Bob Stanley & Pete Wiggs present English Weather (70s soft-prog compilation)

Probably some fans here, so worth a thread. Cale, Caravan, Bill Fay, and a general pastoral but gloomy vibe. Apt for the times, both then and now, and definitely a sound that they pair have tried to occasionally update on their Saint Etienne albums (Sound of Water, Tiger Bay).



Tracklist
1 –Caravan Love Song With Flute
2 –The Roger Webb Sound Moon Bird
3 –The Parlour Band Early Morning Eyes
4 –Scotch Mist Pamela
5 –Orange Bicycle Last Cloud Home
6 –T2 JLT
7 –Bill Fay 'Till The Christ Come Back
8 –Van Der Graaf Generator Refugees
9 –Aardvark Very Nice Of You To Call
10 –John Cale Big White Cloud
11 –Belle Gonzalez Bottles
12 –The Way We Live Watching White Stars
13 –Offspring Windfall
14 –Camel Never Let Go
15 –Daevid Allen Wise Man In Your Heart
16 –Matching Mole O Caroline
17 –Prelude Edge Of The Sea
18 –Alan Parker, Alan Hawkshaw Evening Shade

Blurb from the Ace Records website:

There's a first-run pressing of black vinyl, and the second pressing will be on clear vinyl.

 

The Roger Webb Sound track (which is great, check out the album) is actually called Moon Bird.

 

Thanks- I've edited the tracklist here, which I got from Discogs. There's a good sonic unity on this comp- my LP arrived this morning and I'm enjoying the restful Sunday vibes from it.

 

I hope it's the single version of Refugees. It's much more pastoral and the comp will flow better.

 

I wish these guys would go full-on prog rather than just dip their feet into it.

 

Think I'm going have to pick this up. I'd love for St. Etienne to do a full-on prog album as well; they've hinted at it here and there. No "modern" dance sounds at all, maybe just some complimentary synths. I've always thought it'd be great if they did a whole album in the vein of Constantly/Please/Cat Nap as well.

 

I'm very tempted by this. I take it that the 18 tracks you listed are the cd line-up, how many on the LP?

I think this is the first album I've ever seen that has a Victorian-built Methodist chapel on the cover!

 

Good track listing comp.
gatefold ?

 

Interesting that black is first run with clear after. That's opposite of most new LPs.

 

I'm definitely getting this one.
I've bought 2 or 3 of Stanley's pre rock n roll comps on his Croydon municipal imprint Home - Croydon Municipal »
they're pleasant but they don't really float my boat.
I love this 60s/70s autumnal English baroque stuff.

 

Vinyl available?

 

It's one of those De Wolfe library records so it's near impossible to find.

 

Just checked discogs.
Available...$200.00 bucks.

 

Yup. Lots of liner notes.

No download code, alas, and it's not on Amazon AutoRip.

Reminds me of the Tea & Symphony comp that Bob Stanley did (also for Ace?) about a decade ago, which was forgotten and obscure baroque pop from 70s Britain (Honeybus is the only name I remember, but it was a good set). This is like a big brother to that set.

 

Tell them they're dreaming

 

Apart from yourself, somebody else.

 

Got the CD yesterday. Really nice comp. I do like the Daevid Allen song, but I'm not sure it fits the feel of the compilation.Cool track though, sounds like Japan. Excellent liner notes as well. The scotch mist / pilot connection is interesting.

 

What's a Welsh singer doing on a English comp? Poetic license I guess.

 

It was record of the week in The Guardian Bob Stanley and Pete Wiggs present English Weather review – the sound of the post-60s hangover »

 

One odd thing is that side 4 has the smallest runout groove of any record I've seen; so much so that my autoretrun tonearm can't play the final song all that way through!

 

The major's won't license digital rights to Ace, which is why there is no way of getting it digitally. Although as a rule Ace doesn't do download cards.

 

I guess you need to be familiar with the classic Aussie movie 'The Castle' to get Mylene's joke

 

Thanks for posting - looks lovely. Bob's notes set the scene perfectly.

 

Got the LP delivered the other day. I'm really enjoying the songs but I can't quite tell if there is an issue with the sound on the record, or not. My needle picked up a load of gunk on Side 2 of disc 1, to the point where it sounded like the record was playing under a carpet, and it was skipping too. And there seems to be quite a bit of 'sibilance' on the vocals throughout, as if the sound is not quite 100% clear.

I've cleaned the record itself (never had to do that with brand new purchases in the 80s) and my needle, but I'm still not sure. Hmmm. Maybe I need to source digital versions of the songs and compare.

Anyway, love that cover!

 

I bought this today. Black vinyl. A lovely package. Consistent quality of selections and (unsurprisingly) excellent sleeve notes by Bob Stanley. An absolute joy of a record.