Breakthrough : Underground Sounds of 1971

Esoteric Recordings’ next release in their series of compilations celebrating the so-called “underground” rock music. 1971 was a momentous year in rock and one which would continue to see Progressive music in all its forms become a dominating force with the album buying public. Much of this music appeared on the “progressive” imprints of major record labels such as EMI’s Harvest, Decca’s Deram and Philips Records’ Vertigo and emerging independent labels such as Charisma, United Artists and Island and led to an increasing presence of underground album music on BBC Radio 1 on its Sounds Of The Seventies and Top Gear programmes.

1971 saw a wealth of imaginative artists meld seemingly disparate musical genres and influences such as jazz, blues, folk, rock and classical music on a host of wonderful albums, all of which appealed to an audience of students and followers of the “underground’ culture. Universities and Colleges were regular venues on the burgeoning live music circuit in the UK for these artists, most of whom earned loyal followings through regular concert performances. 1971 also saw festivals such as Weeley (which attracted an estimated 150,000 people), Reading and the Glastonbury Fayre featuring the leading Progressive album-focussed artists of the day.

‘Breakthrough – Underground Sounds Of 1971’ is a lovingly compiled collection from this pivotal year in music, featuring a host of key artists plus a host of lesser-known acts who failed to reach a wider audience but produced a wide breadth of music, such as BB BLUNDER, BIG SLEEP, CRESSIDA, HELP YOURSELF, MIGHTY BABY, PATTO, PINK FAIRIES, SAMURAI, COLIN SCOT, SPRING and STRAY. Turn on and tune in to the gloriously diverse underground sounds of 1971.

DISC ONE:

1 Evening Over Rooftops – EDGAR BROUGHTON BAND
2 Spanish Tide – FAMILY
3 Simple Sister – PROCOL HARUM
4 She Said – BARCLAY JAMES HARVEST
5 Late November – SANDY DENNY
6 Mother Goose – JETHRO TULL
7 The House on the Hill – AUDIENCE
8 Master Of The Universe – HAWKWIND
9 Bitches Crystal –EMERSON LAKE & PALMER
10 I’ve Seen All Good People – YES
11 Golden Fleece – SPRING
12 City Song – LINDISFARNE
13 Summer Time – PRETTY THINGS
14 Time Machine – BEGGARS OPERA

DISC TWO:

1 Do It (single version) – PINK FAIRIES
2 Eternal Messenger – ARTHUR BROWN’S KINGDOM COME
3 Lady In Black – URIAH HEEP
4 Eire – THINK LIZZY
5 Winter Wine – CARAVAN
6 Virgin Spring (single version) – MIGHTY BABY
7 Blue John’s Blues – BARCLAY JAMES HARVEST
8 The Low Spark Of High Heeled Boys – TRAFFIC
9 Saving It Up For So Long – SAMURAI
10 Munich – CRESSIDA
11 Folk Song – JACK BRUCE
12 Life Is A Long Song – JETHRO TULL
13 Burning Bridges – FAMILY
14 The Seed – BB BLUNDER

DISC THREE:

1 Breakthrough – ATOMIC ROOSTER
2 Love To Love You (And Tonight Pigs Will Fly) – CARAVAN
3 You, You Point Your Finger – PATTO
4 Nite People – COLIN SCOT
5 Pantagruel’s Nativity – GENTLE GIANT
6 Glistening Glyndebourne – JOHN MARTYN
7 Solitude – PETER HAMMILL
8 Young Mother – CURVED AIR
9 The Fakir – PALADIN
10 Pieces Of Me – LINDA HOYLE
11 Call Me A Liar – EDGAR BROUGHTON BAND
12 Son Of The Father – STRAY
13 Someone’s Learning – STATUS QUO 14 July Morning – URIAH HEEP

DISC FOUR:

1 A Spoonful Of Bromide (Helps The Pulse Rate Go Down) – ATOMIC ROOSTER
2 Running Down Deep – HELP YOURSELF
3 Theme Song / En Route / Theme Song (reprise) – KEEF HARTLEY BAND
4 Windweaver – JADE WARRIOR
5 Many Are Called, But Few Get Up – MAN
6 Bluebell Wood – BIG SLEEP
7 Black Cat – GENTLE GIANT
8 Man-Erg – VAN DER GRAAF GENERATOR
10 Circus Mind – PRETTY THINGS
11 10538 Overture – ELECTRIC LIGHT ORCHESTRA
12 Song for the Bearded Lady – NUCLEUS
13 Heart of the Sunrise – YES