SPACE OPERA
''SPACE OPERA''
NOVEMBER 30 1972
42:13
1. Country Max/3:19
2. Holy River/5:26
3. Outlines/4:11
4. Guitar Suite/7:38
5. My Telephone Artist (Has Come and Gone)/3:46
6. Riddle/3:07
7. Prelude No. 4/3:52
8. Lookout/2:47
9. Blue Ridge Mountains/2:13
10. Over and Over/5:54
David Bullock /Flute, Guitar, Harmonica, Vocals
Scott Fraser /Composer, Guitar (12 String), Keyboards, Vocals
Phil White /Guitar, Guitar (Bass), Keyboards, Vocals
Philip White /Composer
Brett Wilson /Drums, Percussion
REVIEW
by Lindsay Planer
While only the most academic of fans might remember Space Opera, the Texas-based quartet's self-titled debut certainly demands significantly more attention than it initially garnered upon its 1973 release. Because the album was both recorded and first issued in Canada, many assumed that Brett Wilson (drums, percussion), Philip White (bass, guitar, keyboards, vocals), Scott Fraser (guitar, keyboards,vocals), and David Bullock (guitar, flute, harmonica, vocals) hailed from the Great White North. However, Space Opera's synthesis of pop, rock, country, folk, jazz, and even classical builds on a uniquely American tradition. Although Space Opera was already headlining major music festivals by 1969, the combo took its time in crafting the ten selections for this long-player. Comparisons to the Byrds or the earliest sides by the Eagles are well founded. In fact, "Holy River" could easily be mistaken for a post-Notorious Byrd Brothers cut -- especially the warm and reedy timbre of Fraser's lead vocals. Conversely, they could let loose and unleash monster jams, such as the intricate and progressive "Guitar Suite" -- featuring no less than seven separate overdubs from Fraser and Bullock. Rather than coming off like an aimless Grateful Dead or Allman Brothers noodle, their interplay has the precision of Steve Howe, or Frank Zappa at times. The aggressive electric numbers are contrasted by the lilting and organic "Riddle," showcasing Fraser, Bullock, and White's expressive three-part harmonies. "Over and Over" is another standout, with a folk-infused vibe that glides beneath the flowing and rhythmic waltz. Bullock's electric 12-string guitar shimmers with exquisite yet penetrating beauty. In 2004, Collectors' Choice Music finally brought this masterpiece to CD, and hopefully also to new audiences.
BIOGRAPHY
by Tim Sendra
Space Opera were formed in the late '60s by Brett Wilson (drums/percussion), Philip White (bass/guitar/keyboards/vocals), Scott Fraser (guitar/keyboards/vocals), and David Bullock (guitar/flute/harmonica/vocals). (All but Wilson had appeared in the one-off studio group Whistler, Chaucer, Detroit & Greenhill, whose lone LP became a collector's item after the band's T-Bone Burnett became a well-known producer and performer.) After years spent playing small gigs and large festivals alike, the Dallas/Ft. Worth-based group finally recorded their first album in 1972. After moving to New York, the band impressed legendary music biz big-shot Clive Davis enough to be offered a contract with Columbia. The band turned the offer down and decided to sign with Epic's Canadian branch because they were offered creative control of the album.
The self-titled Space Opera was released in 1973 to little acclaim and absolutely no commercial success. The band's uniquely American synthesis of pop, rock, country, folk, jazz, and even classical put them in the same creative ballpark as the Flying Burrito Brothers, the Byrds, and the Grateful Dead. Despite never releasing a second album, the group stayed together off and on throughout the '70s and '80s, living in Texas, Canada, and New York and playing shows wherever they could. In 1997 the group staged a hometown comeback show in Ft. Worth, played together sporadically after that, and recorded Space Opera II. In 2004 their first album was re-released by Collectors' Choice.
''SPACE OPERA''
NOVEMBER 30 1972
42:13
1. Country Max/3:19
2. Holy River/5:26
3. Outlines/4:11
4. Guitar Suite/7:38
5. My Telephone Artist (Has Come and Gone)/3:46
6. Riddle/3:07
7. Prelude No. 4/3:52
8. Lookout/2:47
9. Blue Ridge Mountains/2:13
10. Over and Over/5:54
David Bullock /Flute, Guitar, Harmonica, Vocals
Scott Fraser /Composer, Guitar (12 String), Keyboards, Vocals
Phil White /Guitar, Guitar (Bass), Keyboards, Vocals
Philip White /Composer
Brett Wilson /Drums, Percussion
REVIEW
by Lindsay Planer
While only the most academic of fans might remember Space Opera, the Texas-based quartet's self-titled debut certainly demands significantly more attention than it initially garnered upon its 1973 release. Because the album was both recorded and first issued in Canada, many assumed that Brett Wilson (drums, percussion), Philip White (bass, guitar, keyboards, vocals), Scott Fraser (guitar, keyboards,vocals), and David Bullock (guitar, flute, harmonica, vocals) hailed from the Great White North. However, Space Opera's synthesis of pop, rock, country, folk, jazz, and even classical builds on a uniquely American tradition. Although Space Opera was already headlining major music festivals by 1969, the combo took its time in crafting the ten selections for this long-player. Comparisons to the Byrds or the earliest sides by the Eagles are well founded. In fact, "Holy River" could easily be mistaken for a post-Notorious Byrd Brothers cut -- especially the warm and reedy timbre of Fraser's lead vocals. Conversely, they could let loose and unleash monster jams, such as the intricate and progressive "Guitar Suite" -- featuring no less than seven separate overdubs from Fraser and Bullock. Rather than coming off like an aimless Grateful Dead or Allman Brothers noodle, their interplay has the precision of Steve Howe, or Frank Zappa at times. The aggressive electric numbers are contrasted by the lilting and organic "Riddle," showcasing Fraser, Bullock, and White's expressive three-part harmonies. "Over and Over" is another standout, with a folk-infused vibe that glides beneath the flowing and rhythmic waltz. Bullock's electric 12-string guitar shimmers with exquisite yet penetrating beauty. In 2004, Collectors' Choice Music finally brought this masterpiece to CD, and hopefully also to new audiences.
BIOGRAPHY
by Tim Sendra
Space Opera were formed in the late '60s by Brett Wilson (drums/percussion), Philip White (bass/guitar/keyboards/vocals), Scott Fraser (guitar/keyboards/vocals), and David Bullock (guitar/flute/harmonica/vocals). (All but Wilson had appeared in the one-off studio group Whistler, Chaucer, Detroit & Greenhill, whose lone LP became a collector's item after the band's T-Bone Burnett became a well-known producer and performer.) After years spent playing small gigs and large festivals alike, the Dallas/Ft. Worth-based group finally recorded their first album in 1972. After moving to New York, the band impressed legendary music biz big-shot Clive Davis enough to be offered a contract with Columbia. The band turned the offer down and decided to sign with Epic's Canadian branch because they were offered creative control of the album.
The self-titled Space Opera was released in 1973 to little acclaim and absolutely no commercial success. The band's uniquely American synthesis of pop, rock, country, folk, jazz, and even classical put them in the same creative ballpark as the Flying Burrito Brothers, the Byrds, and the Grateful Dead. Despite never releasing a second album, the group stayed together off and on throughout the '70s and '80s, living in Texas, Canada, and New York and playing shows wherever they could. In 1997 the group staged a hometown comeback show in Ft. Worth, played together sporadically after that, and recorded Space Opera II. In 2004 their first album was re-released by Collectors' Choice.
2 comments :
there is a problem with this ....I have been searching for this LP for ages ...can you fix ?
Post with new link. Enjoy....
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