Sky - The Collection (1992) [4 CD Box]

Sky were an English/Australian instrumental group which specialised in fusing a variety of musical styles including light rock, progressive rock, classical and jazz. The group's best known members were classical guitarist John Williams, bass player Herbie Flowers (a former member of Blue Mink and T. Rex) and Francis Monkman, a founder member of progressive rock band Curved Air.








Sky's self-titled debut album (released in 1979) was highly successful in Britain and Australia, quickly reaching gold record status and eventually topping out as a platinum record. Although the band was run democratically, and all members contributed music and/or arrangements, the presence of John Williams in the lineup was regarded as the band's biggest selling point (and was emphasised in publicity). Williams' concurrent solo instrumental hit - "Cavatina - Theme from The Deer Hunter" - also helped to raise the band's profile. However, this was counterbalanced by some negative reviews from critics accustomed to Williams' classical performances, who remained unimpressed by his new direction with Sky. The band toured the UK in summer and autumn 1979, particular triumphs being sold-out concerts at the Royal Albert Hall and the Dominion Theatre in London (the latter a five-night sellout).

Track Listing

01. Westway (3:37)
02. Carillon (3:29)
03. Danza (2:58)
04. Gymnopedie No. 1 (3:40)
05. Cannonball (3:40)
06. Where Opposites Meet, Part 1 (3:04)
07. Where Opposites Meet, Part 2 (2:43)
08. Where Opposites Meet, Part 3 (5:27)
09. Where Opposites Meet, Part 4 (5:41)
10. Where Opposites Meet, Part 5 (2:22)
11. Dies Irae [bonus track] (7:34)

Produced by SKY/Tony Clark/Haydn Bendall
Recorded and mixed at: EMI Abbey Road, Studio 3

The Band

• John Williams - guitars
• Herbie Flowers - bass
• Kevin Peek - guitars
• Tristan Fry - percussion
• Francis Monkman - keyboards

Notes

Tracks licenced from SKY/Freestyle Records
℗ & © 1992 Freestyle Records
Marketed and distributed in the Benelux by Disky Communications B. V. Hoorn
Switzerland, Austria, Germay by Disky GmbH Düsseldorf

℗ & © 1992 Disky Communications B.V.
Made in France by MPO






In 1980, Sky recorded and released their second album, Sky 2 - a double album which built upon its predecessor's success (becoming the tenth highest selling album in Britain that year). The album included Monkman's side-long rock suite "FIFO" (a piece inspired by computer processing) and four classical pieces including three established chamber music pieces (played entirely straight) and the band's souped-up electric treatment of Bach's "Toccata and Fugue in D Minor". The latter was released as a single (under the name "Toccata") and reached number 5 in the national pop charts, giving the band the opportunity of performing on Top Of The Pops.

In 1980, the BBC produced the television series Great Railway Journeys of the World which included an episode set in Australia. The music for this programme was by Sky, featuring tracks from the first two albums.

Track Listing

01. Hotta (7:47)
02. Dance Of The Little Fairies (3:35)
03. Sahara (6:58)
04. Fifo (1st Movement) (6:42)
05. Adagio (2nd Movement) (2:29)
06. Scherzo (3rd Movement) (4:20)
07. Watching The Airplanes (4th Movement) (3:42)
08. Tuba Smarties (3:23)
09. Ballet-Volta (2:47)
10. Tristan's Magic Garden (4:11)
11. El Cielo (4:24)
12. Vivaldi (4:04)
13. Scipio (12:11)
14. Toccata (4:43)

Produced by SKY/Tony Clark/Haydn Bendall
Recorded and mixed at: EMI Abbey Road, Studio 3

The Band

• John Williams - Guitars
• Kevin Peek - Guitars
• Tristan Fry - Drums, Percussion
• Herbie Flowers - Bass
• Francis Monkman - Keyboards

Notes

Tracks licenced from SKY/Freestyle Records
℗ & © 1992 Freestyle Records
Marketed and distributed in the Benelux by Disky Communications B. V. Hoorn
Switzerland, Austria, Germay by Disky GmbH Düsseldorf

℗ & © 1992 Disky Communications B.V.
Made in France by MPO






Following further tours of Australia and the UK, Francis Monkman left the band in 1980 to concentrate on his own projects (having scored success with his soundtrack to the film The Long Good Friday). The split was entirely amicable and the band had no doubts about carrying on despite the fact that Monkman had been Sky's most prominent original composer and arranger. The keyboard player's role was filled by Steve Gray, another established session musician and a former member of Back Door and Wasp. Gray was also able to take the band towards a more jazz-influenced sound (drawing on his further experience as a piano player with Quincy Jones, Henry Mancini, Michel Legrand, Lalo Schifrin, Peggy Lee, Sammy Davis Jr and John Barry).

