Track Listing

1. Iceberg
2. Times
3. You Went Away
4. Melanie
5. Beautiful Scarlet
6. Sympathy
7. Nature's Fruit
8. Bird On A Wing
9. God Of War
10. Devil's High Concern
11. Sympathy

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #77578 in Music
• Released on: 2007-09-10
• Number of discs: 1
• Format: Original recording remastered
• Dimensions: .20 pounds

Album Description
Rare Bird are perhaps best remembered for having 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 1970 hit single `Sympathy'.

Like fellow future Charisma stable mates Van Der Graaf Generator, Rare Bird was formed around the principle of keyboard dominated progressive rock which eschewed the use of guitars. In December 1969 their eponymous debut album was released to great critical acclaim, (also becoming a US Billboard chart hit) and was followed in January 1970 by the release of `Sympathy' b/w `Devil's High Concern'. The single reached the UK Top 30 and was a subsequent major hit throughout Europe.

Customer Reviews

A band with sympathy and charisma ...
Charisma boss and former sports hack Tony Stratton-Smith must have thought there was indeed something in this record company malarkey when this confident debut for both band and label pulled a two million copy selling single from its midst. Though it rocks in parts, the anti-war 'Sympathy' is representative of the album: melodic, occasionally melancholic, pastoral progressive with a pop undertow. Eschewing guitars for a twin keyboard attack lends the material a plangency well suited to it. Reissues have done the rounds before but this re-mastered release brings bonuses in a 1970 single and B-side mono version of the hit. Informative notes and period images hike the quality level. Compositional and performance talent coupled to an individual sound dealt an even finer album in the follow-up to this strong start.