Gryphon (album)
Gryphon is the debut album by the progressive rock band Gryphon, originally released in June 1973 by Transatlantic Records.
| Gryphon | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | June 1973 | |||
| Recorded | March–April 1973 | |||
| Genre | Progressive rock, folk rock | |||
| Length | 37:41 | |||
| Label | Transatlantic | |||
| Producer | Lawrence Aston, Adam Skeaping | |||
| Gryphon chronology | ||||
| ||||
| Review scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| AllMusic |   |
| Progplanet | 3.6/5[2] |
| Prog Archives | 3.33/5[3] |
Production
The album was produced by Lawrence Aston and Adam Skeaping, and engineered by Skeaping and Nick Glennie-Smith. It was recorded at Riverside Recordings and Livingston Studios. The gryphon cover illustration was done by Dan Pearce.
Reception
Writing retrospectively for AllMusic, critic Bruce Eder said: "The material is essentially progressive folk-rock, elements of jazz and swing...juxtaposed with traditional folk songs, works attributed to Henry VIII, and folk-style originals. Brian Gulland's and Richard Harvey's bassoon, krumhorns, and recorders are the dominant instruments".[1]
Track listing
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Kemp's Jig" | anonymous, arranged by Gryphon | 3:07 |
| 2. | "Sir Gavin Grimbold" | traditional, arr. Brian Gulland | 2:45 |
| 3. | "Touch and Go" | Richard Harvey, Graeme Taylor | 1:29 |
| 4. | "Three Jolly Butchers" | trad. arr. Taylor | 3:54 |
| 5. | "Pastime with Good Company" | Henry VIII, arr. Gryphon | 1:31 |
| 6. | "The Unquiet Grave" | trad. arr. Gryphon | 5:40 |
| 7. | "Estampie" | anon. arr. Gryphon | 4:53 |
| 8. | "Crossing the Styles" | Taylor | 2:25 |
| 9. | "The Astrologer" | trad. arr. Gryphon | 3:12 |
| 10. | "Tea Wrecks" | anon. arr. Gryphon | 1:06 |
| 11. | "Juniper Suite" | Gryphon | 4:49 |
| 12. | "The Devil and the Farmer's Wife" | trad. arr. Gulland | 1:55 |
| Total length: | 37:41 | ||
Personnel
- Brian Gulland - bassoon, crumhorns, recorders, keyboards, vocals
- Richard Harvey - recorders, crumhorns, keyboards, guitar, mandolin
- Dave Oberlé - drums, percussion, vocals
- Graeme Taylor - guitars, keyboards, recorder, vocals
Notes
The central section of "Kemp's Jig" is an anonymous Galician musical piece from the Renaissance era called "Pase el Agoa, ma Julieta". "Estampie" contains quotes from "Over the Rainbow" by Harold Arlen and "Chattanooga Choo Choo" by Harry Warren. "The Devil and the Farmer's Wife" concludes with a quote from "Maple Leaf Rag" by Scott Joplin.
References
- Gryphon at AllMusic. Retrieved 3 November 2018.
- "Gryphon - Gryphon". progplanet.com. 14 March 2016. Retrieved 3 November 2018.
- "Gryphon - Gryphon". progarchives.com. Retrieved 3 November 2018.