The Rouges. In letter from 27.11.2002, Martin wrote: "I'm sure there is no more unreleased material available and certainly no live material recorded by Still Life from those times".

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