Progarchives, the progressive rock ultimate discography

THE GOING'S EASY

The Greatest Show On Earth

Eclectic Prog


From Progarchives.com, the ultimate progressive rock music website

The Greatest Show On Earth The Going's Easy album cover
3.80 | 53 ratings | 3 reviews | 26% 5 stars

Excellent addition to any
prog rock music collection

Write a review

Buy THE GREATEST SHOW ON EARTH Music
from Progarchives.com partners
Studio Album, released in 1970

Songs / Tracks Listing

1. Borderline (9:19)
2. Magic Woman Touch (5:13)
3. Story Times And Nursery Rhymes (4:52)
4. The Leader (5:44)
5. Love Magnet (9:27)
6. Tell The Story (4:30)

Total time 39:05

Bonus track on 1994 & 2012 CD releases:
7. Mountain Song (B-side) 2:57

Extra bonus track on 2012 CD remaster:
8. Magic Woman Touch [Single Version]

Line-up / Musicians

- Colin Jennings / vocals, flute, acoustic guitar, bongos
- Garth Watt-Roy / vocals, electric & acoustic guitars
- Mick Deacon / organ, piano, vocals
- Dick Hanson / trumpet, flugelhorn, percussion
- Tex Phillpotts / alto & tenor saxophones, percussion
- Norman Watt-Roy / bass, vocals
- Ron Prudence / drums, congas

With:
- Ian Aitchison / tenor & baritone saxes and percussion (7)

Releases information

Artwork: Hipgnosis

LP Harvest - SHVL 783 (1970, UK)

CD Repertoire Records - REP 4483-WP (1994, Germany) With a bonus track
CD Esoteric Recordings ‎- ECLEC 2363 (2012, Europe) Remastered (?) with 2 bonus tracks

Thanks to ANDREW for the addition
and to Quinino for the last updates
Edit this entry

Buy THE GREATEST SHOW ON EARTH The Going's Easy Music



THE GREATEST SHOW ON EARTH The Going's Easy ratings distribution


3.80
(53 ratings)
Essential: a masterpiece of progressive rock music(26%)
26%
Excellent addition to any prog rock music collection(34%)
34%
Good, but non-essential (34%)
34%
Collectors/fans only (6%)
6%
Poor. Only for completionists (0%)
0%

THE GREATEST SHOW ON EARTH The Going's Easy reviews


Showing all collaborators reviews and last reviews preview | Show all reviews/ratings

Collaborators/Experts Reviews

Review by Sean Trane
SPECIAL COLLABORATOR Prog Folk
3 stars 3.5 stars really!!!

The second album of TGSOE, released fairly shortly after their debut, is a bit different than the brass-heavy debut. The group is now only a sextet as the Repertoire reissue of the album mentions indicates as only Hanson is mentioned from the brass band, but we get some sax from one other blower. The train-artwork is much tamer, which is wise regarding the band's name and the album still out on Harvest and reissued by Repertoire in the early 90's, but I find the sound a bit poor>> remastering needed.

The album is definitely more appealing to hard prog rockers, especially after an intriguing distorted intro of the 9-min opener Borderline promises and they convince in the UK proto-prog realm. The other lengthy track Love Magnet is definitely in the JR/F territory with some almost-perfect lines and might sound at times as Van Morrison's Young Lovers and at other excellent Chicago

But the group was still trying to pump some potential hits like Magic Woman Touch (with some very unwise/ill-advised sound effects), or the energetic Story Times, the rocking- rolling Leader and the album closer piano-dominated sing-along (no doubt it was designed as such in concerts) Tell The Story, which was on the accompanying single's B- side. As a bonus track comes the single A-side non-album track Mountain Song, which doesn't really add much.

The band would tour until the half of next year before disbanding, domestic lack of success being the main reason. Indeed in the mid-70's, their record company gave the band another try at success by reissuing both albums together, mostly on the band's strengths and The Hollies' successful cover of Magic Woman Touch. But as far as this writer is concerned, TGSOE was not destined to become a long running group, but this second album seems a better effort than their debut as it is much more even and progressive. But none are essential to a proghead, and unless you have a knack for brass-rock, they will stay that way.

Review by loserboy
PROG REVIEWER
4 stars After their debut album "Horizons" I did not think much could better that release and for some reason I think they just may have done this with "The Going's Easy". Another superbly fashioned album full of excellent and complex progressive elements. This albums best track is "Magic Woman Touch" and for those who are also Hollies fans will recognize this from their "Romany" album (If anyone out there honestly owns both alnums please contact me ! ). This album is simply killer from the opening number to the last track. The Greatest Show On Earth's two albums are both stunning and need to be in your growing Prog rock collection. Essentially this album is a a full bodied cup of java that never really sleeps!

Latest members reviews

5 stars The 2nd LP from one the best acts of the early 70's. Same 'big band' line up as the 1st LP (please check reviews out for that one). This album offers a heavier and more progressive side. Tracks are lengthy, more solos and time changes are evident. Lots of percussion used as well to give the b ... (read more)

Report this review (#103937) | Posted by kingdhansak | Thursday, December 21, 2006 | Review Permanlink

Post a review of THE GREATEST SHOW ON EARTH "The Going's Easy"

You must be a forum member to post a review, please register here if you are not.

MEMBERS LOGIN ZONE

As a registered member (register here if not), you can post rating/reviews (& edit later), comments reviews and submit new albums.

You are not logged, please complete authentication before continuing (use forum credentials).

Forum user
Forum password

Copyright Prog Archives, All rights reserved. | Legal Notice | Privacy Policy | Advertise | RSS + syndications

Other sites in the MAC network: JazzMusicArchives.com — jazz music reviews and archives | MetalMusicArchives.com — metal music reviews and archives

Donate monthly and keep PA fast-loading and ad-free forever.