VALENTYNE SUITE

Remember this album came out in 1969. It was produced by one of the few bands you can actually classify as a supergroup. Personally as a fan I feel deprived of years of music of this exceptional quality produced by a band that unfortunately disbanded in 1971 years after only 3 years. The band certainly had not peaked - their music was not repetitive, every track they produced was different, the musicianship was of the highest quality. Hiseman, Clemson (although not on the Valentyne Suite), Heckstall-Smith and Greenslade were probably the best musicians around in their particular field. If you have never heard the title track 'The Valentyne Suite' you have missed out on one of the best pieces of conceptual instrumental works of the contemporary music scene. It rates better than the Mike Oldfield's original Tubular Bells and Sketches of Spain by Miles Davis. The introductory keyboards played by David Greenslade in his own unique style and sound is joined by Dick Heckstall-Smith on saxaphone with the two supported by Jon Hiseman. They are constantly changing the moods and texture of the piece before building up to their musical conclusion permitting an incredible guitar solo to take over and more or less finish the masterpiece in a tone and mood differing from what went before.The flip side (for those of you who remember vinyl) contains two 'ordinary' tracks which you can either take or leave, but tracks 2 & 3, The Elegy and Butty's Blues certainly add value to the Valentyne Suite - both tracks are a great combination of jazz, blues and rock. The only problem with the album Valentyne Suite is Chris Farlowe was not on vocals. You really need to listen to Colosseum Live to appreciate what Chris contributes to the band. They've reformed, their 1994 Cologne concert captured on DVD is excellent; the best part of 25 years later their music has not aged.