Anthony Phillips thread

[gojikranz]

Ppp7 is complete in the two cd set unless I have not been paying attention the few times I have spun it (not my favorite one). Also part 8 is all on one disc maybe you have a different release?

[Progatron]

My huge stack of birthday CDs from Synphonic arrived today (a few days early!) - it's nice because I've just gotten through everything I wanted to listen to recently, so a nice new pile is most welcome! Anyway, among them is Ant's Field Day and Missing Links vols. 1,2,3 and 4. The first three volumes are a very attractive set, in the old-school fatboy CD case, and the fourth is a standalone. So, six discs worth of Ant goodness to enjoy over the Christmas season! Not to mention PP&P 7/8, still on the way. I'll be overdosing on this stuff!

[Dave (in MA)]

Missing Links vols. 1,2,3 and 4. The first three volumes are a very attractive set, in the old-school fatboy CD case

Quite an improvement over the original amateurish cover art.

[Progatron]

Spent the evening listening to all three discs of that set in a row, and loved them! I was surprised at just how engaging a listen this mammoth collection of pieces is. A very pleasant evening of music.

Edit: moved on to disc four - Pathways And Promenades, since it's not bedtime yet. It's already sounding on par with the others, I made the right choice buying these albums. Maybe tomorrow night I'll do the two Field Day discs. In other news, City Of Dreams still hasn't turned up at amazon.ca.

[Progatron]

I canceled my amazon.ca order of City Of Dreams (who knows if and when they'll ever even get it, they're awful) and ordered from amazon UK instead. While I was at it, I threw in PP&P 9 and 10.

[Arkangel3]

I canceled my amazon.ca order of City Of Dreams (who knows if and when they'll ever even get it, they're awful) and ordered from amazon UK instead. While I was at it, I threw in PP&P 9 and 10.

I'm stuck in that same "Amazon Twilight Zone" with PP&P 11. I'll wait till after the holidays and order it then (plus some imports that I didn't get for Christmas). I just ordered the new Missing Links Volumes 1-3 remastered set (Yes, it is remastered. Just checked prior to ordering, which is why I went for it at the ridiculously low price of $14.99 at Amazon). Missing Links has some absolutely BEAUTIFUL synth passages on all of it. It is a wonderful collection which I have been very fond of for years; I'm looking forward to hearing the new masters of these lovely pieces of music. I think ML 1-4 are probably my favorite AP albums (along w/PP&P I & II and Sides, 1984, and Slow Dance). Yeah, a lot of favorites, but AP has such an extensive catalog, you can't just pick 1 or two. I just picked 8 out of a catalog of ...what...35 albums? (OK...it's a third no matter how you look at it. But his music is SO different every time he records, you never know what you get out of him next time...but yeah, if I had to pick a series that is his best, Missing Links 1-4 hits every note and scratches every itch I have.)

[Progatron]

I just ordered the new Missing Links Volumes 1-3 remastered set (Yes, it is remastered. Just checked prior to ordering, which is why I went for it at the ridiculously low price of $14.99 at Amazon). Missing Links has some absolutely BEAUTIFUL synth passages on all of it.

Yeah, $14.99 for that 3CD set is a steal IMO. And I agree - beautiful music, some of his best!

[ThomasKDye]

I canceled my amazon.ca order of City Of Dreams (who knows if and when they'll ever even get it, they're awful) and ordered from amazon UK instead. While I was at it, I threw in PP&P 9 and 10.

Don't know about 10 (heard it was all piano, and I didn't care for his last all-piano outing) but 9 is quite good. You won't be disappointed.

[bill g]

10 is all piano, and it's great. But then I love much of his other piano album (6). The thing I like about the piano albums is that it is great composition. The more new agey side of him, is less so to me, but on the other hand, they have mood to them. By the soundclips on the new one, it sounds as if it falls into the latter category.

[Progatron]

Nice. You know I never got the 2-disc remaster of Sides. How is disc 2 of sides, I'm not even sure what's on it?

I enjoyed it. The 7" single version of "Um & Aargh" is unnecessary but the instrumental mixes are fun, and I like the last two tracks ("Catch You When You Fall" and "Before The Night"). Interesting reminiscing in the liner notes as well.

[bill g]

I enjoyed it. The 7" single version of "Um & Aargh" is unnecessary but the instrumental mixes are fun, and I like the last two tracks ("Catch You When You Fall" and "Before The Night"). Interesting reminiscing in the liner notes as well.

Wasn't 'Catch You When you Fall' on Archives volume 1? I remember a straightforward instrumental of that name. Would this be the same version? 'Before The Night' doesn't sound familiar. What kind of song is it?

