Remember Audience?

[Musitron]

Audience - House of the Hill is one of those almost forgotten album of the early 70's , that will bring you much shivers down the spine of most progheads.

They were suppose to have a reunion gig in London (28 nov) but it postponed.

http://www.audienceareback.co.uk/

[mpoll]

Nope, for some reason this band has escaped me. I'm listening to "The House On The Hill" on MOG.com right now - great stuff! I see Tony Stratton-Smith originally signed them to Charisma.

Thanks for the recommendation, Musitron! :up

[Lino]

Yes, that's a great album. Saw them play in Hamilton about 5 years ago or so...and it was excellent! Keith Gemmell on sax is like a David Jaxon...very similar sound and style. I really enjoyed the gig. Apparently, Audience is big(ger) in Canada, and all the dates for that tour were Canadian cities only.
In an interesting side note that I found out about later...it was because of Audience that the same promoter was able to book Peter Hammill for a solo show acouple years later. Howard from Audience is good friends with Peter and recommended Hamilton and this promoter. After that solo show, Peter brought vdgg to the same city for the same promoter.

[bRETT]

They seemed to be quite active a few years ago, with 3/4 of the original lineup (new drummer). Trevor Williams was sending out a newsletter, I sent an email and got a nice response. There was a good live album "Live & Well & Kickin' & Screamin" (or something like that) with some nice new material. Dont know what's lately become of them.

Good as House on the Hill is, I think their masterpiece album was Lunch (more of a quirky songwriting album in the Kinks/10cc vein). But one thing I learned from that email is that the band doesn't like it much.

[Bucka001]

I interviewed (via email) Keith Gemmell and Howard Werth for the VdGG book I co-wrote. Both were very helpful. Audience were indeed a Charisma band but unlike the others signed at the time, they were not managed by Strat. And they felt that they maybe weren't given the same attention by the label because of it.

Of course, if you talk to the guys from VdGG, who were both managed by and signed to Charisma, they'll tell you that it was a double-edged sword. You definitely get a lot of mixed signals because your management is supposed to be negotiating and dealing with the record label; your management shouldn't be your record label. On the other hand, Charisma did help them out in certain situations and let them get on with things.

VdGG and Audience played together quite a bit in '70 / '71. They did a massive tour of Germany together in '71 which was a follow-on from the massively successful "Six Bob" Charisma tour earlier that year. That tour had VdGG headlining with fellow Charisma artists Genesis and Lindisfarne opening. This tour was supposed to repeat the lucky formula a few months later on foreign soil and had VdGG headlining with fellow labelmates Audience and Jackson Heights (which featured Lee Jackson, still something of a star after his time in The Nice).

[bRETT]

That tour had VdGG headlining with fellow Charisma artists Genesis and Lindisfarne opening.

Weren't Lindisfarne a lot bigger than VDGG? Or had their hits not happened yet?

[Reginod]

Love Audience. Can't say much posting by phone but Lino and all the others that got to catch em a few years ago were lucky indeed!

[Corbie]

I first heard "House on The Hill" in 1973 in my sister's bedroom. My late brother had sent her a copy and we played it together all the time. Its dark moody vibe really swept me away and I've loved the record ever since. She also had "Lunch" but it was HOTH that really did (and does) it for me. It's been getting some heavy rotation here at Corbie Towers recently as my kids (15 and 13) both love it.

Fine music always finds ears.

[Bucka001]

Weren't Lindisfarne a lot bigger than VDGG? Or had their hits not happened yet?

Both Genesis and Lindisfarne became a lot bigger than VdGG (with Lindisfarne, that goes as far as the UK, but in Europe [especially Italy] it wasn't the case; in the U.S., VdGG at least has a cult following; I don't know anyone who's heard of Lindisfarne here in the States). But at the time (Jan '71) VdGG was the senior band, so much so that they appeared (before the other two) on the cover of Melody Maker as Britain's Most Fashionable Band a few months later on the strength of that tour (although, to be fair, Lindisfarne habitually went down better than both the other bands on that tour).

[mogrooves]

Terrific band, although things fell off with Lunch.

Evidently, Howard Werth was considered to replace Jimbo in The Doors.


Keith Gemmell on sax is like a David Jaxon

Yeah, I always thought Gemmell would make a credible replacement for Jaxson....

