TWENTY-FIVE VIEWS OF WORTHING

The title at the bottom right of the cd issue says it all, these are "Rare studio recordings 1972-1977". So this is archival and a compilation album as well of Canterbury styled music. They break this band's history into three phases as in Chapter One with three songs, Transition with one song and Chapter Two with five songs. The cd issue has two additional tracks and one of those, the "More Feathers, More Dogs" might be my favourite song on here overall.

A rather clumsy name for a band but named after a series of prints that artist Hokusai did called Thirty-Six Views Of Mount Fuji. In the liner notes they constantly refer to themselves as THE WORTHINGS so I will too. Trumpet player Mark Sugden and keyboardist Roger Hillier have been the two constants in this band playing together in a psychedelic band called PRIMROSE PATH in 1967 before changing their stripes and name in 1970.

It was hearing a SOFT MACHINE record that became a lightbulb moment and a change in direction. They were actually signed to Islands Artist label and that helped with the live shows but before they could record an album with them an executive who was away on travel returned and upon hearing this music rejected it and that ended phase one of the band. Thankfully they recorded these songs during down times at studios that often were 24 hour parties and in particular Basing Street Studios where Steve Winwood and Chris Wood from TRAFFIC were often hanging out.

THE WORTHINGS opened for GENESIS, TRAFFIC, EAST OF EDEN, ARGENT, PATTO and on and on. The Chapter One lineup was a four piece with Sugden on drums/trumpet, Hiller keyboards, Devonshire sax/clarinet/flute and Lindsay bass. The opening two tracks is over 20 minutes of music and worth the price of admission as they say. "Vamp Till Ready" is trippy to start out but they amp up the passion as a contrast as the opening them returns. I like that they change up the horns here as leads with sax, clarinet and trumpet in play.

"Joke Without Words" is right there as one of my favourites at over 12 minutes plus that female choir giving us these Northettes' moments in spades. I even thought of MOVING GELATINE PLATES after 3 minutes. Distorted keys on this one to a jazzy walking bass section later on. "Freak Show" is thankfully only 2 1/2 minutes long. I just don't like it at all with those high pitched theatrical vocals with piano, a romp I could do without. I believe that's Sugden singing here as he does on the first song of their Chapter Two phase called "You Are What You Eat" my second least favourite but much improved.

The lone Transition section track "In For A Quick One" is a great 5 1/2 minutes. Drums, bass and flute create a trippy start. Trombone , clarinet and sax here too. The final chapter of the band sees them adding a guitarist for the first time and we're down to sax only as far as horns go. I like the singer a lot more in this 1974-1977 phase other than of course the Sugden sung "You Are What You Eat". The short "Rat Brain Incision" at 2 minutes is an impressive instrumental with distorted sounds, sax, a great sounding rhythm section and angular sounds briefly.

"More Feathers, More Dogs" sounds amazing. The interplay between the sax and guitar is cool. Some beautiful melodies in this one. So impressed. "Do The Azimuth" is another winner especially the vocals and an interesting chorus to boot. The final track "Ratification" is a 1977 demo that Roger reconstructed in 2021 and it does sound different from the rest. An instrumental with pulsating and pounding sounds early as it drives along to a keyboard led section.

For sure 4 stars and a nice package with that 18 page booklet full of pictures and information.