National Health fans
Printed From: Progarchives.com
Category: Progressive Music Lounges
Forum Name: Prog Bands, Artists and Genres Appreciation
Forum Description: Discuss specific prog bands and their members or a specific sub-genre
URL: http://www.progarchives.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=122038
Printed Date: May 03 2024 at 03:08
Software Version: Web Wiz Forums 11.01 - http://www.webwizforums.com
Topic: National Health fans
Posted By: Grumpyprogfan
Subject: National Health fans
Date Posted: January 24 2020 at 05:17
| Have not seen a fan page for this group who broke up all too soon. One of my favorite bands, essentially Hatfied & the North Part II (another brilliant band). I was lucky to see them live... 1979 in Lawrence, Kansas. There were about 80 people in the audience and the show was incredible, one of the best I've ever seen. Pip was very animated and a bit drunk but he played flawlessly, with a huge ring on his finger. We thought he might fall over from the weight of the ring. It was enormous. John was spot on, keeping the rhythm section tight and it was magic when he used a cue ball on his bass. Alan, when not playing, was pacing behind the keyboard, deep in thought, smoking cigarettes. When his break was up he ruled the keys, playing with so much passion. Phil had a music stand set up and was reading the music on some tunes. When he finished the page it was discarded on the floor. By the end of the show paper was everywhere. What a great band. Any other fans? Any stories to tell? |
Replies:
Posted By: Psychedelic Paul
Date Posted: January 24 2020 at 08:43
I'm a newly-converted National Health fan, having reviewed their debut album less than a week ago. I'm going to take my prescription down to my local record store and see if they have any National Health albums in stock. After all, Canterbury Scene music is the best medicine. 
|
Posted By: hugo1995
Date Posted: January 29 2020 at 12:31
|
National Health is great, Hatfield was perfect (in my opinion). Egg was perfect too. Mumps is one of the best prog epics, and definitely most harmonically complex. Dave Stewart (also in Nat Health) is an underrated genius. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h_MUajIs9Vs" rel="nofollow - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h_MUajIs9Vs ------------- interests: Moon Safari, Gilgamesh, Egg, ELP, Soft Machine, Gong, Opeth (Everything pre watershed), Brighteye Brison, The Flower Kings |
Posted By: Cosmiclawnmower
Date Posted: February 15 2020 at 14:42
|
Gilgamesh (Alan Gowen's other/main band) were great also.. The D.S. al Coda lp in memory of Alan Gowen is great.. Neil Murray, the first NH bassist left to play in an early line-up of Whitesnake- he is a good bassist so must have just walked an audition with WS!! I never got to see NH live, missed seeing them supporting Steve Hillage on the 'Green' tour.. ------------- |
Posted By: Spacegod87
Date Posted: February 15 2020 at 17:06
|
I heard my first National Health song just the other day (The Collapso) and was thoroughly impressed. Can't believe I didn't come across them all these years. Better late than never I suppose.
|
Posted By: Atavachron
Date Posted: February 15 2020 at 17:13
|
https://www.google.com/url?sa=i&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.amazon.com%2FComplete-National-Health%2Fdp%2FB000000PLF&psig=AOvVaw3htK5oduF64CebMLRZB713&ust=1581898153838000&source=images&cd=vfe&ved=0CAIQjRxqFwoTCIjVtYbk1OcCFQAAAAAdAAAAABBD" rel="nofollow">  https://www.google.com/url?sa=i&url=https%3A%2F%2Fmurodoclassicrock4.blogspot.com%2F2011%2F06%2Fnational-health-discografia.html&psig=AOvVaw3htK5oduF64CebMLRZB713&ust=1581898153838000&source=images&cd=vfe&ved=0CAIQjRxqFwoTCIjVtYbk1OcCFQAAAAAdAAAAABAZ" rel="nofollow">  ------------- "Too often we enjoy the comfort of opinion without the discomfort of thought." -- John F. Kennedy |
Posted By: miamiscot
Date Posted: February 17 2020 at 08:13
| National Health is my favorite Canterbury artist. |
Posted By: Psychedelic Paul
Date Posted: February 17 2020 at 09:43
|
I just dropped by to say I listened to and reviewed the first album by Gilgamesh today. If you like Hatfield & the North and National Health, then I think you'll like Gilgamesh too.