[Reginod]

http://progsheet1.hypermart.net/audience.html

A pretty good interview with Trevor Williams (one of the best bassists you've never heard!) that sheds some light on how they felt about Lunch, an album which I guess I like better than the band did! "In Accord" and "Buy Me An Island" are both great tunes and the rest are pretty cool too. I think it's a pretty good album for whimsical moods.

[moecurlythanu]

I like them. 'Friends, Friends, Friend' is my favorite, but I have yet to hear the s/t.

[nosebone]

I like them. 'Friends, Friends, Friend' is my favorite, but I have yet to hear the s/t.

Friends and House i like equally.

never heard Lunch...

[AcousticWalden]

I only have / heard Lunch and like it alot. Seems like I need to give House on the Hill a listen.

[sonic]

All their original albums through to Lunch are good IMO. I picked up a copy of Friend's Friend's Friend on vinyl in the late 80s and was hooked.

[bRETT]

A pretty good interview with Trevor Williams (one of the best bassists you've never heard!) that sheds some light on how they felt about Lunch, an album which I guess I like better than the band did! ".

Nice interview but wow, he doesn't even like "Indian Summer"! At least he says something nice about "Party Games" which is my favorite track on Lunch.

[Trane]

I like them. 'Friends, Friends, Friend' is my favorite, but I have yet to hear the s/t.

Finally, someone to go my way....

I never understood those yelling genius at HotH, yet not doing so at FFF... IMHO, FFF is at least the equal if not a tad superior (and it's got an outstanding artwork too)

The debut has some ine moments (but by no means is it as good as their 2nd and 3rd), but it's been bootlegged many times, so be careful to which reissue you choose if you want to buy it...


All their original albums through to Lunch are good IMO. I picked up a copy of Friend's Friend's Friend on vinyl in the late 80s and was hooked.

Mmmmhhh.... it seems obvious (to me anyway) that Lunch was an over-ambitious project that went quite awry...

[sonic]

Mmmmhhh.... it seems obvious (to me anyway) that Lunch was an over-ambitious project that went quite awry...
I came to Lunch late ;) . But never felt it was a bad record. It doesn't have mind blowing tracks like Priestess
or The House on the Hill but it's alright.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PcXljhQZOtY

[Scrotum Scissor]

I'm not altogether too crazy about the rest of their output, but House is outstanding and arguably a minor, lost "proto" classic. Some very solid songwriting involved with excellent lyrics, fine performance overall - and I always liked the spike of the lead vocalist's voice. The "proto" thing could actually show for a number of interesting lead singers.

But I assume Audience were essentially a bit too overly "rootsy" to be considered among the "traditional" progressive groups of the day; more akin to the underground, post-60s aesthetic of Quiver, Help Yourself, Global Village Trucking Co., Junior's Eyes, Man et al.

[Progmatic]

Friends and House i like equally.

never heard Lunch...

Lunch is their weakest IMHO... Friend's Friend's Friend and House on the Hill are much better.

I believe that sax solo at the end of Raid song on Friend's Friend's Friend is one of the best in prog rock....(Starts around 4:40)



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NNxIgw9z7zo

[Trane]

I came to Lunch late ;) . But never felt it was a bad record. It doesn't have mind blowing tracks like Priestess
or The House on the Hill but it's alright.


Well, I wouldn't say itt was a bad album per se (so I might have not written "quite" awry), but it's certainly a big disappointment aftertheir previous two excellent albums... I have a feeling the guys were out to top those albums, but simply couldn't (whether because they over-stretched themselves or lack sufficient Charisma back up is up for dicussion, though)...

You can feel the ambitions on the Lunch project (you'd have to be deaf not to hear it), but the execution and means simply weren't up to par ...

Most likely, that broke up the band...

[bRETT]

I sought out FFF after falling in love with HOTH and Lunch, and I have to say that the endless sax and flute solos didn't do much for me. I was more into the band for the songwritring and the tighter arrangements, which is why I'mn a Lunch fan. (In terms of solos, "In Accord" on Lunch does more in 1/3 the time).

I was hoping to post the wonderful Audience track "Elixir of Youth" which appeared only on the long-gone "You Can't Beat 'Em" compilation but drat, it ain't even on Youtube.

[undergroundrailroad]

I happened luckily on a still sealed vinyl copy of "House on the Hill" for $1 recently. I thought it was a beautiful album.

