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FROM SCRATCH

Capability Brown

Crossover Prog


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Capability Brown From Scratch album cover
2.62 | 23 ratings | 2 reviews | 35% 5 stars

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Studio Album, released in 1972

Songs / Tracks Listing

1 Beautiful Scarlet Rare Bird 4:55
2 Do You Believe Nevin 4:30
3 The Band Ferguson 3:42
4 Garden Ferguson 3:24
5 Liar Ballard 7:15
6 No Range Nevin 4:08
7 I Will Be There Ferguson 3:26
8 Redman Curtis, Gould, Hall ... 3:10
9 Day in Day Out Nevin 3:51
10 Sole Survivor: A. Escape; B. Sole Survivor; C. Cosmic Ride; D. ... Ferguson 9:48

Line-up / Musicians

Tony Ferguson (vocals, guitar, bass),
Dave Nevin (keyboards, guitar, vocals, bass),
Kenny Rowe (bass, vocals, percussion),
Grahame White (vocals, guitar, bass),
Joe Williams (vocals, percussion),
Roger Willis (vocals, drums, keyboards)

Releases information


1972 LP Charisma 1056

Thanks to zafreth for the addition
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CAPABILITY BROWN From Scratch ratings distribution


2.62
(23 ratings)
Essential: a masterpiece of progressive rock music(35%)
35%
Excellent addition to any prog rock music collection(13%)
13%
Good, but non-essential (39%)
39%
Collectors/fans only (9%)
9%
Poor. Only for completionists (4%)
4%

CAPABILITY BROWN From Scratch reviews


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

Collaborators/Experts Reviews

Review by debrewguy
SPECIAL COLLABORATOR Honorary Collaborator
1 stars Having recently seen a review for CB's other album, Voice, it was rather flukey that I happened upon a rather scratched copy of this LP at my local used record shop. Giving it a listen, here's my impression ... of the songs that I went back to after the first few listens. And more than a few bits had me pulling out other albums in my collection for similar melodies. Beautiful Scarlet - Starts off a bit heavy with a nice guitar line. Reminds me of the opening song on Rocky Filj's debut, early Styx. The vocals I would describe as kind of David Byron fronting ITCOTCK Crimson, with Queen/Styx background vocals on the chorus. The chorus also sent me searching my Styx collection. While nowhere near a note for note copy, Styx' What has come between us & Lonely Child are what it brought to mind. Do you believe me - Again, back to my collection due to its' melodic familiarity. This time, I dig out Brinsley Schwarz debut - the song - Shine On. Again, no note for note rip-off, but the general melody is shared. The guitars are more Power Pop than Brinsley's CSNY sound. The mid part departs with a mediocre solo section, then back to the main melody. The Band - early 70s rock n roll , starts of with a steel or slide (?) guitar. Once more, the melody seems familiar, but I can't put my finger on it. Beatle-ish, I can almost see Big Star playing this if they were to go outside of their power pop idiom. Liar - I knew this tune. I thought, I must have heard this on the radio at some point in time. How could an album with a tune this good not have made its' way into the hands of someone at PA ??? Oh Oh ! It's the Argent tune. Good cover. No Range - Twin guitar intro, then some Tull like flute. The verse begins, early Styx comes to mind. But more in sound than lyrically or in musical arrangement. Is this what it would sound like if Ian Anderson had written a song for Styx, or vice versa. Some 10cc moments melodically. A hard early 70s type rocker. Day in Day out - start with the harmonics from beginning of Suite Madame Blue. Then the melody brings to mind a combination of the verses from In the Court of the Crimson King, and Styx' A Day. A touch of ELP's Lucky Man. Sole Survivor - Whew, finally no similar songs pop to mind ! Though that's not to mean it's very original. Average early 70s hard rock . It spends the last 2 minutes on a guitar solo that seems typical of the era - competent, heck the last minute sounds like Status Quo came in and took over. All in all, well I paid 2 bucks for the LP. And while they weren't the only group mining the same melodies at the time, it reminds me of how more willing labels were to sign up bands and let them develop over the course of a few albums. What exactly got them signed, I don't know, as Liar is really the only stand-out track, and it's a cover. If you find it cheap, and you miss the early 70s, it might be of interest to you. But don't expect more than mediocity. And have fun finding progressiveness apart from the comparison and sound-alikes from other groups of the time
Review by ZowieZiggy
PROG REVIEWER
3 stars This is another of the Charisma gangs. Unfortunately, they won't be as successful as a few other ones and they only produced two albums and then called it quit.

It is a bit sad since Capability Brown was definitely not a bad band and they should have deserved more recognition IMO. This album, only released on vinyl format is a fine mix of covers and own material.

Each song features subtle and very well crafted vocal arrangements, which remind Yes at times (especially during the first two songs). The opener was featured on the debut album from Rare Bird in 1969 and is represented here in a great version (but the original was also excellent). This one is more guitar-oriented while keyboards were of course the characteristics of the RB version. It is a highlight.

In terms of Yes, the second song of this album Do You Believe is probably the one which comes the closest from their sound. This is particularly true during the vocal parts, but the whole band sounds pretty good as well. It might not be an extraordinary song, but one can listen to it with a certain pleasure and nostalgia.

The Band is the first weak number. Some country feeling is not particularly welcome. The Beatles influence surrounds you while listening to Gardens. Again, the attraction are the vocals. These guys were really gifted: the six of them were participating which conveys a superb feeling.

They show again their skills in the excellent Argent cover of Liar. A wonderful re-visited version and another highlight. This album is more rock than prog, but it holds links to some great prog bands. While I listen to No Range, the flute reminds of Tull with no doubt. But the heavy Tull, not the subtle and folk one.

The closing number is the most elaborate one. Vocals are very much Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young oriented. I've added Young because it also features great electric guitar parts. It even gets heavy at times (but it is not the only number to feature a heavier sound). This almost ten minutes number is the most interesting one from this debut album. A furious rocking highlight.

This album is a good one. Three stars.

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