PBC-9834 Sides
no production credits
Released on 1979
no chart information
Find it at GEMM
PBC-9834 cover  

S ides is Phillips’ most commercial effort to date, though clearly his strength lies elsewhere. Sounding remarkably like a Steve Hackett album at times (notably Cured), the songs feature different vocalists of varying talent, including a few from Phillips credited to The Vicar. The material isn’t half-bad, mixing pop and progressive rock with musical references to Phillips’ earlier work as well as Genesis. The opening “Um And Aargh” is a rail against the music industry that recalls similar complaints from George Harrison; this and “Side Door” are catchy pop songs if a little clumsy. As might be expected, Phillips throws in a few sentimental love songs that hark back to The Geese & The Ghost: “Lucy Will,” “Magdalen” and “I Want Your Love.” A cynical love song, “Holy Deadlock,” features lyrics from Martin Hall, and combines light reggae with a little clockwork strangeness. The album’s high point occurs on two progressive instrumentals, “Sisters Of Remindum” and “Nightmare,” that will instantly evoke images of Steve Hackett (in fact, Hackett responded with “The Air-Conditioned Nightmare” on Cured). Throw in the failed musical story “Bleak House” and you’ve got the works. Although it’s not an entirely unsuccessful foray into contemporary music, Phillips didn't release another commercial album of songs for some time. Apparently once was enough for everyone involved.

TRACK LISTING

  1. UM AND AARGH    4:50
  2. I WANT YOUR LOVE    3:54
  3. HOLY DEADLOCK    (Anthony Phillips/Martin Hall)    4:05
  4. LUCY WILL    3:23
  5. SIDE DOOR    3:48
  6. SISTERS OF REMINDUM    4:29
  7. BLEAK HOUSE    6:13
  8. MAGDALEN    7:45
  9. NIGHTMARE    7:25
  10. *SOUVENIR
  11. *MAGDALEN (INSTRUMENTAL)

    All songs composed by Anthony Phillips unless noted

CREDITS

ANTHONY PHILLIPS --
MICHAEL GILES --
JOHN G. PERRY --
Ralph Bernascone --
Ray Cooper --
Dale Newman --
Dan Owen --
Morris Pert --
Frank Ricotti --
Humbert Ruse --
Vic Stench --
The Vicar --

REGION RELEASE DATE LABEL MEDIA ID NUMBER FEATURES
UK 1979 Arista LP SPART 1085 inner sleeve
US 1979 Passport LP/CS PB/PBC-9834  
NET 1979 Vertigo LP 9124 362  
  1998 Blueprint CD BP 210 w. bonus tracks (*)

 

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