Marc Brierley - Hello (1969-70) (2014)

Artist: Marc Brierley
Title Of Album: Hello
Year Of Release: 1969-70/2014
Label (Catalog#) Cherry Tree [CRTREE014]
Country: UK
Genre: Folk Pop Rock
Bitrate: Lossless
Quality: FLAC (image + cue,log,scans)
Time: 01:16:36
Full Size: 490mb(+3%)

Marc Brierley's second album boasted considerably more color in the arrangements than his 1968 debut Welcome to the Citadel had. Perhaps the production input of Ashley Kozak, who had been Donovan's manager, helped move Brierley in the more melodic, accessible direction that characterized Donovan's brand of folk-rock. (For that matter, sidemen Harold McNair, on flute, and Tony Carr, on percussion, had played on some of Donovan's fine 1960s recordings.) Brierley's not a "Sunshine Superman," though, and while it marks an improvement from its predecessor, Hello is still pretty tame, unmemorably effusive period late-'60s British folk-pop/rock. The mood ranges from light bonhomie with a vaudevillian speckle ("Sunny Weather"), earnest flowery orchestrated folk-pop ("Lady of the Light" and "When Martha Comes"), and jazzy bossa nova ("Lookin' Around the Room") to more melancholy and acoustic material, the title track recalling both Donovan and Al Stewart. The net effect, however, is to remind you just how much better Donovan's records were, though this is superficially similar in some respects.

Tracks:
-------
01. Sunny Weather - 2:44
02. Lady Of The Light - 2:52
03. Today I Feel Like Leaving You - 2:22
04. O Honey - 3:42
05. A Presence (I Am Seeking) - 6:46
06. The Room - 7:42
07. Byrd Lives - 1:28
08. Hello - 2:48
09. Lookin' Around The Room - 3:23
10. When Martha Comes - 4:33
CBS Singles:
11. Be My Brother - 3:26
12. If You Took The Bandage Off Your Head You Wouldn't Be So Blind - 3:29
Island Records Demos:
13. The Best Part Of The Night - 3:29
14. In This Hour Of Love - 2:52
15. One Fine Morning (You Will Wake Up) - 3:01
16. Screaming Schizophrenia Blues - 3:02
17. Abide With You - 3:36
18. Brown Ships - 4:45
19. For People Who Are Parted - 4:45
20. Sweet Summer - 2:25
Rehearsal Demo:
21. Be My Brother - 3:15

Personnel:
---------:
Marc Brierley - Acoustic Guitar, Vocals
Harold McNair - Flute
Dudley Moore - Piano
Graham Todd - Organ
Mox - Mouth Harp
John Fiddie - Bass
Tony Carr - Percussion
Dougie Wright - Drums
Billy Butler - Guitar, Vocals
Andy Bown - Piano
London Symphony Orchestra - Strings

All thanks to original releaser