Blog

Cherry Red Records is reissuing this album with a nice booklet and multi-layer digi-pack. When Tony Kaye left Yes he became the keyboardist in this group. They released this debut album (Yes, a live album as a debut) to showcase their sound. Interestingly enough, the gig at which it was recorded was one of two at London’s Rainbow when they were opening for Yes. Some of that band’s Yessongs album was recorded the same night. Honestly, if it weren’t for Kaye’s involvement in Yes, this would probably not land under progressive rock. It’s more psychedelia meets jam band, but there is some prog here. It should be noted that the recording quality of the show is good, but not studio quality.

Review by G. W. Hill – Brian Parrish – Traveller
Brian Parrish is possibly best known for his work as part of the band Badger. This new solo album shows that he’s got what it takes to deliver great music on his own, though. If you were to just listen to the first song or two, you might think that this is an AOR prog disc. The first part of the album fits in that category. Beyond that, though, this is more of a mainstream blues rock disc. It’s a very strong one, too.

Track by Track Review

Land of the Night Games
This comes in mellow, atmospheric and trippy. It works to a great fairly mellow groove for the song proper. There is a definite Pink Floyd kind of thing here, but with more of a psychedelic rock edge. The chorus hooks and other elements seem to bring an AOR rock element, too.

Talk To Me
This has a harder edged groove that’s very tasty. I really dig the tasty guitar solo later in the piece. Perhaps this is more mainstream rock than prog, but there are elements that make me think of both Pink Floyd and Supertramp in some ways.

Kandy Road
A bluesy rock tune, this is another classy number. I love the guitar sounds on this thing. There are some hints of psychedelia at times, along with hints of world music and prog. The world music jam at the end is definitely progressive, if perhaps not progressive rock. Either way it’s great.

When It’s Over
A pure old school blues rock jam brings this into being. There is a bit of a Grateful Dead vibe to it in some ways, too. There is definitely a soulful thing at play here. This cut has no prog at all in the mix. It’s closer, perhaps, to something Eric Clapton might do than it is to anything else.

Traveller
Now, this blues tune is classy for sure. I like the retro organ, and the whole thing feels like an electric blues thing from the 1970s. It’s quite cool. The female vocals add a lot, but the tune just oozes cool, anyway.

Slow Riding
The horns really add a lot to this. There is a lot of funk along with soul and more. It’s very mush a 70s kind of groove. It’s classy stuff, too.

Blue
A slower, mellower pure blues tune, this is so strong. It has some especially tasty guitar soloing.

The Time Will Come
Here’s a more energized, but no less bluesy tune. It’s a cool rocker that is very much a timeless kind of thing. Again Eric Clapton is a good reference.

Summer Day
A mainstream rocker, this still has a lot of blues in the blueprint. It’s a solid rocker. It’s not one of my favorites here, though. The saxophone solo is a nice touch.

Angel of Death
More of a pure blues tune, this has a lot of Eric Clapton in the mix along with some BB King. This is one of my favorites of the set.

Love Like This
There is a bit of a country edge to this mellower tune. It’s another class act, though.

Don’t Waste My Time
There is something a bit like Pink Floyd in this tune, too. That’s tempered by more of a pure blues sound. Either way, this another cool tune. It has some nice touches for sure.

Diamonds and Pearls
Folk and country merge on this mellower number. It’s very old school in sound.

Review by G. W. Hill

ESOTERIC RECORDINGS are pleased to announce the release of a newly remastered edition of the classic 1973 live album by Badger.

• THE FIRST EVER OFFICIAL UK CD RELEASE FOR THIS CLASSIC 1973 ALBUM BY YES OFFSHOOT BADGER
• FEATURING TONY KAYE & PRODUCED BY JON ANDERSON
• NEWLY REMASTERED FOR THE FIRST TIME FROM THE ORIGINAL ATLANTIC MASTER TAPES
• BOOKLET WITH NEW ESSAY & PHOTOGRAPHS & ROGER DEAN ARTWORK

ESOTERIC RECORDINGS are pleased to announce the release of a newly remastered edition of the classic 1973 live album by Badger.

Noted for their connection with the legendary YES, the band featured former Yes keyboard player TONY KAYE and bass guitarist and bass guitarist DAVID FOSTER (formerly in The Warriors with Jon Anderson and co-writer of ‘Sweet Dreams’ and ‘Time and a Word’ for YES), along with guitarist / vocalist BRIAN PARRISH and drummer ROY DYKE. Recorded in December 1972 at The Rainbow Theatre in London (when Badger supported YES on two shows that were filmed for the “Yessongs” concert movie).

The band were warmly received as an opening act and their live performances were well crafted, encouraging Atlantic Records to offer a contract to release the highlights of Badger’s live set as a live album which was co-produced by JON ANDERSON. “One Live Badger” featured material such as ‘Wheel of Fortune’, ‘Wind of Change’ and ‘On the Way Home’ – fine tracks driven by Tony Kaye’s Hammond organ and Mellotron playing – and was greeted with enthusiasm by the Yes fan fraternity.

This Esoteric Recordings edition is the first official UK CD release of the album and has been re-mastered from the original Atlantic Records master tapes. It includes a booklet featuring Roger Dean’s original album artwork (officially reproduced for the first time) and an essay.

Track Listing:

1. WHEEL OF FORTUNE
2. FOUNTAIN
3. WIND OF CHANGE
4. RIVER
5. THE PREACHER
6. ON THE WAY HOME

Badger Vocalist Brian Parrish has a new solo album ‘Traveller’ released on Friday 13th May 2016. Find out more from Brian’s official website here: www.brian-parrish.net  

Der Country-inspirierte Solo-Musiker Brian Parrish taufte sein 2016 erscheinendes Album auf den Namen „Traveller“. Er kombiniert dabei die Genres Country, Blues, Folk und Pop, indem er sowohl seine einzigartig rauchige Stimme, als auch sein Talent für die Kunst der Gitarre einsetzt.

Bereits auf den Konzerten, die Brian Parrish vor Erscheinen seines Albums „Traveller“ gab, konnte sich der Solo-Künstler eine beständige Fan-Basis aufbauen. Die Songs des Country-Stars bestehen größtenteils aus Gitarre und Gesang, wobei stellenweise ein Schlagzeug im Hintergrund auftaucht. Parrish bedient sich beim Gitarrenspiel der Fingerstyle-Technik und erschafft somit einen unverwechselbaren Stil. Seine rauchige Stimme singt klagend über Herzschmerz, Fernweh und alltägliche Sorgen. Hierdurch schafft es Parrish, den Hörer auf einer sehr persönlichen Ebene anzusprechen. Sämtliche Songs wurden natürlich in höchster Qualität aufgenommen, was ein mehrfaches Hören des Albums „Traveller“ problemlos möglich macht.

Für Country-Fans ist das Album „Traveller“ ebenso zu empfehlen wie für Pop-, Blues-, und Folk-Hörer.