[Progbear]

VdGG at least has a cult following; I don't know anyone who's heard of Lindisfarne here in the States

But Lindisfarne did have a top 40 hit, albeit belatedly, in the States, which is more than VdGG ever managed:


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WYZq9FtOet0

-------------
MIKE (a.k.a. "Progbear")

"You can take the war out of the soldier, but you can't raise that soldier from the dead."
--Shona Laing

N.P.:“Strange Theme”-Collegium Musicum

[Trane]

I sought out FFF after falling in love with HOTH and Lunch, and I have to say that the endless sax and flute solos didn't do much for me.

Well, I'malways a sucker for long solos... but to call Audience's "endless" is stretchiong it beyond limits... theu haven't got a song over 8 or 9 minutes if memory serves

Yeah, I got that 'if You Can't" compilation vinyl too...

[Bucka001]

But Lindisfarne did have a top 40 hit, albeit belatedly, in the States, which is more than VdGG ever managed:


They did? Wow. Never would have guessed. I would guess that if we looked at the U.S. top 40 lists from the last couple decades, there are probably a lot of one-hit wonders in the lower halves of those charts whose names few will know or remember and could never actually draw anyone if they decided to tour today. That's where I would think Lindisfarne falls.

All I'm saying is that I (like probably most of us) get into a lot of music conversations with a lot of different people at different times (being a travelling professional musician has stepped that up for me!). I always bring up VdGG (my fave band) and a lot of people know who they are (many don't, but one would be surprised at how well known they are for being a British underground avant band). That may have to do with us getting all the British rock mags here in the States at Barnes & Noble and other outlets, and Hammill/VdGG getting good coverage in all the major British rags (and being part of the 'prog' scene, which is having a resurgence; Lindisfarne isn't categorized as part of any scene as such). Where VdGG could tour the States playing clubs and small theaters for anywhere from a couple hundred people to a thousand (in NYC and L.A. if they could ever get there, and bigger crowds in parts of Canada) a night, Lindisfarne would garner no interest and not be able to do it. Maybe I'm wrong about that. It's just that no one I've talked to knows who they are, and I love talking about the Six Bob tour and how bewildering it is that Genesis opened for VdGG at one point in time (people will be hugely surprised by that, and also not have known who Lindisfarne is when I bring them up in that context.... but I acknowledge that that's hardly scientific proof of their obscurity here I guess!!).

[gryphs also]

I have HOTH and Lunch and enjoy them both the same, although the actual song "House On The Hill" is one of those songs that may sound dated now but you still have to appreciate the dark, moody vibe (which are characteristics I love in music, but then as a pH nutbar...). I didn't know they played ain Southern Ontario in recent years. If I had only known....

[Lino]

More than once gryphs. When I went to that show, I was told by somebody I was chatting with that they had played there a few years prior as well. These guys were real pros, and put on a fantastic show.

[Trane]

More than once gryphs. When I went to that show, I was told by somebody I was chatting with that they had played there a few years prior as well. These guys were real pros, and put on a fantastic show.

The live album from that period is atrocious... and their latest studio album (Gnosis) only had the opening track that was good... the rest was/is best forgotten

[bRETT]

But Lindisfarne did have a top 40 hit, albeit belatedly, in the States, which is more than VdGG ever managed:


True-- but at least Hammill sang on a Top 20 hit, "Shock the Monkey." (Then again. one of Lindisfarne played on "Maggie May").

[Lino]

The live album from that period is atrocious... that's probably a big reason why i've not traditionally been a fan of live albums. (though there are some that I consider to be phenominal). Seeing a band live is the ultimate music experience, imo. Each show is a fleeting one time event that can never be re-captured. So many things contribute to a great live show...and it might not necessarily be that the band was playing at it's best. Sometimes a band gets exposed in the live setting...and it's still a great show. Sometimes bands play great and are tioght, but it's not as great a show. I haven't heard the live album, but i do know a good show when I see one, and this was one for sure! :D

[moecurlythanu]

The live album from that period is atrocious... and their latest studio album (Gnosis) only had the opening track that was good... the rest was/is best forgotten

I don't agree with your assessment of 'Gnosis,' but I think you are thinking of Gnidrolog, not Audience.

[Reginod]

I thought the Audience live album was pretty cool. It could've been better, but it wasn't bad.

