TCCDM Pulls One Out..."The Man In The Bowler Hat" - Stackridge (1974)

"The Man In The Bowler Hat" - Stackridge (1974)

     On my first listen I found myself enjoying about half of the tracks, and for the rest, feeling mostly indifferent.  This was a conundrum because the album has an overall British chill about it that I like.  Nothing bad on either side, but nothing really jumped out for me.  After the second and third spins, I was all in.  With founding Stackridge members Andy Cresswell Davis and James Warren leading the way and Sir George Martin at the production helm, the album has a kind of Beatlesque paintbrush sweep.

     And though it sounds nothing like the Fab, the later McCartney "flavor" is present.  Add a little 10cc and Supertramp aura, and "The Man In The Bowler Hat" becomes a beautiful, gossamer slice of art-rock/prog-pop pudding.  It's not a perfect album, but it's pretty dang good for what it is. The square's a grower, for sure, and deserves a spin or two of active listening to bring it all home.  There are gems to be found when one's mind is on the down-low.

"The Man In The Bowler Hat" - Stackridge (back)

"The Man In The Bowler Hat" - Stackridge (inside gatefold)

Favorites include:
"Fundamentally Yours"
"The Last Plimsoll"
"Dangerous Bacon"
"The Indifferent Hedgehog"

     This was one of several albums I found in the $2 bin at Spektrum Records.  It is an original gatefold copy pressed in Great Britain.  (The US version of  "The Man in the Bowler Hat" is called "Pinafore Days".)  My copy has soda spots and ring wear on the back cover, but the vinyl is very clean and plays fantastic.  Nice with headphones.  Be sure to check out their self-titled debut with the epic 14-minute closing track..."Slark."   It's a Stackridge must-own.  You might not have known this, but you've already heard Andy Cresswell Davis.  He played acoustic guitar on John Lennon's "Imagine" album.  In 2020, we spoke of this.

MCA Records label

Cat #
MCG 3501
SIDE A  DEADWAX
MCG 3501 A-1  .1  .-.  
SIDE B  DEADWAX
MCG 3501 B-1  GD  .-.

"Fundamentally Yours" - Stackridge / "The Man In The Bowler Hat" (1974)

TRACKS:
A1  "Fundamentally Yours"
A2  "Pinafore Days"
A3  "The Last Plimsoll"
A4  "To the Sun and the Moon"
A5  "The Road to Venezuela"
B1  "The Galloping Gaucho"
B2  "Humiliation"
B3  "Dangerous Bacon"
B4  "The Indifferent Hedgehog"
B5  "God Speed the Plough"

PERSONNEL:
Andy Cresswell Davis - guitars, vocals, keyboards, percussion
James Warren - guitars, vocals
Michael 'Mutter' Slater - flute, vocals, keyboards, percussion
Mike Evans - violin, vocals
Jim "Crun" Walter - bass
Billy Bent (aka Billy Sparkle) - drums
ADDITIONAL:
George Martin - producer, orchestration, piano (B2), B4)
Reg Leopold, William Reid - violin (B1)
Graeme Scott - viola (B1)
Vivian Joseph - cello (B1)]
Jack Emblow - accordion (B2)
Ray Davies - trumpet/cornet (B2)
Derek Taylor - french horn (B2, A4)
B. Lamb - trombone (B2)
M. Fry - tuba (B2)
R. Chamberlain - clarinet, saxes (B2)
Andy Mackay - sax (B3)

Good stuff.

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