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Magna Carta - Ages And Seasons CD (album) cover

AGES AND SEASONS

Magna Carta

 

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3.07 | 4 ratings

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Easy Livin
Special Collaborator
Honorary Collaborator / Retired Admin
3 stars Four complete Magna Carta albums on two CDs

"Ages and Seasons" is an excellent double CD collection of four of Magna Carta's early albums. Their very first album "Times of change" is omitted, presumably because it was released prior to their signing for Vertigo records, the story starting here with their second album "Seasons". This means that this collection starts in quite stunning fashion, with the 22 minute "Seasons suite". This acoustic masterpiece features many fine guest musicians including Davey Johnstone (Elton John) and Rick Wakeman. The album was produced by Elton's producer Gus Dudgeon.

"Songs from Wasties orchard", the band's third album, completes the first disc. This was something of a disappointment being a collection of short songs in the folk vein, with a couple of country inspired numbers thrown in. By this album, Davey Johnstone had officially joined the band but his membership would be short lived. Wakeman also appeared on this album, but his contribution is far harder to spot this time.

Things improved again with what for many is Magna Carta's finest album, "Lord of the ages". The title track stands as an epic of prog folk, taking its inspiration from the Book of Revelation and the prophecies of Nostrodamus. The final album of this quartet, "Martin's café" was put on ice for three years before being released in 1977. It is by far the runt of the litter here, with some ill advised pop rock songs intermingled with some pleasant but prosaic softer folk.

The four albums fit comfortably onto two discs, the music flowing well throughout. The presentation is rather shoddy though, with no original sleeve images, and a sketchy biography which skims the surface all to quickly. It completely omits any information on "Martin's Café" and spends too much time on the subsequent activities of Chris Simpson.

In terms of the music though, this is an excellent way to acquire Magna Carta's two finest albums.

Easy Livin | 3/5 |

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