Friends Friends Friend BTW would also get my vote as the best Audience album overall. "Raid" and "Priestess" are the shit! More sax and flute solos please! :D

HotH was right up there with it though.

[AcousticWalden]

Lunch isn't getting the love, this is a great tune from the lp.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n4Sl-GmJxrs&feature=youtube_gdata_player

[Trane]

I don't agree with your assessment of 'Gnosis,' but I think you are thinking of Gnidrolog, not Audience.


:oops

You're absolutely right about Gnosis being Gnidrolog... my shameful bad

[yoyiceu]

I do like 'Gnosis', Gnidlorog's comeback album. Not as good as their early albums, but quite alright. One of those CD's that would have been very good if kept to about 40 minutes worth.

[moecurlythanu]

I do like 'Gnosis', Gnidlorog's comeback album. Not as good as their early albums, but quite alright. One of those CD's that would have been very good if kept to about 40 minutes worth.

Pardon the hopefully brief thread hijack...I started listening to 'Gnosis' very late one night and made it about 3/4 of the way through before calling it a night. I haven't pulled it out again yet, but...I thought it was good apart from one or two "Music Hall" style numbers, if memory serves.

[Glenn]

Oh yeahhh, I remember Audience.. "The House On the Hill" is what I was searching for and my search brought me here. How cool is that?

It would be great to be able to hear that classic tune again, but alas, I can't find it to stream it anywhere... the 'original' classic version from the 1971 album.

If anyone cares to post an mp3, I'd appreciate the listen.
Thanks
Glenn :)

[sonic]

Oh yeahhh, I remember Audience.. "The House On the Hill" is what I was searching for and my search brought me here. How cool is that?

It would be great to be able to hear that classic tune again, but alas, I can't find it to stream it anywhere... the 'original' classic version from the 1971 album.

If anyone cares to post an mp3, I'd appreciate the listen.
Thanks
Glenn :)
You weren't looking hard enough. One second on youtube and here it is...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i043gWMKAVg

[Lino]

Welcome to PE Glenn, good to see another Ontarian in the mix. :)

[yoyiceu]

Oh yeahhh, I remember Audience.. "The House On the Hill" is what I was searching for and my search brought me here. How cool is that?

It would be great to be able to hear that classic tune again, but alas, I can't find it to stream it anywhere... the 'original' classic version from the 1971 album.

If anyone cares to post an mp3, I'd appreciate the listen.
Thanks
Glenn :)


Audience's first album, self-titled, was recorded before FFF an before Charisma, and it includes a different version of House on the Hill.

[Mister Triscuits]

I love House on the Hill to death. Fantastic album. My take on Lunch is that there's one totally gold track, "Stand by the Door," that ranks right up with the best on House, but the rest of the album is kind of meh. Not bad, but not so memorable.

[bRETT]

Got to put a plug in for Howard Werth's solo album, "King Brilliant," which came out on Rocket in 1975 (more Elton connection: Gus Dudgeon produced it and some of the Blue Moves band appear). Even more straightforward and song-oriented than Lunch but quite good overall. Loved the album more when I figured out the title!

Here's a nice track from it, probablty the most ambitious one:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XvpojddRA0E

[Musitron]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uZbrk6rfa2w

Nice Video

[Calabasas_Trafalgar]

It doesn't look like anyone has posted it, but Keith Gemmell, the great sax/flute man from Audience, passed away about two weeks ago. RIP

[JJ88]

I'm sorry to read this. As with the Rare Bird albums on Charisma, I think 'House On The Hill' is a period classic which has unfairly slipped through the cracks...and Gemmell's work on things like 'Jackdaw' and the title track is a major part of its appeal.

As an aside, I'm surprised 'You're Not Smiling' wasn't a hit. Bizarrely, a few months ago I read that a single release was reissued in 1973 under Howard Werth's name, with Audience essentially listed as a back-up band:

https://www.45cat.com/record/cb204

[Trane]

RIP to Keith.

[Galactic Bulldozer]

Thanks for spreading a little happiness while you were here, Keith.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RLuzUGYizI0

[yoyiceu]

Curiously, I don't see a mention of the fact that Howard Werth was seriously considered to replace Jim Morrison as lead singer of he Doors after Morrison's death, to the point that the rest of the band moved to England and for a while practiced together with Werth on vocals, but one of the members suddenly wanted to go back to the US and the project was abandoned. Later, though, Krieger and Densmore did form The Butts Band with another British singer -Jess Roden- on vocals.