[Koreabruce]

Got "PP&P XI: City of Dreams" in the mail yesterday. I've heard it all the way through just once. It's pleasant enough, but not earth-shattering by any stretch. Parts of it remind me very much of "Slow Dance" in both overall mood and in some of the chord progressions he uses. Of course I'll be doing a lot of follow-up listening as I calculate students' grades now that the current university semester is finished. It seems perfectly suited for that kind of listening.

[Boceephus]

I truly enjoy threads like this. I learn quite a bit about an artist I missed out on in my younger days. Thanks for all the reccomended parts & pieces.

I'm also a fan of RW's Sea Airs.

[Progatron]

Hmm. Progatron, when you get it, let me know, I'd be very curious before I recommend it to someone else.

I certainly hope you're right, Dave, because the second half of Part 7 is certainly worth hearing.

Just to let you know, my set arrived complete, all eighteen tracks on PPP7 and twenty on PPP8 (which everyone was right about, it's excellent!). The only flaw I see is a typo on the back cover listing track "20" as track "10". Perhaps an earlier pressing was flawed and they corrected the situation?

Wasn't 'Catch You When you Fall' on Archives volume 1? I remember a straightforward instrumental of that name. Would this be the same version? 'Before The Night' doesn't sound familiar. What kind of song is it?

Yes, a jaunty little track, I quite like it. Here's what the liner notes say about both pieces you mention:

Catch You When You Fall was the one track recorded for the album that was not included on the final release of Sides as Ant was dissatisfied with the lyrics. Previously released on Archive Collection Volume One in the form of a rough mix made at the time, for this re-issue the track has been newly mixed in instrumental form from the 24-track master.

Before The Night (demo) - This is Ant's home demo recording of a piano piece that he wrote alongside the other material for the album in the summer of 1978. In the selection process of material for the album the choice for a piano-based ballad was between this track and Bleak House, with the latter eventually being chosen.

Got "PP&P XI: City of Dreams" in the mail yesterday. I've heard it all the way through just once. It's pleasant enough, but not earth-shattering by any stretch. Parts of it remind me very much of "Slow Dance" in both overall mood and in some of the chord progressions he uses. Of course I'll be doing a lot of follow-up listening as I calculate students' grades now that the current university semester is finished. It seems perfectly suited for that kind of listening.

Mine's coming overseas (and wouldn't you know it, a day after I canceled my amazon.ca order, they got it in stock - so infuriating!) so I'm not expecting it before Christmas, although the estimated arrival date does say the 24th. We'll see! I look forward to hearing it.

I truly enjoy threads like this. I learn quite a bit about an artist I missed out on in my younger days. Thanks for all the reccomended parts & pieces.

I'm also a fan of RW's Sea Airs.

I agree. This is a great thread. Not heavily populated, and that's probably a good thing. Nice to see yet another fan of Sea Airs!

[Arkangel3]

Just got my PP&P XI in the mail the other day (forgot it even came...shame! Too many Christmas Presents arriving all at the same time). It sounds nice and I'll probably get into it a bit deeper on a better day then I had today. So far...it's quiet an album!

[Koreabruce]

Here's a link to a review of PP&P XI: City of Dreams:

http://tinyurl.com/c6p76kn

[Progatron]

My package arrived today, the 24th - just in time for Christmas! Well done, amazon UK! (Meanwhile, packages from the U.S. have been in the mail a week longer than this and have not arrived.)

So, now I have PP&P 9, 10, and 11, for the complete set of 11 titles! Looking forward to spending some time with these over my holiday break.

[GreenD]

Symphonic pieces sounds like Christmas

http://www.gonzomultimedia.co.uk/product_details/15459
http://www.anthonyphillips.co.uk/dis...hy/sheaven.htm

[Progatron]

Well, PP&P 11 is really, really nice. I'm already on my second spin because I really enjoy the mood he's going for on this one. Several tracks with that kind of backwards guitar thing and atmospheric synths. I also enjoyed both 9 and 10. The solo piano for a full album may be a bit much for some people but when I'm in the mood for that I really like it (if the compositions are nice, that is, as they are on that one and the earlier-mentioned Sea Airs from Rick Wakeman).

So in recent weeks my Ant Phillips collection has expanded greatly. Where I once only had PP&P 1-5, I now have all eleven, and have listened to all eleven in a rather short space of time. Here now are the only studio titles of Ant's that I am missing, what should I get next?

Invisible Men (not in any hurry, I've heard this one before and... meh.)
Sail The World
The Meadows Of Englewood (how is this one? seems hard to find)
Wildlife
Ahead Of The Field
Seventh Heaven (available on amazon so the next likely candidate)

[ThomasKDye]

Glad you like them! Nothing like a solid AP collection.

Out of curiosity, which piano album do you like better, #6 or #10? I'd like to know because I may reconsider my stance on those.

