Rare Bird - Beautiful Scarlet: Recordings 1969-1975

Digitally remastered six CD set featuring all of the albums and singles released by legendary Band RARE BIRD on both the Charisma and Polydor labels between 1969 and 1975. Formed in 1969 with a line up featuring Graham Field (organ), Dave Kaffinetti (keyboards), Steve Gould (vocals, bass) and Mark Ashton (drums), Rare Bird had the distinction of being the first act to be released on Tony Stratton Smith's gloriously eclectic label Charisma records (also the home of Genesis, The Nice and Van Der Graaf Generator to name but a few) and for their excellent self-titled debut album released in late 1969 and their 1970 international hit single Sympathy. Despite selling a million copies worldwide, neither their debut album or the excellent follow up As Your Mind Flies By (issued in 1970) enjoyed the sales of their debut single. This lack of commercial success saw the departure of Graham Field and Mark Ashton, leaving Gould and Kaffinetti to form a new line-up in 1971 adding Andy "Ced" Curtis (lead guitar), Fred Kelly (drums) and Paul Karas (bass, vocals) to the band, with Steve Gould undertaking the role of second guitarist in addition to that of vocalist. Signing to Polydor Records in late 1971, Rare Bird recorded the excellent album Epic Forest the following year. The album was lavishly packaged with early copies featuring a poster and a bonus 7-inch EP with three additional tracks. In 1973 the band changed line-ups once more with departure of Paul Karas. He was replaced by Nic Potter (previously with Van Der Graaf Generator) and the band recorded the fine album Somebody's Watching the same year. The album featured guest John Wetton on bass for the track "Dollars". Despite the excellence of the band's work, commercial success still eluded them. In 1974 Andy Rae replaced Nic Potter on bass and Rare Bird recorded their final album, Born Again. The release of the album led to touring activity, including a memorable spot opening for label mates Barclay James Harvest at the Theatre Royal, Drury Lane in June 1974. However, the following year Rare Bird disbanded. This new anthology features newly re-mastered versions of all of Rare Bird's albums and singles, with Epic Forest being re-mastered from recently discovered first generation master tapes for the first time. The set also features an additional previously unreleased CD of the band's entire live set recorded by Polydor Records at the Theatre Royal, London in June 1974. Also included is an illustrated booklet featuring exclusive interviews with Steve Gould and Mark Ashton and a facsimile of the rare poster given with initial copies of Epic Forest.