[mogrooves]

RIP. He was also quite good with Stackridge.


Curiously, I don't see a mention of the fact that Howard Werth was seriously considered to replace Jim Morrison as lead singer of he Doors after Morrison's death


Evidently, Howard Werth was considered to replace Jimbo in The Doors.

[nosebone]

Aw...., RIP

[Mister Triscuits]

Very sorry to hear about Keith Gemmell; he and Howard Werth were a formidable combination.


Curiously, I don't see a mention of the fact that Howard Werth was seriously considered to replace Jim Morrison as lead singer of he Doors after Morrison's death, to the point that the rest of the band moved to England and for a while practiced together with Werth on vocals, but one of the members suddenly wanted to go back to the US and the project was abandoned.

Robbie Krieger says there were never any rehearsals with Werth, they "just talked with him one day." And note that this was not right after Morrison's death, but almost two years later, after the Doors had put out two relative flop albums as a trio and had pretty much run out of steam.

[bRETT]

As an aside, I'm surprised 'You're Not Smiling' wasn't a hit. Bizarrely, a few months ago I read that a single release was reissued in 1973 under Howard Werth's name, with Audience essentially listed as a back-up band:

It's appeared on one compilation I know of, and is the same version from House on the Hill.

[Progbear]

Curiously, I don't see a mention of the fact that Howard Werth was seriously considered to replace Jim Morrison as lead singer of he Doors after Morrison's death, to the point that the rest of the band moved to England and for a while practiced together with Werth on vocals, but one of the members suddenly wanted to go back to the US and the project was abandoned. Later, though, Krieger and Densmore did form The Butts Band with another British singer -Jess Roden- on vocals.

Jac Holzman was apparently the one who wanted Werth fronting the Doors to happen. He was a huge fan of Audience and was apparently crushed that House on the Hill and Lunch weren’t bigger hits. He also claimed a similarity in Werth’s voice to Jim Morrison’s, which I’m afraid I do not hear at all!

But...hey. Couldn’t have been any worse than Full Circle, am I right?

[Calabasas_Trafalgar]

Jac Holzman was apparently the one who wanted Werth fronting the Doors to happen. He was a huge fan of Audience and was apparently crushed that House on the Hill and Lunch weren’t bigger hits. He also claimed a similarity in Werth’s voice to Jim Morrison’s, which I’m afraid I do not hear at all!

But...hey. Couldn’t have been any worse than Full Circle, am I right?

You got it. One of the ultimate "contractual obligation records"!

[Trane]

Played both FFF and HotH last night.



Curiously, I don't see a mention of the fact that Howard Werth was seriously considered to replace Jim Morrison as lead singer of he Doors after Morrison's death, to the point that the rest of the band moved to England and for a while practiced together with Werth on vocals, but one of the members suddenly wanted to go back to the US and the project was abandoned. Later, though, Krieger and Densmore did form The Butts Band with another British singer -Jess Roden- on vocals.

Had never heard of this story, especially The Doors moving to the UK


Robbie Krieger says there were never any rehearsals with Werth, they "just talked with him one day." And note that this was not right after Morrison's death, but almost two years later, after the Doors had put out two relative flop albums as a trio and had pretty much run out of steam.

Other Voices was a rather good album... I can see this being a classic Doors album if Jimbo had sung the songs himself


Jac Holzman was apparently the one who wanted Werth fronting the Doors to happen. He was a huge fan of Audience and was apparently crushed that House on the Hill and Lunch weren’t bigger hits. He also claimed a similarity in Werth’s voice to Jim Morrison’s, which I’m afraid I do not hear at all!


Lunch: there IS something wrong with that album... can't put my finger on it, but it just doesn't click.
HotH: difficult to believe this was a miss, and even more FFF, which I find even better


But...hey. Couldn’t have been any worse than Full Circle, am I right?

Well, TFC might've been an OK album if it hadn't bear the Doors name ... It's just that people expect LA Woman or Strange Days from a Doors album.
I mean if it had been done by dozens of other band, it would've been thought as "on par" with the rest of their discography

[Galactic Bulldozer]

Lunch: there IS something wrong with that album... can't put my finger on it, but it just doesn't click.

Audience must stick to the formula, Black Sabbath horror kitsch. Priestess, Murderess, Satan devours... the humorless audience just can't take a fun record in the vein of Kevin Ayers, The Bonzos and The Kinks.