Gray joined the band in time for their first European tour, followed by another UK tour and (on 24 February 1981) the "Sky at Westminster Abbey" concert. This had been conceived by the British producer Martin Lewis and was the first-ever rock concert held at the abbey. It was videotaped for a BBC TV special and subsequently released on home video and laserdisc. The concert was a benefit for the human rights organisation Amnesty International and commemorated the organisation's 20th anniversary. The landmark event resulted in Sky receiving considerable positive media coverage. The Westminster Abbey concert was also the launch event for the band's third album, Sky 3, a generally brighter and breezier album than its predecessors. It reached number three in the British Album charts. The band toured Australia, Europe and the UK in support of the release.

Track Listing

01. The Grace (0:29)
02. Chiropodie No. 1 (4:24)
03. West Wind (6:23)
04. Sarabande (3:04)
05. Connecting Rooms (7:14)
06. Moonroof (4:07)
07. Sister Rose (4:34)
08. Hello (4:13)
09. Dance Of The Big Fairies (3:24)
10. Meheeco (6:35)
11. Keep Me Safe And Keep Me Warm, Shelter Me From Darkness (0:56)

Produced by SKY/Tony Clark/Haydn Bendall
Recorded and mixed at: EMI Abbey Road, Studio 3

The Band

• John Williams - Guitars
• Kevin Peek - Guitars
• Tristan Fry - Drums, Percussion
• Herbie Flowers - Bass, Tuba
• Steve Gray - Keyboards

Notes

Tracks licenced from SKY/Freestyle Records
℗ & © 1992 Freestyle Records
Marketed and distributed in the Benelux by Disky Communications B. V. Hoorn
Switzerland, Austria, Germay by Disky GmbH Düsseldorf

℗ & © 1992 Disky Communications B.V.
Made in France by MPO






The fourth Sky album - Sky 4 Forthcoming - was released in March 1982. This was Sky's first album to feature no original material. It consisted predominantly of arrangements of classical compositions and was marketed under the slogan "Genius Past, Genius Forthcoming". Once again, the band toured the UK and Australia to promote the album (and followed this up with trips to Europe and Japan). The Australian autumn tour featured the debut of plenty of new material, much of which was included on a live double album, Sky Five Live, released in January 1983.

Track Listing

01. Masquerade (3:22)
02. Ride Of The Valkyries (5:08)
03. March To The Scaffold (4:57)
04. To Yelasto Pedi (Theme From "Z") (4:01)
05. Waltz No. 2 (From "Valses Nobles Et Sentimentales") (2:33)
06. Fantasy (3:15)
07. My Giselle (From A Theme By Adam De Le Halle) (4:37)
08. Xango (5:05)
09. Fantasia (3:45)
10. Skylark (3:08)

Produced by SKY/Tony Clark/Haydn Bendall
Recorded and mixed at: EMI Abbey Road, Studio 3

The Band

• Steve Gray - Keyboards
• Kevin Peek - Acoustic Guitar, Electric Guitar, Guitar [Synths]
• Tristan Fry - Drums, Percussion, Waterphone
• John Williams - Acoustic Guitar, Electric Guitar
• Herbie Flowers - Bass [Electric], Double Bass, Tuba

Notes

Tracks licenced from SKY/Freestyle Records
℗ & © 1992 Freestyle Records
Marketed and distributed in the Benelux by Disky Communications B. V. Hoorn
Switzerland, Austria, Germay by Disky GmbH Düsseldorf

℗ & © 1992 Disky Communications B.V.
Made in France by MPO



Many thanks to the original uploader: meloman122