I'd also recommend the "Mainstream" album by Quiet Sun too.
|
Posted By: Psychedelic Paul
Date Posted: March 05 2020 at 12:06
|
For anyone who likes National Health, I'm pretty sure you'll like the music of Turning Point too. I reviewed their debut album Creatures of the Night (1977) today.
|
Posted By: siLLy puPPy
Date Posted: March 05 2020 at 12:13
|
Oh yeah! National Health and Hatfield were the cream of the crop for Canterbury. Both all times faves -------------  https://rateyourmusic.com/~siLLy_puPPy |
Posted By: Nogbad_The_Bad
Date Posted: March 05 2020 at 12:14
|
National Health are a must for all Canterbury fans, Tenemos Road is one of the greatest opening tracks on a debut album of all time. ------------- Ian Host of the Post-Avant Jazzcore Happy Hour on Progrock.com https://podcasts.progrock.com/post-avant-jazzcore-happy-hour/ |
Posted By: dr wu23
Date Posted: March 05 2020 at 12:45
 ------------- One does nothing yet nothing is left undone. Haquin |
siLLy puPPy wrote:Posted By: Cosmiclawnmower
Date Posted: March 05 2020 at 13:36
Double double thumbs up!!!  I don't think I could carry on living without the Rotters club   Or the first NH lp for that matter!------------- |
Posted By: Logan
Date Posted: March 05 2020 at 13:44
|
I love National Health. Unlike most it seems, the self-titled debut is my particular favourite (very solid five star album for me), but I like Of Queues and Cures very much too. ------------- Just a fanboy passin' through. |
Posted By: Psychedelic Paul
Date Posted: March 05 2020 at 14:00
|
"Better Days" - the final track on Turning Point's "Creatures of the Night" album. |
Posted By: Lewian
Date Posted: March 05 2020 at 16:55
Same here, and they are much dearer to me than Hatfield and the North, which whom they are often lumped together. Not that Hatfield are bad, but emotionally National Health give me far more.
|
Posted By: Grumpyprogfan
Date Posted: March 05 2020 at 17:04
| Thanks to all for the sudden surge of posts in this thread! |
Posted By: AFlowerKingCrimson
Date Posted: March 05 2020 at 17:53
| I was listening to some of the complete "box" set in my car a couple of weeks ago or so. Good stuff. Anyone else ever notice that the one song incorporates parts of "theme one" by VDGG? |
Posted By: Atavachron
Date Posted: March 05 2020 at 18:06
|
^ That collection was my first of theirs, still a great introduction to the band without having to get everything. ------------- "Too often we enjoy the comfort of opinion without the discomfort of thought." -- John F. Kennedy |
Posted By: Man With Hat
Date Posted: March 05 2020 at 20:56
|
OQAC is a prog classic. The rest ain't too shabby either. ------------- Dig me...But don't...Bury me I'm running still, I shall until, one day, I hope that I'll arrive Warning: Listening to jazz excessively can cause a laxative effect. |
Posted By: Guldbamsen
Date Posted: March 05 2020 at 23:46
The debut is my fave as well. Elephants is still my go-to track for slicing leaks and just generally strutting my stuff in the kitchen. ------------- “The Guide says there is an art to flying or rather a knack. The knack lies in learning how to throw yourself at the ground and miss.” - Douglas Adams |
Posted By: Mirakaze
Date Posted: March 05 2020 at 23:52
You're thinking of The Collapso, and that same song also quotes the first movement of Igor Stravinsky's Ebony Concerto in an excellent demonstration of that composer's famous adage "lesser composers imitate, great composers steal"
|
Posted By: dr prog
Date Posted: March 06 2020 at 01:20
|
Canterbury fusion is a lot more enjoyable than most American fusion. Pizzio del pozzo and axis are similar bands from Italy and Greece. Bit like Health, Hatfield and Gilgamesh. I also like the jazzed up fusion bands from Netherlands area. Solution, Spin, Placebo. Also Hiromasa Suzuki and Nucleus are cool ------------- All I like is prog related bands beginning late 60's/early 70's. Their music from 1968 - 83 has the composition and sound which will never be beaten. Perfect blend of jazz, classical, folk and rock. |
Posted By: handwrist
Date Posted: March 06 2020 at 02:59
|
Canterbury fusion is best fusion. ------------- http://handwrist.bandcamp.com" rel="nofollow - My Music http://www.progarchives.com/artist.asp?id=9405" rel="nofollow - PA Page |
Posted By: Tom Ozric
Date Posted: April 04 2020 at 06:56
