AGES AND SEASONS

"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.

For a group that has not released an original studio album since the late 1970s, Magna Carta has been busily churning out compilations and live testaments to their generally subdued harmonic and occasionally countrified folk. It's a tough call whether to spring for this 4 LP on 2 CD set in order to obtain 2 good Magna Carta albums and a mere couple of good tracks from the other 2, and largely depends on the costs involved and on how much of a completist you want to be. Unfortunately, the other 2 compilations produced along the bloodlines of the original LPs also divide more or less evenly along quality lines. The two albums worth owning are "Seasons" and "Lord of the Ages", both of which are contained herein. The booklet also contains a reasonable group history, but I assume that the original CD reissues would have done the same, so they might represent a more satisfying and uniform purchase.

Magna Carta's loyal fan base and not insignificant sales figures from their heyday are both somewhat surprising for such an unassuming group and sound. For my part as a fan of folk, folk rock, and prog folk especially of the British variety, I consider them to be in the second league, with the potential to have left a more distinctive legacy than that with which they may be remembered. But that's one for the ages. Just over the 2.5 star threshold.