In 1976 Pink Floyd's Nick Mason offered the band's Britannia Row studios to bass clarinetist and tenor saxophonist Gary Windo, who had previously formed Symbiosis in 1971 with Robert Wyatt, a progressive rock jam band. Windo took up Mason on his offer and recorded Steam Radio Tapes in '76 and '77. Mason says, "Brit Row had just been completed and we were able to do the recordings as a test sessions to check out the system." Mason produced and played drums on some of the tracks. Mason tried to sell the album to the record companies but to no avail. Apparently, the world was not ready for Gary Windo's eclectic brand of jazz rock. Throughout the years some of these tunes have appeared on various compilations but have never been released as was intended in the late '70s. Fast forward to 2014 and its release on Gonzo Multimedia.
The album begins with the short "Ginkie" replete with Windo's repeated clarinet lines, simple but intelligent. "Come Into My Garden" is a nice jazz rock tune with excellent guitar from Steve Hillage (Gong) and Windo's patented saxophone bursts. Windo slows it down in the pretty ballads "Sweetest Angel" and "Letting Go" while "Night Train" boasts bubbly organ and more sumptuous brass from Windo. One of my personal favourites is the jazz rock flavoured "Is This The Time?" featuring the vocals of Wyatt, Pam Windo and Terri Quaye. It also contains some of Windo's best sax work on the album.
Steam Radio Tapes should have wide range appeal to fans of '70s jazz rock as well as those prog fans into the Canterbury scene. I hope you like it as much as I do.
Track Listing:
1. Ginkie
2. Come Into My Garden
3. Night Train
4. Stand Fast
5. Sweetest Angel
6. Letting Go
7. Is This The Time?
8. Missy
9. Red River Valley
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In 1976 Pink Floyd's Nick Mason offered the band's Britannia Row studios to bass clarinetist and tenor saxophonist Gary Windo, who had previously formed Symbiosis in 1971 with Robert Wyatt, a progressive rock jam band. Windo took up Mason on his offer and recorded Steam Radio Tapes in '76 and '77. Mason says, "Brit Row had just been completed and we were able to do the recordings as a test sessions to check out the system." Mason produced and played drums on some of the tracks. Mason tried to sell the album to the record companies but to no avail. Apparently, the world was not ready for Gary Windo's eclectic brand of jazz rock. Throughout the years some of these tunes have appeared on various compilations but have never been released as was intended in the late '70s. Fast forward to 2014 and its release on Gonzo Multimedia.
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