INDELIBLY STAMPED

Roger Hodgson and Rick davies were trying to find a successful sound when they recorded this album, but they didn't find it until they dumped all of their backing band, and hired a new group for the next album.

They jump from style to style on this album, so that Your Poppa Don't Mind sounds like Loggins & Messina (yeah, I know Your Momma Don't Dance came out a year after this album, but the song sounds like them - Hodgson sounds a lot like kenny Loggins on this track), Travelled sounds like Crosby Stills & Nash, Rosie Had Everything Planned sounds like Simon & Garfunkel (with a little Canterbury mixed in), Potter sounds like a lot of southern rock bands, and Aries has a little Steely Dan sound (if they mentioned New York a few times in the lyrics, the illusion would be complete).

There are a few small hints of what would become their signature sound, especially in Coming Home To See You and Times Have Changed. But without the sparkling production that graced the later albums, these songs didn't have a chance.

I'd say this album rates slightly higher than "Famous Last Words", only because by that album they should have known better.