UK: UK

One of the pinnacles of prog in '78. It's too bad Wetton thought Holdsworth too jazzy, prompting the latter's and Bruford's departure and on towards the first couple of Bruford solos. The second UK album, though enjoyable, didn't hold the promise of the first.

Moogtron III wrote: Gerinski wrote: Surprising comments there, to me it's a masterpiece, they hit the nail of making top-quality music with a lot of the traditional prog qualities but sounding modern for its time. The musicianship is insane. Danger Money is also a fantastic album but I still prefer the self-titled. This.  It is definitely in my top 10 of all albums/all bands.

Agreed.  Some of the best work Holdsworth did up to that point.  And Jobson is a monster - on both the synths and the electric violin:  unsurpassed!!

Not bad, but not a favorite either.  It's probably the one band where Eddie Jobson was really given a chance to show all he can do, and Wetton's always good to hear on vocals, but overall the songs don't blow me away.  Alaska (Jobson instrumental) is probably the most exciting.   Incidentally, I have a vinyl copy of this album autographed by Bill Bruford, so I'm kind of proud of that, though the vinyl itself is a bit scratchy.

I used to love both UK albums, but have been unable to play either of them after the extremely poor way they treated the audience at the final edition of NEARfest, in June 2012. They kept us waiting in the lobby (where there was hardly any seating available at all) for TWO hours, and then for half an hour longer once we had finally been allowed into the hall - and no apologies were tendered. Micky and I left half an hour into their set, and we were not the only ones.

Gerinski wrote: Surprising comments there, to me it's a masterpiece, they hit the nail of making top-quality music with a lot of the traditional prog qualities but sounding modern for its time. The musicianship is insane. Danger Money is also a fantastic album but I still prefer the self-titled.

May be too jazzy for some.  I like it.  Danger Money is easier to "get", however.

I was rather disapointed with this album. I could hardly find a melody I actually liked, and Wetton's singing on it just doesn't help the songs at all.

This album has its moments, Alaska, Dead Of Night, Nevermore, but this album just reaches the 4th star for me. The live renditions of some of these tracks on the Night After Night album don't miss Holdsworth, and I prefer them.
Still a very good album, it has Bruford for crissakes.....

When the original version of prog super group UK broke up it almost broke my heart. What's your opinion of UK's self titled debut album?

Edited by SteveG - December 17 2014 at 15:57