SKY

SKY 1 *

(1979)

A ground-breaking release for its time ( prog rock at the tail end of the punk boom? ), this album showed what five musicians who were virtuosos of their instruments could do together.
The highlights are without a doubt Francis Monkman's two compositions, "Cannonball" and the five-movement abolsutely stunning "Where Opposites Meet".
This really was a meeting of styles and approaches to music-making. "Carillon" set the trend for SKY to include a straight, simple tune on each album, played without any histrionics, and Erik Satie's "Gymnopedie" paved the ground for further classical arrangements, not all as calm as this one !

1. Westway 3'37
(Herbie Flowers / Francis Monkman)
2. Carrillon 3'29
(Herbie Flowers / Ian Gomm)
3. Danza 2'56
(Antonio Ruiz-Pipo, Arr. Kevin Peek)
4. Gymnopedie No. 1 3'39
(Erik Satie, Arr. John Williams)
5. Cannonball 3'41
(Francis Monkman)
6. Where Opposites Meet 19'22
(Francis Monkman)

SKY 4 **

(1982)

1. Masquerade 3'20
(Aram Khatchaturian, Arr. Steve Gray)
2. Ride Of The Balkyries 5'05
(Richard Wagner, Arr. Steve Gray)
3. March To The Scafford 4'56
(Hector Berlioz, Arr. Tristan Fry)
4. To Yelasto Pedi 4'00
(Mikis Theodorakis, Arr. JohnWilliams)
5. Waltz No. 2 2'33
(Maurice Ravel, Arr. Steve Gray)
6. Fantasy 3'13
(J.S. Bach, Arr. John Williams)
7. My Giselle 4'36
(Kevin Peek, from De La HALLE)
8. Xango 5'05
(Heitor Villa-Lobos, Arr. SKY)
9. Fantasia 3'43
(Alonso Mudarra, Arr. Kevin Peek / Herbie Flowers)
10. Skylark 3'10
(Hoagy Carmicheal / Johnny Mercer, Arr. Steve Gray / John Williams)

Total Time: 76:25 (36:44 + 39:41)

  • Tristan Fry - Drum Kit & Percussion
  • Kevin Peek - Acoustic & Electric Guitars
  • Francis Monkman * - Piano, Synths & Harpsichord
  • Steve Gray ** - Keyboards
  • Herbie Flowers - Electric & String Bass
  • John Williams - Acoustic Guitars