TWENTY-FIVE VIEWS OF WORTHING

The title at the bottom right of the cd issue says it all, these are "Rare studio recordings 1972-1977". So this is archival and a compilation album as well of Canterbury styled music. They break this band's history into three phases as in Chapter One with three songs, Transition with one song and Chapter Two with five songs. The cd issue has two additional tracks and one of those, the "More Feathers, More Dogs" might be my favourite song on here overall.

A rather clumsy name for a band but named after a series of prints that artist Hokusai did called Thirty-Six Views Of Mount Fuji. In the liner notes they constantly refer to themselves as THE WORTHINGS so I will too. Trumpet player Mark Sugden and keyboardist Roger Hillier have been the two constants in this band playing together in a psychedelic band called PRIMROSE PATH in 1967 before changing their stripes and name in 1970.

It was hearing a SOFT MACHINE record that became a lightbulb moment and a change in direction. They were actually signed to Islands Artist label and that helped with the live shows but before they could record an album with them an executive who was away on travel returned and upon hearing this music rejected it and that ended phase one of the band. Thankfully they recorded these songs during down times at studios that often were 24 hour parties and in particular Basing Street Studios where Steve Winwood and Chris Wood from TRAFFIC were often hanging out.

THE WORTHINGS opened for GENESIS, TRAFFIC, EAST OF EDEN, ARGENT, PATTO and on and on. The Chapter One lineup was a four piece with Sugden on drums/trumpet, Hiller keyboards, Devonshire sax/clarinet/flute and Lindsay bass. The opening two tracks is over 20 minutes of music and worth the price of admission as they say. "Vamp Till Ready" is trippy to start out but they amp up the passion as a contrast as the opening them returns. I like that they change up the horns here as leads with sax, clarinet and trumpet in play.

"Joke Without Words" is right there as one of my favourites at over 12 minutes plus that female choir giving us these Northettes' moments in spades. I even thought of MOVING GELATINE PLATES after 3 minutes. Distorted keys on this one to a jazzy walking bass section later on. "Freak Show" is thankfully only 2 1/2 minutes long. I just don't like it at all with those high pitched theatrical vocals with piano, a romp I could do without. I believe that's Sugden singing here as he does on the first song of their Chapter Two phase called "You Are What You Eat" my second least favourite but much improved.

The lone Transition section track "In For A Quick One" is a great 5 1/2 minutes. Drums, bass and flute create a trippy start. Trombone , clarinet and sax here too. The final chapter of the band sees them adding a guitarist for the first time and we're down to sax only as far as horns go. I like the singer a lot more in this 1974-1977 phase other than of course the Sugden sung "You Are What You Eat". The short "Rat Brain Incision" at 2 minutes is an impressive instrumental with distorted sounds, sax, a great sounding rhythm section and angular sounds briefly.

"More Feathers, More Dogs" sounds amazing. The interplay between the sax and guitar is cool. Some beautiful melodies in this one. So impressed. "Do The Azimuth" is another winner especially the vocals and an interesting chorus to boot. The final track "Ratification" is a 1977 demo that Roger reconstructed in 2021 and it does sound different from the rest. An instrumental with pulsating and pounding sounds early as it drives along to a keyboard led section.

For sure 4 stars and a nice package with that 18 page booklet full of pictures and information.

One of those ghost bands that existed sometime in the distant past but relatively little to showcase its existence, TWENTY-FIVE VIEWS OF WORTHING was a band that not only existed but was very active as a live act supporting some of the biggest and best known bands of the modern era. Its trials and tribulations and its promising start that began in the fully equipped studios of Island Records only to be completely unplugged from all existence is a story that's unfortunately not unique but certainly unfortunate for a band that showed such promise and potential. The band's material remained shelved for several decades before finally finding redemption in the form of a renewed modern interest in the nooks and crannies of the past and in particular in the artists that were glimmering beams of originally that were snuffed out before even so much as releasing a single album.

TWENTY-FIVE VIEWS OF WORTHING or more affectionately known as The Worthings found life after the ashes of the psychedelic cover band Primrose Path were still smoldering. That psychedelic band was only a cover band but displayed a theatrical knack of Arthur Brown inspired pyrotechnics and flamboyant live performances however never engaged in the art of self-penning its own songs or musical output. Primarily the brainchild of drummer and vocalist Mark Sugden whose infatuation with the early Soft Machine albums left him smitten and infected him with the Canterbury Scene bug, he and Watford, England high school buddy keyboardist / vocalist Roger Hillier were amongst the early birds to dip into the world of the fledgling Canterbury Scene when they formed TWENTY-FIVE VIEWS OF WORTHING as far back as 1970.