[Progatron]

Glad you like them! Nothing like a solid AP collection.

Out of curiosity, which piano album do you like better, #6 or #10? I'd like to know because I may reconsider my stance on those.

#10 by far. In fact, #6 is probably the weak link in the series for me. It's okay, but when I look at the other ten titles they all appeal to me more. Currently listening again to the new one (#11). This will definitely be added to my 'Dreamy' playlist that I often listen to while laying down for a nap or just as pleasant background music while doing other things around the house.

And yes, I'm really pleased to have finally beefed up my AP collection. I've always felt through the years that I should pay him more attention, since I liked his first few albums so much. Just one of those things where there is only so much time and money to go around. When you're a rabid music fan/collector, it's difficult to fit everyone in. But I'm glad to have rectified that.

Any recommendations on those six missing titles I mentioned?

[Scrotum Scissor]

I kept the first PP&P (and I believe I had about five of them), Geese, Wise and Sides. I still like all of these well enough (although some of the poppier stuff can get quite cheesy), but must admit I haven't given a second thought to any of those I got rid of.

What always lacked from his roster IMO (at least the dozen or so titles that I've heard), was a simple kind of "singer-songwriter's" record with himself (guitar/piano & vox) only. I'd welcome that.

[bill g]

Well, PP&P 11 is really, really nice. I'm already on my second spin because I really enjoy the mood he's going for on this one. Several tracks with that kind of backwards guitar thing and atmospheric synths. I also enjoyed both 9 and 10. The solo piano for a full album may be a bit much for some people but when I'm in the mood for that I really like it (if the compositions are nice, that is, as they are on that one and the earlier-mentioned Sea Airs from Rick Wakeman).

So in recent weeks my Ant Phillips collection has expanded greatly. Where I once only had PP&P 1-5, I now have all eleven, and have listened to all eleven in a rather short space of time. Here now are the only studio titles of Ant's that I am missing, what should I get next?

Invisible Men (not in any hurry, I've heard this one before and... meh.)
Sail The World
The Meadows Of Englewood (how is this one? seems hard to find)
Wildlife
Ahead Of The Field
Seventh Heaven (available on amazon so the next likely candidate)

Invisible Men is completely different, and as you've heard it, you know how it is.
Sail The World is decent-mostly synths, but more rhythmic than his PP series. There is some electric guitar as well. I would equate much of it in the vein of 'Prelude 84' from 1984. Then there are some pieces that are slow and dreamy, not unlike the music on pp11. Not his best album, but some good tracks, one called 'Paradise' I think is really nice, and is only available on the remaster as one of the bonus tracks.

'The Meadows of Englewood' I've listened to a couple times and like it, but I wouldn't call it great. The title track is probably my favorite, a very long piece, like 30 minutes or so. The thing about this album is it's a jam with Enrique Berro-Garcia. It is not pre-composed music, which is what Ant does best I think. A lot of keyboards and electric guitar on this one, but lacking drums and bass.

'Wildlife' is pretty close to the style of PP11, and Missing Links volume 3. Joji Hirota is on it with Ant and provides percussion and flute/panflutes. The downside is it is over 40 tracks that average less than 2 minutes each. Ant plays mostly synths on this one, and occasional guitar. In the right mood this is a great album.

'Ahead of the Field' is pretty upbeat. Not far from Invisible Men, but all instrumental if that makes sense. There is some mood to some of the tracks though. Still, I think there is a reason Ant didn't release it back when it was recorded. Compositionally it is not his strongest effort. Probably works best as driving music?

'Seventh Heaven' is a bit of a departure at times, and I'm still digesting it. He has an orchestrator on some of the tracks and a couple tracks with soprano vocals. Some of this album is quite nice. I had hoped this one to be a bit more on the level of Tony Banks' 'Six' album, but its nowhere near that level. Still, for what it is, it is very good, there are beautiful pieces, and this is the one I'd get next of the albums you don't have.

Hope that helps,

Bill

[Progatron]

It helps indeed Bill, thank you! I was already leaning toward Seventh Heaven anyway (availability being a main factor). From your descriptions, it seems the remaining five are among his weaker material, so it seems my collection is nearly as strong as it's going to get for now.

[ThomasKDye]

'Wildlife' is pretty close to the style of PP11, and Missing Links volume 3. Joji Hirota is on it with Ant and provides percussion and flute/panflutes. The downside is it is over 40 tracks that average less than 2 minutes each. Ant plays mostly synths on this one, and occasional guitar. In the right mood this is a great album.

"In the right mood" is right. It's basically a good album for creating a "Coyote Oldman" atmosphere, but it's strictly background music, and not as "involving" as other AP albums.

Other than "Invisible Men," I haven't heard the others.