Esoteric Recordings are pleased to announce the next release in their series of compilations celebrating the so-called "underground" rock music - "Taking Some Time On - Underground Sounds of 1970", is a 4 CD clamshell boxed set which gathers together over five hours of music from 1970, the first year of a new decade that would see Progressive music in all it's forms become a dominating force with the album-buying public. The innocence of psychedelia and the optimism expressed by such vast expressions of the Hippy ideal as the Woodstock Festival in New York State and the Hyde Park Free Festivals of 1969 in London were shattered by the violence of the Altamont Festival in California at the end of the year. As 1970 dawned, a more cynical tone began to appear in the counter-culture which was also reflected in some of the music by "Progressive" artists as some music got heavier or more anarchic. Jazz, blues, hard rock, folk and classical music influences melded together to form a diversity of music among so-called Underground artists, championed by "underground" figures of the day such as John Peel on his BBC Radio One show Top Gear. These artists retained a common audience who anticipated their albums eagerly, resulting in the "progressive" imprints of major record labels such as EMI's Harvest, Decca's Deram and Philips Records' Vertigo imprints and the independent Island Records enjoying healthy sales with some artists enjoying success in the UK singles charts. Universities and Colleges were regular venues on burgeoning live music circuit in the UK for these artists, most of whom earned loyal followings through regular concert performances both in Britain and in Europe. 1970 was also a year of major rock festivals in Britain, all of whom featured "Progressive" album focussed artists. Free concerts in London's Hyde Park and events such as Plumpton Festival, The Bath Festival of Blues and Progressive Music and the infamous Isle of Wight Festival of 1970 (gate-crashed by underground agitators protesting against the entrance fee being charged by the organisers) all showcased some of the best music of the time.

Tracklist:

Taking Some Time on -Barclay James Harvest
The Green Manalishi (With the
Two Prong Crown) - Fleetwood Mac
If I Could Do It All Over Again, I'd Do It All Over You - Caravan
Black Night - Deep Purple
Refugees (Single Version) -Van Der Graaf Generator
Lady Eleanor - Lindisfarne
Winter - Atomic Rooster
Hurry on Sundown - Hawkwind
The Witch's Promise - Jethro Tull
Nothing at All - Gentle Giant
See My Way - Blodwyn Pig
Small Fruit Song - Al Stewart
No More White Horses - T2
The Song of McGuillicudie the Pusillanimous (Or Don't Worry James, Your Socks Are Hanging in the Coal Cellar with Thomas) - Egg
Apache Dropout -Edgar Broughton Band
Sittin' Back Easy - Patto
Singing a Song in the Morning - Kevin Ayers
Empty Pages - Traffic
Alan in the River with Flowers - Lindisfarne
Sympathy (Single Version) - Rare Bird
Gerdundula (Single Version) - Status Quo
Rain - Locomotive
Can't Be Long Now / Francoise/
For Richard / Warlock - Caravan
Around the World in Eighty Days - Stray
A Song for Me - Family
Grass - Pretty Things
Whaling Stories - Procol Harum
Funny Ways - Gentle Giant
Phoenix - Wishbone Ash
No Opportunity Necessary, No Experience Needed - Yes
Black Sheep of the Family - Quatermass
In the Land of the Few -Love Sculpture
Jig-A-Jig - East of Eden
Things May Come and Things May Go, But the Art School Dance Goes on Forever - Pete Brown ; Piblokto!
Tomorrow's People - the Children of
Today - McDonald ; Giles
Lucky Man - Emerson, Lake ; Palmer
Mirror of Illusion - Hawkwind
My Heaven - Clear Blue Sky
All in Time -Brian Davison's Every Which Way
Down, Down - Cressida
The Sun Will Never Shine - Barclay James Harvest
Lunatic's Lament -Kevin Ayers ; the Whole World
Three Sisters - Affinity
Momma's Reward (Keep Them Freak's a Rollin') - Edgar Broughton Band
Why? (How - Now) - Love Sculpture
Blankman Cries Again - High Tide
All in Your Mind - Stray
Soulful Lady - Michael Chapman
Situations - Curved Air
Heaven - Gracious
Good News, Bad News - Family
October 26 - Pretty Things
Love Like a Man - Ten Years After
Electric Los Angeles Sunset - Al Stewart
What? - the Move
Thousands on a Raft -Pete Brown ; Piblokto!
Astral Traveller - Yes

UPC: 5013929476783
Label: Esoteric
Release Date: 8.13.21
Format: CD

Taking Some Time On: Underground Sounds Of 1970 - Taking Some Time On: Underground Sounds Of 1970 (CD)