With a keen ear for a stylistic approach that mixed the Canterbury jazz sounds with early progressive art rock that was taking England by storm at that time, the duo quickly recruited the jazz talents of saxophonist Paul Devonshire along with bassist Paul Lindsay and formed the first chapter of The Worthing's seven year run. Quickly attracting the attention of Island Records for an uncanny ability to deftly blend Mike Ratledge keyboard sounds with exquisite jazz and early Soft Machine psych-pop tinged art rock, The Worthings were signed to a management deal with Island Artists and in 1972 supported many of the greats of the era including Genesis, Caravan, Mott The Hoople, Amon Düül II and Roxy Music courtesy of the connection to Island Records' live agency.

The band was given access to Island Records' legendary Basing Street Studios during the off hours and in 1972 the band successfully recorded a half album's worth of tracks before Island suddenly went on a great purge of unsigned artists of which The Worthings were unfortunately included. Having deemed all other options off the table especially for such a quirky niche market art rock that the band was not willing to compromise, the dismayed band continued into 1973 but with the mid-1973 departure of bassist Paul Lindsay, the first phase of TWENTY-FIVE VIEWS OF WORTHING basically came to an abrupt halt. The band sallied forth through what is now considered their transitional phase with the recruitment of bassist John Knox and the unlikely inclusion of trombonist Pete Teychenné who changed the band's overall sound significantly.

The transition phase was short and when Paul Devonshire left the band put things on hold for a year before recruiting Paul Gillieron on sax, Harlan Cockburn on guitar and Malcolm Barrett on bass. Chapter 2 was born! This chapter saw a radical change which for the first time found a guitarist in the band since like the earliest Soft Machine albums, TWENTY-FIVE VIEWS OF WORTHING focused on the mix of jazz, psychedelic and art rock that didn't have the need for guitar sounds. Also while the earliest Island recordings were primarily instrumental (with the exception of crazy tracks like "Freak Show), Chapter 2 focused more on a vocalist-led songwriting formula that included guitar feedback, riffing and the occasional solo. Under this incarnation The Worthlings managed to release its only artifact of the 70s in the form of the 7" vinyl EP titled well 7" - haha. The whimsy was extended to the cover art which only showcased a blank cover sleeve with 7" and two arrows drawn on each side to the ends to convey the length! Canterbury whimsey at its most jocular.

The release of the 1977 7" vinyl effectively saw the end of the road for the band with progressive musical styles suddenly tanking in favor of the new wave of varying art forms. The recordings, most of which were completely unreleased remained in the vaults for decades until the label Wind Waker Records label was suddenly formed for the not so simple task of restoring and compiling all the archival music of TWENTY-FIVE VIEWS OF WORTHING in a lush gatefold vinyl edition that finally hit the scene in 2020 showcasing all the band's recordings from 1972 to 1977 and covering both chapters and even the short-lived transition phase which yielded a single recording. The album was released on CD in 2022 own the Seelie Court label with two bonus tracks ("More Feathers, More Dogs," "Ratification"). Needless to say Island Records missed the mark with this excellent band. What were they thinking?

This band excelled throughout its entire existence and this album represents various styles of Canterbury-tinged art rock that were all worthy of being heard during the band's heyday. Of course the music industry is a roll of the dice but thankfully treasures like this have been resurrected from inaccessible vaults of some undisclosed location and allowed to bask in the light. TWENTY-FIVE VIEWS OF WORTHING archival album is on the more accessible side of the Canterbury sound with early Soft Machine and Caravan the obvious primary influences but don't think of them as even remotely falling into the dreaded clone territory as this band was innovative and creative at every juncture not to mention offering a warm production that fits right into the greater world of Canterbury. As the love of all things progressive from prog's classic days only grows stronger as time elapses, TWENTY-FIVE VIEWS OF WORTHING has finally found its rightful place in the annals of history and reveals a band that was energetic, captivating and deeply dedicated to its craft. With the psych-pop sensibilities of early Soft Machine, the crossover characteristics of Caravan and an unpredictable whimsey of bands like Supersister, TWENTY-FIVE VIEWS OF WORTHING was / is one of a kind! Excellent archival release this one!

CHAPTER ONE

1. Vamp Till Ready (8:36)

2. Joke Without Words (12:07)

3. Freak Show (2:26)

TRANSITION

4. In for a Quick One (5:26)

CHAPTER TWO

5. You Are What You Eat (5:37)

6. Do the Azimuth (4:40)

7. Rat Brain Incision (2:02)

8. More Feathers, More Dogs (3:50)

9. Ratification (3:17)

01 - 03 (1972-73), 04 (1973), 05 - 07, 09 (1977), 08 (1976)