| Three OUTSTANDING albums from these amazing musos. I just spun D.S. sl Coda this afternoon and it still delivers. My heart is and will always be in the Canterbury Prog sector of things (screw Meshuggah and Suffocation). |
Posted By: irrelevant
Date Posted: April 04 2020 at 08:12
|
^ Yeah D.S. al Coda is underrated. Very good album. Alan Gowen was great! So happy I've got all 3 on CD. D.S. set me back a few quid, but no regrets at all! https://s1164.photobucket.com/user/HBCF000/media/72277846_2362913717164386_7744948825038520320_o.jpg.html" rel="nofollow">  ------------- https://gabebuller.bandcamp.com/" rel="nofollow - New album! http://www.progarchives.com/artist.asp?id=7385" rel="nofollow - http://www.progarchives.com/artist.asp?id=7385 |
Posted By: Grumpyprogfan
Date Posted: April 04 2020 at 09:23
| ^Plenty of XTC and Zappa in your collection. Nice! |
Posted By: irrelevant
Date Posted: April 04 2020 at 10:12
Cheers mate  ------------- https://gabebuller.bandcamp.com/" rel="nofollow - New album! http://www.progarchives.com/artist.asp?id=7385" rel="nofollow - http://www.progarchives.com/artist.asp?id=7385 |
Posted By: Tom Ozric
Date Posted: April 04 2020 at 13:06
|
The segue from Flanagan’s People into Toad Of Toad Hall is just beautiful. Jimmy Hastings’ flute is exquisite and Dave Stewart’s e-piano chords really capture a mood for their absent friend. I once left some heartfelt words regarding Alan Gowen on the Davebarb website (does it still exist?) which led to the late, great Hugh Hopper emailing me. Some interesting conversations ensued. His collaboration with Gowen - Two Rainbows Daily is magnificent. |
Posted By: Rick1
Date Posted: April 14 2020 at 12:18
| I was lucky to see them just once; in 78 supporting Hillage. I remember Dave Stewart remarking they were on after 'Late Bar'. It wasn't until 84 when I saw their successors - In Cahoots (Miller/Sinclair R/Dean/Pyle/Lemer). Two treasured musical memories. |
Posted By: Psychedelic Paul
Date Posted: June 02 2020 at 17:35
|
Seeing as National Health is very topical at the moment, this seems like the ideal time to post all of their beloved albums. National Health (1978) Of Queues and Cures (1978) Missing Pieces (1996) (Archival compilation) |
Posted By: Grumpyprogfan
Date Posted: June 02 2020 at 17:46
|
Hey Paul you forgot D.S. Al Coda.
|
Posted By: Psychedelic Paul
Date Posted: June 02 2020 at 17:55
I would have included D.S. Al Coda too, but the full album's not currently available on YouTube.
|
Posted By: Sean Trane
Date Posted: June 03 2020 at 02:42
|
I had missed this thread's first life a couple of months ago Just relistened to both historic albums a couple odf days ago. TBH, I'm not that big on the debut, becase it's fgot too much vocas to my tastes and frankly I always found the Northettes-type of voices * relatively annoying, sometimes irritating. This comment is also valiod for Hatfield's two albums. Fortunately Queues (with its great guests), when vocals are there, it's John Greaves (and surprisingly enough not the great Minton). I also find Queues' composition more energetic. * by Northettes, I mean it's mainly Amanda Parsons that i dislike, cos I liked a lot Barb Gaskin in Spirogyra. I don't remember much of Rosenthal's voice.
|
Posted By: Tom Ozric
Date Posted: June 03 2020 at 03:33
| ^ Binoculars !! Greaves is AMAZING !! His bass during the passage before Stewart’s brief fuzzy solo is out of this world. And they still cranked this stuff out in 1978 - did they not know what year it was ?!! |
Posted By: Rick1
Date Posted: June 03 2020 at 04:51
You'd be amazed at how many 'hip' New Romantic types in the early 80s would secretly confess to listening to National Health...
|
Posted By: Psychedelic Paul
Date Posted: June 03 2020 at 05:49
|
It's good to see this blog has been brought back to life and is in rude health again.
My review for the first National Health album:- http://www.progarchives.com/Review.asp?id=2307954" rel="nofollow - http://www.progarchives.com/Review.asp?id=2307954
|
Posted By: Tom Ozric
Date Posted: June 03 2020 at 06:17
|
Posted By: Psychedelic Paul
Date Posted: June 05 2020 at 04:47
|
I've just been down to the chemist and I've managed to pick up a prescription for National Health's missing D. S. Al Coda album, so without further ado, here it is. 1. Portrait Of A Shrinking Man 2. TNTFX 3. Black Hat 4. I Feel A Night Coming On 5. Arriving Twice 6. Shining Water 7. Tales Of A Damson Knight 8. Flanagan's People 9. Toad Of Toad Hall |