Seven Sore Bruises, Barracuda Dan and the incredible speed-feast Trombone Gulch. 'Sorry no video' from the up-loader which is fine as I can visualize the roadrunner and coyote disappearing over the desert hill during the fade-out.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LRPsVAsi81Y

Hula Girl, well I won't describe what I visualize with that 'toon' but I'm certainly in 'Gay Paris' with my striped t-shirt and beret during Party Games. I could blame the song for my latent appreciation of the French accordion sound. I'm back in London with Buy me an Island, how many times have I just washed my car when the first spots of rain fall?

Then there's the 'cuda been contenders' Stand By The Door, Thunder and Lightning and the almost great In Accord (I could have done without the acoustic ending and Werth's slighty disturbing voice) to make the whole thing (cover included) an even more essential album than Odyssey and Oracle.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IgIIeiYMgjg

Bummer, I've just seen that my Virgin Cd doesn't have the excellent Elixir of Youth. Even more reason to get the Esoteric version, folks. :cool

[yoyiceu]

Very sorry to hear about Keith Gemmell; he and Howard Werth were a formidable combination.

Robbie Krieger says there were never any rehearsals with Werth, they "just talked with him one day." And note that this was not right after Morrison's death, but almost two years later, after the Doors had put out two relative flop albums as a trio and had pretty much run out of steam.


Well, Howard Werth seems to have a different recollection...

This link leads to an interview with Werth where he talks at length about the rehearsals with the Ex Doors in London...

http://newdoorstalk.proboards.com/thread/60/doors-disband-1973

[Calabasas_Trafalgar]

Lunch: there IS something wrong with that album... can't put my finger on it, but it just doesn't click.
HotH: difficult to believe this was a miss, and even more FFF, which I find even better

I'll tell you what was wrong with it - no Keith Gemmell. At that point, Keith had left to join Sammy, a band featuring Mick Underwood(ex-Quatermass!)and Geoff Sharkey(ex-Ginhouse)among others. Audience enlisted a couple of session players(Bobby Keys and Jim Price IIRC). Decent players, but they were just playing parts and didn't display the passion that Gemmell and few others(Dave Jackson, Mel Collins)could bring. That's why Lunch is so flat.

[Galactic Bulldozer]

I'll tell you what was wrong with it - no Keith Gemmell. At that point, Keith had left to join Sammy, a band featuring Mick Underwood(ex-Quatermass!)and Geoff Sharkey(ex-Ginhouse)among others. Audience enlisted a couple of session players(Bobby Keys and Jim Price IIRC). Decent players, but they were just playing parts and didn't display the passion that Gemmell and few others(Dave Jackson, Mel Collins)could bring. That's why Lunch is so flat.

Going from the inside cover of Lunch, that looks like Bobby Keys on sax.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PcXljhQZOtY


I still think Gemmell was on In Accord (Gemmell/Williams/Conner). Correct me if I'm wrong.

[Mister Triscuits]

Going from the inside cover of Lunch, that looks like Bobby Keys on sax.

No, that is definitely not Bobby Keys. I believe Keys and Price only did the album as a session; the touring horn man to replace Gemmell was a guy named Pat Charles Neuberg. That must be him.

[Fracktured]

The house on the hill is a great album. Got it on cd about 3 years ago.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Progbear]

Lunch: there IS something wrong with that album... can't put my finger on it, but it just doesn't click.

I don’t find it quite as horrid as its reputation but it is definitely the most...un-good of their LPs. As you say, just doesn’t click. And as others have said, the dearth of Keith Gemmell probably had something to do with that. Nothing wrong with Bobby Keys, obviously, but Gemmell brought something to the table. For Bobby, it was just another session gig.


HotH: difficult to believe this was a miss, and even more FFF, which I find even better

Audience were kind of a hard sell, as they weren’t really comparable to any other band. Except maybe Family, also a hard sell. I don’t think FFF was ever released in the States, but you’re right; it might be their best album.

[Mister Triscuits]

^ It does seem odd to me that The House on the Hill didn't even chart in America, as I used to hear it on the radio a lot. The title track, "Nancy," and "Jackdaw" all got airplay in my neck of the woods.

