YOU CAN ALL JOIN IN

I believe this was the earliest of Island samplers. "You can all join in" is a single LP compilation containing 12 tracks from artists signed to the Island label. At the time (the late '60's, early 70's) Island records were one of the most adventurous labels in the industry, and did far more than their fair share to discover and promote bands we now know as "prog".

This collection is light when compared to the samplers which followed such as "Bumpers" and "El Pea", but nevertheless it contains a number of gems.

The album opens with "Song for Jeffrey" from Jethro Tull's first album. Bear in mind that this was several years before "Thick as a brick", Tull at the time being virtually unknown. The track therefore does not have the more familiar sound of the Tull of the 80's, but is heavier and more guitar led.

A number of the tracks bear the psychedelic influences of the late 60's, Art's "What's that sound" and Tramline's "Pearly queen" (written by Traffic's Steve Winwood and Jim Capalidi) being cases in point. Traffic also contribute the pop ditty Dave Mason composition which give this album its title.

The standout track for me is the wonderful "Rainbow chaser" by proto-prog band Nirvana (not the Seattle outfit!). This is a symphonic masterpiece in three minutes, with head-spinning phasing, and wonderfully delicate vocals.

Elsewhere, "Meet on the ledge" is Fairport Convention's classic tribute (composed by Richard Thompson) to their former band mate Martyn Lamble who was tragically killed in a crash. Spooky Tooth are still in full pop mode with "Sunshine help me", they would later explore much more complex and challenging territories. Clouds are another band who sit on the periphery of prog, "I'll go girl" being the most commercial track from their excellent self-titled debut.

In all, a wonderfully eclectic mix of tracks, clearly geared to make the bands sound as commercially attractive as possible. The sleeve photograph manages to gather together all (or virtually all) the performers on the album including Paul Rodgers, Ian Anderson, Sandy Denny, Steve Winwood and a host of others. They all look frozen stiff!

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