?1974 UK Orig FRUUP SEVEN SECRETS Symphonic PROG ?

$

247

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HIGHLY COLLECTIBLE UK PROGRESSIVE ORIGINAL "DAWN" LABEL 

                  FRUUP

             SEVEN SECRETS

                               ...UK - DAWN RECORDS - DNSL 3058

Original 1974 BRITISH ORIGINAL first pressing vinyl on the highly collected DAWN Records label of this highly appreciated and sought after symphonic progressive collectible ...

Includes the group photo/lyrics inner sleeve

Fruupp was the brainchild of guitarist extraordinaire, songwriter and vocalist, Vincent McCusker, a native of Maghera, Northern Ireland. Vince had been a member of The Blues by Five—a relief group on the infamous Irish-Showband, ballroom circuit. His idea was to form a progressive group and shortcut the Belfast/Irish circuit by heading straight to London.

The group consisted of Vince on lead guitar and vocals; Martin Foye, on drums; Stephen J. Houston on oboe, keyboards and vocals, and Peter Farrelly—on flute, bass guitar and lead vocals.

The band lived and rehearsed in a dilapidated house in Belfast Ireland for several weeks in the summer of 1971. Legend had it that the band's name Fruupp came from the name of a ghost who allegedly haunted said house. Fact has it that the name came from a Letraset sheet, which had been all used up, except for the letters F, R, U, P. The group added another U and P.

Fruupp played their first gig in Belfast, supporting Rory Gallagher in the Ulster Hall, on 23rd June 1971. Shortly thereafter they boarded the Heysham Ferry to play at Mr Smiths in Manchester on 2nd July 1971, en route to London. They were signed to Dawn Records (part of Pye Records, the home of The Kinks) in summer 1973 by a true gentleman who went by the name of Robin Blanchflower. The band recorded their first album, Future Legends, in July 1973 and Dawn Records released it on Oct 5th 1973. Fruupp were a gigging band and like the majority of gigging bands in the 70s, the word single, (45rpm) was dirty and never uttered. Bands on this circuit built up an audience; the audience bought the album; the album charted; with this new national profile even more people bought the album and came to the gigs and on and on. At least that was the theory and the theory worked well for people like, Queen, Supertramp, Focus, Hawkwind, Genesis, Steve Harley & Cockney Rebel and Rory Gallagher. Rory had already proven with his blistering hot live band, Taste, that the system worked, and, in 1973, was starting all over again, only this time under his own name. But sure all of the above artists had to release several albums before they "broke" and Fruupp had only released one album at this stage—the aforementioned Future Legends—so let's not get ahead of ourselves.

In January and February 1974, in between breaks from the continuous gigging, Fruupp returned to Escape Studios in Kent to record their second album, which was to be called Seven Secrets and the biggest secret was of course they only had six songs as they entered the studio. The chaps figured the word 'seven' was just that wee bit more mystical than 'six', and they're not wrong are they? Not to mention the fact that Six Secrets didn't sound anywhere as near as good a Seven Secrets, so, principal songwriter, Vince McCusker, came up with Seven Secrets, the song. It might have been a short song but it had impeccably arranged harmonies and lots of DTs (double tracking).

We love the music Vince came up with for White Eyes and Wise As Wisdom. Fruupp and the Future Legend Stings sound like late night lounge Lizards on these two McCusker & Charles tunes. That's string section leader Michael and the rest of his gang talking about their next session on this track. We recorded them nattering away during one of the breaks and dropped it into the track towards the end of the song; you know the part where it sounds like the band and the string players have been on a wee bit of a musical walkabout and, led by Stephen Houston's beautiful keyboard work, they all decided to get on their bikes and head off and take the song home.

White Eyes is about the famous Fruupp' Face, seen on the first two album sleeves and all the early posters thanks to Peter Farrelly's amazing artwork.

Garden Lady had been around since Future Legends days and the never-recorded Steam Machine were two of the first songs Vince composed for this band. We're talking way, way before he'd found the musicians to play the music he was hearing in his head. To these ears Garden Lady is the perfect centrepiece to Seven Secrets. Musically it's very adventurous, but still melodic. It's made up of several beautiful pieces of music, cleverly and seamlessly arranged together and it contains some of Vince's finest recorded moments as a guitarist.

Three Spires, the third McCusker & Charles on Seven Secrets, is song about Magherafelt, UK well more about a return visit to a hometown and discovering that, mainly romantically speaking, it's no longer your hometown. That's producer David Lewis playing piano and Vince takes over lead vocals for the first time on record. David Lewis never once uttered, "it'llallworkoutinthmix" so he was okay with us, not to mention the fact that he did a great job.

Seven Secrets is nearly the best all round Fruupp album. Yes, there are valid arguments for two of the other albums, no debate there, but with Seven Secrets, David Lewis managed to capture an entire album of Fruupp's magic, whatever that might have been. The point would be, if it's real magic you can never quite put your finger on it. Seven Secrets enjoys a beautiful relaxed feel and is always very welcoming to the listener.

The album was released on April 19, 1974. Fruupp started another tour a few weeks later and finished up with a very successful concert in the Shaw Theatre, London, on June 2nd. Fruupp had by this time (with more than a wee nod to Genesis) developed the visual, theatrical side of the performance and Stephen, complete in all his knickerbocker glory, attempted to sing the high bits, play oboe, play two keyboards, cut his neck with a sword and spout forth blood simultaneously. Despite continued pleading from the other band members he couldn't find a way to sweep the stage at the same time. The blood was produced with more than a little help from a capsule or two, although that at least one fan was convinced the blood flowing from Stephen's mouth was the real thing.

1. Faced with Shekinah (8:23)
2. Wise as wisdom (7:07)
3. White eyes (7:16)
4. Garden lady (9:00)
5. Three spires (5:00)
6. Elizabeth (7:45)
7. The seventh secret (1:08)

CONDITION: The cover: textured fragile/delicate with bright colors is top level "EX" (excellent) to M- very clean...the white cover, after 36 years would easily get dity/soiled and this one is snow white colean with no bends, no split seams, no writing ...nice. 

The vinyl: all clean and shiny clear on both sides M- with clean labels...hold the vinyl up to the light and you see ruby red transparent vinyl as with all original DAWN Records originals. 

keeper!

     A  GREAT ADDITION TO ANYONE'S COLLECTION !

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EFFICIENT/CAREFUL GRADING

All imperfections are noted both cover & record