[moecurlythanu]

I don’t find it quite as horrid as its reputation but it is definitely the most...un-good of their LPs. As you say, just doesn’t click. And as others have said, the dearth of Keith Gemmell probably had something to do with that. Nothing wrong with Bobby Keys, obviously, but Gemmell brought something to the table. For Bobby, it was just another session gig.



Well, the elephant in the room is that the songwriting just wasn't as good on that one, on top of what others have said. It's just blah...forgettable.

[bRETT]

Going from the inside cover of Lunch, that looks like Bobby Keys on sax.
.

Sounds to me like Gemmell on that track. That version seems like a mix of live vox with some of the album track-- definitely more than one sax going on.

I'm one of those people who thinks Lunch is great, and that those Family/Kinks comparisons are on target.

[Reginod]

Lunch was the least of Audience's rekkids, with that I'd agree, but it still has a lot that I like, primarily "In Accord" and "Buy Me An Island". To me it just seems more like the Howard Werth show . . . . . . . not bad, but Audience was better when Gemmell was around and the compositions were spread around a bit.

I'm saddened to hear about Gemmell. RIP

[Trane]

I'll tell you what was wrong with it - no Keith Gemmell. At that point, Keith had left to join Sammy, a band featuring Mick Underwood(ex-Quatermass!)and Geoff Sharkey(ex-Ginhouse)among others. Audience enlisted a couple of session players(Bobby Keys and Jim Price IIRC). Decent players, but they were just playing parts and didn't display the passion that Gemmell and few others(Dave Jackson, Mel Collins)could bring. That's why Lunch is so flat.

You said it better than I could have, sir !! ;)


I don’t find it quite as horrid as its reputation but it is definitely the most...un-good of their LPs. As you say, just doesn’t click. And as others have said, the dearth of Keith Gemmell probably had something to do with that. Nothing wrong with Bobby Keys, obviously, but Gemmell brought something to the table. For Bobby, it was just another session gig.

Yup, it's not horrible... I guess a fair bit of bands would've been happy to release a record like Lunch, much like TFC or Other Voices from The Doors weren't nearly as bad as their rep.



Audience were kind of a hard sell, as they weren’t really comparable to any other band. Except maybe Family, also a hard sell. I don’t think FFF was ever released in the States, but you’re right; it might be their best album.

The only gripe I have with FFF is Ebony Variations (I don't detest it), which screws its homogeneity and cohesiveness. I mean it really has nothing to do in there (IMHO and YMMV, of course).
Raviole did that a bit less on HotH, but it's passable, because I like it.
But altogether, I think the wild ecstatic mood is stronger in FFF

[bRETT]

Lunch was the least of Audience's rekkids, with that I'd agree, but it still has a lot that I like, primarily "In Accord" and "Buy Me An Island". To me it just seems more like the Howard Werth show . . . . . . . not bad, but Audience was better when Gemmell was around and the compositions were spread around a bit.


I think Gemmell's on most of the album though...He's the only one credited with clarinet and flute, so that puts him on "Barracuda Dan and "Party Games". It's probably Keys and Horn on the songs with a horn section (Trombone Gulch, etc) rather than solo sax.

[Calabasas_Trafalgar]

Sounds to me like Gemmell on that track. That version seems like a mix of live vox with some of the album track-- definitely more than one sax going on.

I'm one of those people who thinks Lunch is great, and that those Family/Kinks comparisons are on target.

Family maybe, ...but the Kinks? I've never heard any such comparisons, and if I did would wholeheartedly disagree.

[yoyiceu]

Family maybe, ...but the Kinks? I've never heard any such comparisons, and if I did would wholeheartedly disagree.

The Kinks of Muswell Hillbilies phase, where they went all dixieland all of a sudden, have some similarities with some of the brassy cuts on Lunch.

[Galactic Bulldozer]

The Kinks of Muswell Hillbilies phase, where they went all dixieland all of a sudden, have some similarities with some of the brassy cuts on Lunch.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-TNlt5DKWEs

This could have been on Lunch.

Forgot... Seven Sore Bruises - Ray and Dave after a fight. :p

.and I had never heard this before... even though I lived in Muswelll Hill for a year.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ea-MVgC_jz4

[bRETT]

Okay, the "Island" clip is definitely live vox over the studio backing track. It's wonderful though, if you love that song and album. Sadly there seems to be nothing else from whatever that show was on Youtube (or any live Audience at all, pre-reunion).