Esoteric Recordings are pleased to announce the release of BEAUTIFUL SCARLET - THE RECORDINGS 1969 - 1975, a newly re-mastered 6 CD boxed set featuring all of the albums and singles released by legendary band RARE BIRD on both the Charisma and Polydor labels between 1969 and 1975. Formed in 1969 with a line up featuring GRAHAM FIELD (organ), DAVE KAFFINETTI (keyboards), STEVE GOULD (vocals, bass) and MARK ASHTON (drums), RARE BIRD had the distinction of being the first act to be released on Tony Stratton Smith's gloriously eclectic label Charisma records (also the home of GENESIS, THE NICE and VAN DER GRAAF GENERATOR to name but a few) and for their excellent self-titled debut album released in late 1969 and their 1970 international hit single Sympathy. Despite selling a million copies worldwide, neither their debut album or the excellent follow up AS YOUR MIND FLIES BY (issued in 1970) enjoyed the sales of their debut single. This lack of commercial success saw the departure of Graham Field and Mark Ashton, leaving Gould and Kaffinetti to form a new line-up in 1971 adding ANDY "CED" CURTIS (lead guitar), FRED KELLY (drums) and PAUL KARAS (bass, vocals) to the band, with Steve Gould undertaking the role of second guitarist in addition to that of vocalist. Signing to Polydor Records in late 1971, Rare Bird recorded the excellent album EPIC FOREST the following year. The album was lavishly packaged with early copies featuring a poster and a bonus 7-inch EP with three additional tracks. In 1973 the band changed line-ups once more with departure of Paul Karas. He was replaced by NIC POTTER (previously with VAN DER GRAAF GENERATOR) and the band recorded the fine album SOMEBODY'S WATCHING the same year. The album featured guest JOHN WETTON on bass for the track "DOLLARS". Despite the excellence of the band's work, commercial success still eluded them. In 1974 ANDY RAE replaced Nic Potter on bass and Rare Bird recorded their final album, BORN AGAIN. The release of the album led to touring activity, including a memorable spot opening for label mates BARCLAY JAMES HARVEST at the Theatre Royal, Drury Lane in June 1974. However, the following year Rare Bird disbanded. This new anthology features newly re-mastered versions of all of Rare Bird's albums and singles, with EPIC FOREST being re-mastered from recently discovered first generation master tapes for the first time. The set also features an additional previously unreleased CD of the band's entire live set recorded by Polydor Records at the Theatre Royal, London in June 1974. Also included is an illustrated booklet featuring exclusive interviews with STEVE GOULD and MARK ASHTON and a facsimile of the rare poster given with initial copies of EPIC FOREST.

Tracklist:

Iceberg
Times
You Went Away
Melanie
Beautiful Scarlet
Sympathy
Natures Fruit
Bird on a Wing
God of War 1
Devil's High Concern 1
Sympathy (Mono Single Version) 1
Down on the Floor 1
Hammerhead 1
I'm Thinking 1
Flight 1
As Your Mind Flies By 1
Vacuum 1
New Yorker 1
Central Park 2
What You Want to Know (Mono Single Version) 2
Hammer Head (Mono Single Version) 2
Red Man (1971 Version) 2
Baby Listen 2
Hey Man 2
House in the City 2
Epic Forest 2
Turning the Lights Out 2
Her Darkest Hour 2
Fears of the Night 3
Turn It All Around 3
Title No. 1 Againt 3
Roadside Welcome 3
Four Grey Walls 3
You're Lost 3
Somebody's Watching 3
Third Time Around 3
Turn Your Head 3
More and More 3
Hard Time 4
Who Is the Hero 4
High in the Morning 4
Dollars 4
A Few Dollars More 4
Virginia 4
Lonely Street 4
Body and Soul 4
Live for Each Other 4
Diamonds 4
Reaching You 5
All That I Need 5
Redman 5
Peace of Mind 5
Harlem 5
Lonely Street 5
Last Tango in Beulah 5
Don't Be Afraid 5
Passin' Through 5
Somebody's Watching (Live 1974) 5
Third Time Around (Live 1974) 6
Hard Time (Live 1974) 6
All That I Need (Live 1974) 6
Lonely Street (Live 1974) 6
Live for Each Other (Live 1974) 6
Last Tango in Beulah (Live 1974) 6
Dollars (Live 1974)

UPC: 5013929475687
Label: Esoteric
Release Date: 5.7.21
Format: CD

Rare Bird - Beautiful Scarlet: Recordings 1969-1975 (Box) (Uk) (CD)