Space Opera rare '72 UK 1st press LP on Epic mint- ** RARE TEXAS progressive

	£		44
	$		58

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Band/Record: Space Opera - Space Opera

Label/Matrix: NL 1972 Epic EPC 65557 with ,,1st press Epic -USA progressive top!

Condition Record/Sleeve: Mint-/EX 

Extra Info: Fantastic Album !! Original 1st press LP on Epic + fold-out cover.  Wow minty dream audio .. Amazing album !!

~~ "Space Opera" was recorded at Manta Sound, Toronto during 1972 with each band member sharing the role of producer and taking perfectionism to the next level during lengthy recording sessions which utilized the 16 track recording equipment.  After many delays the album was eventually released in March 1973 in the US.

The album opens "Country Max" which starts with some nice vocal acapella harmonies courtesy of Fraser, Bullock and White claiming "I'm in love, that's no lie. You don't need to ask me why cause I'm high, high, HIGH..." this is followed by layers of electric and acoustic guitars all chiming and twanging.  Anyone expecting prog at this point will be disappointed. This track was issued as a single in the US on Epic but failed to achieve any chart action.  I bet Roger McGuinn would be proud to have "Holy River" in his songbook as it's great tune with what sounds like about a hundred layers of the thinnest, fuzziest guitar ever complete with haunting lyrics "I stood by the water, lonely, I might jump in". Philip White's first composition on the album, "Outlines" sits perfectly between "Holy River" and the 7 minute, self explanatory "Guitar Suite".  Harmonising flutes and piano contrasting perfectly against the guitar noodling tracks which sit beside it.  As mellow as it gets and the parting lyrics "Take it easily, take it easily" might be a nod to The Eagles who were launched around the time of the recording.  It's my favourite song on the album and is reminiscent of America at their best.

Side two starts with the Bread-esque "My Telephone Artist (Has Come and Gone)" followed by "The Riddle", an acoustic number with some orchestration and harpsichord.  Next up is "Prelude No. 4" which although it's not a song that you can sing along with, it's guitar hooks grab you in.  Scott Fraser's "Lookout" is similar to the style and sound of "Outlines" although not quite as good.  The vocal harmonies on "Blue Ridge Mountains" are stunning and demonstrate what a creative band can achieve in the studio without record company influence getting in the way.  With a running time of two minutes thirteen,  this might have made a better choice for single than Country Max.  The record ends with "Over and Over" a Fraser composition which begins as an acoustic song with the lyrics "over and over I go" repeated before bringing back the hundreds of layers of fuzzy guitar and phasing for its long fade out is way better than it sounds in writing. Trust me!

Columbia had lost interest in Space Opera by the time of the albums release mainly due to the band delaying to tour the album whilst waiting for $50,000 worth of equipment to recreate the album in a live environment.  By the time the gear turned up the buzz had died.  Apparently the few gigs that the band did to promote the album sounded great.  Columbia didn't offer another album so a jaded Space Opera called it a day in November 1973.  The band remained friends and continued playing together for the next three decades and follow up album "Space Opera II" was released in 2001.  The following decade saw the passings of Fraser, Bullock and White.  Surviving member Brett Owen Wilson hopes to put out unreleased Space Opera recordings that should see the light of day sometime soon.

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