National Health - 4 Albums (1978-2001) (Re-up)

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National Health - 4 Albums (1978-2001) (Re-up)

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National Health (1978) [Reissue 2009]. Esoteric Recordings are pleased to announce the release of a new re-mastered edition of the classic 1978 debut album by National Health. Evolving from Canterbury stylists Hatfield & the North, National Health featured the talents of Dave Stewart on keyboards, Pip Pyle on drums and Phil Miller on guitar along with guests such as Jimmy Hastings. At various times the group also included such luminaries as Bill Bruford, Mont Campbell and Alan Gowen. Released by Affinity Records in February 1978, the album is a classic of the ‘Canterbury’ style and is sure to be a much sought after release by all aficionados of the genre.

Of Queues And Cures (1978) [Reissue 2009]. Of Queues and Cures is one of the last and finest examples of the instrumental Canterbury sound on record during the 1970s. This somewhat sweeping claim for National Health's second album is made not only because of the complexity and quirkiness heard throughout, but because of the presence - quite rare in the years to follow - of fuzz organ, here played by Dave Stewart prior to his departure from the group and the return of the arguably jazzier and less fuzz-inclined Alan Gowen as sole keyboardist.

Missing Pieces [Recorded 1975-1979] (1996). Skip around to any ten-second window on this album and you may think you are hearing a well-rehearsed college band. But, step back and witness the sudden shifts in tempo and musical voice and you know you are witnessing a uniquely successful eclecticism. Most of the material from this superlative British prog rock band was previously unavailable in any form. National Health was the farm team for some of Great Britain's most expansive and important artists. Bill Bruford (Yes, King Crimson) handles the traps on most of the tracks. Bassist "Dirk" Mont Cambell's very interesting multi-instrumental album is also on East Side Digital. Steve Hillage laid down his guitar to produce albums and explore electronica with System 7. This and other news along the where-are-they-now? line is included in the liner notes by Dave Stewart. Stewart himself is spoken of in neo-classical circles for his avant-pop albums. A taste of this can be had in the re-recording of "Starlight on Seaweed" presented here and produced by Stewart and his then-current partner Barbara Gaskin. Stewart also elucidates each daring track with notes. Missing Pieces is a compelling reason to believe progressive rock suggested much artistic possibility that was never realized.

Playtime [Recorded 1979] (2001). After digging up archive material from Gilgamesh in 2000, the Cuneiform label started 2001 with a much-anticipated live album by another legendary Canterbury band: National Health. Playtime comprises material taken from two 1979 shows, one in France, the other in the U.S. The CD documents the last period of the band following the release of its second LP Of Queues and Cures, after keyboardist Alan Gowen had returned to replace founder Dave Stewart. Ex-Henry Cow bassist John Greaves, guitarist Phil Miller, and drummer Pip Pyle round up the lineup and all contribute written material. French guitarist Alain Eckert joined the band on the first show. Only two pieces from National Health's previous repertoire were performed at that point and are included here: Miller's "Dreams Wide Awake" and Greaves' "Squarer for Maude." Other songs come from Gilgamesh's book ("Flanagan's People" and "Play Time") or would be included on future solo or related projects: Greaves' "The Rose Sob" (co-written with Peter Blegvad) would be part of his first solo LP Accident and Miller's "Nowadays a Silhouette" would find its way onto Before a Word Is Said, an LP billed to Gowen, Miller, Richard Sinclair, and Trevor Tomkins. The playing is stellar and the music is very complex, always on the border between progressive rock and fusion jazz. There are flaws on the tape of the French show, but the U.S. show is crisp with wide dynamics. The intensity reaches a peak on the title track, which alone could have justified the whole project. As a bonus, Big Bang editor Aymeric Leroy supplies valuable historical background and details on the band's last months of existence. Canterbury-prog fans will find Playtime a must-have and occasional listeners will prefer it to the mixed bag that is the other archival National Health CD, Missing Pieces.

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National Health - 4 Albums (1978-2001) (Re-up)

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National Health - 4 Albums (1978-2001) (Re-up)

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National Health - 4 Albums (1978-2001) (Re-up)

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National Health - 4 Albums (1978-2001) (Re-up)

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