Rare Bird – Rare Bird

Bought this because it was Prog rock. And I am glad I did, it is an excellent album and every track is a winner. A great addiopn to my collections for this gender.

Rare Bird was the first band with an album released on Tony Stratton Smith’s Charisma label, also home to Genesis, The Nice, Van der Graaf Generator and others. This is Rare Bird’s first album, on which they were a quartet with two keyboardists (mostly organ, also electric piano and harpsichord) but no guitarist. Singer Steve Gould later auditioned for Genesis after Gabriel had left; a guy named Collins got the gig though. Rare Bird’s self-titled debut album was released in 1969. This album includes their single Sympathy, which was a hit in the UK and Europe (though it probably never cracked the U.S. charts). Marillion later covered it. This and their next album As Your Mind Flies By are Rare Bird’s best albums, classics of the formative days of progressive rock. Two members left after these, and the later albums didn’t measure up. This is the remastered 2007 Esoteric label edition, with two bonus tracks.

Front of the cover has a 2mm or so rivet? for some reason, you can make it out in the pics of this one, so I know it was likely there on all for a reason, anyone know why?

any reason they switched sides A and B on the US release?

Impressive sound quality! Laminated cover, this album is a masterpiece!

Fantastic pressing - very deep and smooth, great bass and drums, unique sound - one of the best in my collection!

Test press, promo. It was missing. ----------------------- ----------------------

What an incredible band! PERFECT songs! They deserve more recognition, for sure.

So much enjoyment in this. Over and over I listen again.

Underrated gem despite the hit single Sympathy, which just about about everyone will immediately recognize. This album should be among the classics of the genre.