Greenslade - Sundance: A Collection 1973-1975 (2019)

Esoteric Recordings are pleased to announce the release of a new re-mastered edition collection by the legendary band GREENSLADE. Formed in 1972 by former Colosseum keyboard player Dave Greenslade, the band also featured former Web and Samurai member Dave Lawson (keyboards, vocals), former Colosseum bass player Tony Reeves and drummer Andrew McCulloch (formerly with King Crimson and Fields). The calibre of the members of Greenslade ensured that the group would be innovative, ground breaking and dynamic in their musical approach and would also be notable due to the absence of a guitarist within their ranks. Their self-titled debut album was released in February 1973 to much acclaim and featured such tracks as ‘Melange’, ‘Drowning Man’ and ‘Sundance’. This was followed later in the year by the classic album “Bedside Manners Are Extra”, another fine work featuring the legendary title track and pieces such as ‘Time to Dream’ and ‘Pilgrims Progress’. August 1974 saw the release of Spyglass Guest, the band’s most commercially successful and much-loved album, with compositions of the calibre of ‘Joie de Vivre’, ‘Spirit of the Dance’ and ‘Melancholic Race’.

Following the release of “Spyglass Guest”, Tony Reeves departed the band and was replaced by Martin Briley, who was to feature on the band’s next album. “Time and Tide” was issued in May 1975 and was the band’s final album of the 1970s and featured such excellent compositions as ‘Flattery Stakes’, ‘Waltz for a Fallen Idol’, ‘The Ass’s Ears’ and ‘Gangsters’ (a theme to a BBC TV play also issued as a single). “Time and Tide” was the band’s final album of the 1970s and the last to feature Dave Lawson and Andrew McCulloch in the line-up.

This collection gathers together the highlights of the four Greenslade albums originally issued by Warner Records between 1973 and 1975 and includes the rare live version of ‘Feathered Friends’ recorded at the Reading Festival in August 1973. Sundance – A Collection also features an illustrated booklet with essay.