Flight. 1975 Capitol
Excursion Beyond. 1980 Motown
***Incredible Journey reissued by Eastworld Apr 2013
***Incredible Journey reissued by Eastworld Apr 2013
Flight were a Florida based progressive rock/fusion band with mellotron, Moog, guitar, trumpet, and quite a bit of kinetic energy. This is one of the most confused releases from a most confused time in American history (think Gerald Ford and hyper inflation - kind of like now lol). The album opens up as if Starcastle had decided to sound like Yezda Urfa instead of you-know-who. But then there's trumpet. Trumpet? OK, then. This leads to 'Make a Miracle' which is more like Earth, Wind, and Fire. "Baa-bay, I need you...baa-bay" It's actually quite accomplished for the style. Then how about some fusion runs similar to Mingo Lewis' Flight Never Ending? And so it goes, yo-yo-ing back and forth from insane prog to complicated fusion to radio soul hits. What a cool and dopey album, really. Too sophisticated for chart topping; too mainstream to be an underground cult classic. Can't imagine what the hell Capitol were thinking here. The more I review albums on the Capitol label, the more I wonder just how drugged up were those guys in the 70s? Flight were to get even more bizarrely contrasting on their follow up album. Awesome.
I haven't heard their 3rd album to date.
Priority: 2
Priority: 2
8/18/10 (new entry); 4/16/13
8 comments:
hi again Tom!
Having again a walk through the ''CD-reissue'' forest,I found this trully great album in your site and please let me post my review for FLIGHT's debut for anyone to read...this band is criminally overlooked:
Magnificent US prog band,recording and performing between mid-70's and early 80's.They recorded three albums as far as I am concerned:''Flight'' (1975),''Incredible journey'' (1976) and ''Excursion beyond'' (1980).The first two are considered as one of the best examples of artistic progressive jazz rock,the latest is said to be in a much more commercial vein.The one I can talk about is their self-titled debut,featuring Pat Vidas on trumpets/vocals,Jim Michael Yaeger on keyboards,John Ray on acoustic & electric basses,Russell Dawber on drums and Ted Karczewski on electric and acoustic guitars.This one is progressive jazz rock at its best for sure.Compositions are really fast,complex and intricate,offering tons of adventuruous interplays and a very rich sound.However,FLIGHT are not your average band,delivering long improvisated parts or jam sections.The compositions are mainly short with a great developing structure and also featuring often humurous vocals of somekind of late-60's pop style.Pat Vidas present a wide variety of catchy trumpet parts,supported by great electric piano,moog synths and a touch of mellotron and even some fantrastic solos by guitarist Ted Karczewski.The funky bass lines of John Ray try to create a more relaxed atmosphere...but instrumental parts are trully mind-blowing,reminding me of GENTLE GIANT and actually if you can imagine a cross between GG and NUCLEUS you are very close to FLIGHT's unique sound.Energetic brass rock in battle with complicated jazzy prog with also some hints of classic progressive rock.This band deserves a lot more than this limited fame they earned.A must-have for ages...9/10
Keep up the great work!All the best!
http://lost-rock-treasures.blogspot.com/
Hi Apps79,
Thanks for the review! As you requested, I also published it on the main blog entry.
Thanks again. Hope all is well.
- Tom
hi again Tom!
very kind of you to post this on your main blog.There are so many overlooked treasures out there that people aren't aware of...and your blog is not only very informative around re-issues but an excellent guide of underground prog/jazz/art rock as well.
All the best!
http://lost-rock-treasures.blogspot.com/
After Flight drummer Russell Dawber and I formed another jazz/rock fusion band, NEXUS, in '78 or '79 with Kenny Drew , Jr. whose father is the famous Kenny Drew, Sr. who played with the greats like Miles and Coltrane, I believe. Flight were a great band and cool people as well. Capitol just didn't market them. Sad. NEXUS was an awesome band with a sound more like RTF. FLIGHT's albums are among my fav along my Beatles and Mahavishnu recordings. BTW, I was the guitarist for NEXUS. Our demo didn't survive unfortunately.
Thanks Michael for the comment. Very interesting! Did Nexus record anything?
- Tom
Flight - Incredible Journey will be reissued by Eastworld on May 13th.
Ah cool - thanks for letting us know Ken! I'll get a news post out later today.
Oh, excellent news it's going to be reissued on CD! :) I had a pretty clear vinyl transfer, but this will be better of course!
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