JULIAN JAY SAVARIN : WAITERS ON THE DANCE

To me, this improves on A Time Before This. Julian Jay Savarin decided to drop the Julian's Treatment name, probably due to everyone in that group leaving aside from the bassist, John Dover, with new musicians in their place. Of note is Jo Meek, sister of Anna Meek of Catapilla (in fact Jo was originally in Catapilla, but jumped ship to Julian Jay Savarin before Catapilla recorded). I found it rather amusing some sources stating "Anna Jo Meek" sang on this album, which is silly, since Anna and Jo were two separate people. To be honest, Waiters on the Dance is basically another Julian's Treatment album. Jo Meek's vocals aren't too terribly different from her predecessor Cathy Pruden (I was expecting Jo to do similar screaming her sister did on Catapilla's debut, but to be fair even Anna tamed herself on Catapilla's second and final release Changes, more similar to Jo's singing on Waiters on the Dance). Also of note is future Shakatak drummer Roger Odell, who, some progheads, like myself, know from CMU (his wife Larraine Odell handled the vocals on CMU).

Here's how I felt Waiters on the Dance improved on A Time Before This: more mature compositions, and that groovy '60s vibe has been thankfully toned down (that groovy '60s vibe on A Time Before This got me thinking of the 1968 movie Barbarella, even though the music on that film was basically easy listening kitsch and nothing like Julian's Treatment). The music takes on a harder edge, with more upfront guitar, but Julian's organ is ever present and recognizable as ever, and what I really love is he includes the Mellotron on half the songs, and does it quite nicely. Favorites of mine include "Child of the Night 1 & 2", "The Death of Alda", "Cycle" and "Soldiers of Time". "Cycle" has an organ that reminds me of the intro to Web's "I Spider" (the title track from the 1970 album of that name), but faster pace, and I love that jazzy break (almost reminds me of the Doors' "Light My Fire" with Brian Auger-like jazzy Hammond organ playing).

What I also love of Waiters on the Dance is the cover. Had I seen this in the flesh at some record store, I would have not hesitated to buy a copy (had this been 1971, that is, unfortunately I wasn't alive in 1971, the prices asking for an original these days are downright criminal - thank God for reissues). I am not familiar with Julian Jay Savarin's novels, I do know that both A Time Before This and Waiters on the Dance were part of his Lemmus trilogy. Regardless, of the two that became albums, I definitely prefer Waiters on the Dance, it's great stuff I highly recommend.