Ranking the Albums: Gravy Train

[@seaoftranquilityprog]

Check out some music here: podcasts.progrock.com/2023/07/04/sea-of-tranquilitys-ranking-the-albums-gravy-train/?fbclid=IwAR0hhwTgyKhFxH-TOEOhXG86R9KsearbU2bI2P7TzzgiYFgkyxudr3lxL9A

[@AllanM-i1s]

The late, great Norman Barratt had a group “Barratt Band”. Their 2 studio albums Playing in the City and Voice are worth checking out. A

[@gwts1171]

Until yesterday when I saw the notice for this video I hadn't heard these guys. I knew of them because I have a book of Roger Dean art, but had never actually listened to them. I listened to all four yesterday on KZbin and did a ranking after one listen. I came up with the same order as you. I ordered a set that has the later two (with extra tracks). I'm sure I'll get the first two eventually, since I like those better. Thanks for the video and getting me into another band, Pete!

[@tonyburrows1346]

This band was from St helens lancs, my hometown. Pocket Nook is an area of St Helens.

[@TractorCountdown]

Tolpuddle Episode is about the Tolpuddle Martyrs, 1834, a major historical event in England (Tolpuddle being the village in Dorset where the 6 agricultural workers were from).

[@kennbrown4638]

4. Second Birth 3. Self-titled 2. Staircase to the Day 1. (A Ballad) of a Peaceful Man

[@peterstudley1804]

Gravy trains debut lps cover photo was shot at the closed since March 6th 1967 Glemsford railway station on the stour valley line in Suffolk uk .shot in 1970 just before the tracks were lifted.

[@gideonlapidus8996]

Thanks Pete, you finally did this review, Great One.

[@JohnMacRae23]

Great band I would rank them as thus: 1. A Ballad of) A Peaceful Man (one of the classics of the early 70s imo) 2. Second Birth 3. s/t 4. Staircase to the Day

[@steevenfrost]

Tolpuddle (a town in Dorset) refers to 6 agricultural labourors called Tolpuddle Martyrs who were convicted of conspiring to form a friendly society in 1834.They were transported to Australia. I have the cd with the deserted train station with a dummy in wheelchair and a man in a sharp suit. This has elements in the music sounds like Jethro Tull in parts.

[@johnmichaelwilliams6694]

Another completely unfamiliar band goes on the listening list. Appreciate these Ranking The Album episodes, Pete. Listening to the first album at the moment- some very interesting listening and quite different from the fourth album which also sampled a bit. Thanks again.

[@augustyoung9582]

Got the debut's Repertoire CD reissue back in the 2000s. Pretty good, specially the first two tracks 👍

[@paulsimister944]

When I get around to posting my top 30 prog albums of the 1970s, (A Ballad of a) Peaceful Man will feature. I love it. I'm not surprised Pete prefers the harder rock of the debut.

[@markkonzerowsky8871]

If you're going to get to this level of obscure, may I suggest Rare Bird?

[@steevenfrost]

Agree. I like the first two albums the most. Rare Bird and As Your Mind Flies By which has a suite of songs called Flight, that are excellent. I have a box set called Beautiful Scarlet, which is really good.

[@МаксРогозин-е1ю]

Curved Air?

[@seaoftranquilityprog]

I've only got one album...I'd have some work to do.

[@MrTarkus01]

​@@seaoftranquilityprogHi Pete, Flight part1 from the 2nd album is a prog masterpiece.

[@Drench3]

Why not even more obscure with American band Fred

[@michaelbenz8092]

1. Second Birth 2. A Ballad of a Peaceful Man 3. Gravy Train 4. Staircase to the Day

[@johnsullivan8376]

I only have two albums, but they are a great original band. 'Can anybody hear me' from the 'A ballad of a Peaceful man' album is one of the coolest songs of the 70s.

[@brianhart5620]

Loncashire!! Hahaha! Uncle Simon would love it!

[@johnhenfrey5936]

Saw them play live, in the early to mid 70’s at, Ivanhoes, Huddersfield. When I saw bands I liked the next day I went out and bought the album. I never did that with, Gravy Train, decent enough live band, as I remember, just not enough there, for me to buy an album by them.

[@garyjoyce2160]

I do not know 1️⃣ song, but this is why I tune in daily. I will spin your no 1️⃣ selection today PETE. Even though Ken G said / you got it wrong. Lol. Great stuff. Thanks for your time. 👍💯

[@JIF882]

Bring My Life Back To Me hits me where i live. Staircase To The Day is the only one of theirs that i own a physical copy of(via Esoteric Recordings). I quite like it. I also have their first two on my Spotify account. I believe that Hipgnosis did one of their covers.

[@lening9]

1) Gravy Train 2) (A Ballad of) A Peaceful Man 3) Staircase to the Day 4) Second Birth

[@grimtraveller7923]

Not every band is outstandingly innovative. Some bands just write good songs, memorable songs, and the kinds of songs you'll listen to for the rest of your days. Gravy Train were one such band. A lot of people say they were like Jethro Tull. I personally don't find them like Tull at all. The only thing they have in common is similar line-ups, and of course, a flute ! I knew of the late Norman Barratt a good 20 years before I got into the Train's music in 2007, because I had 4 albums he was on that I got in 1986 and 87. He was the lead guitarist in the Wall Band, a band led by Alwyn Wall, who put out one of the great Christian rock masterpieces, "The Prize" {1977}, and another great, "Invisible Warfare" {from '81}. You wouldn't really know they were Christian rock albums, most of the time. He also led his own Barratt Band and did 2 albums with them, "Playing in the City" and "Voice." Both are good, full of interesting songs and guitar playing that was a breath of fresh air in Christian circles that like their music rocking. I agree with Pete that Gravy Train's first 2 albums would be the best two. They are a good listen, pretty inventive, even if Norman's voice takes some getting used to. Good down to earth progressive rock, no tales from topographic oceans or lark's tongues in aspic or dark sides of moons in sight.

[@rightchordleadership]

I’m going off the rails on a gravy train!!! 🤘🏻

[@reginod2249]

I have yet to acquire their second rekkid, but . . . . . . soon enough I suppose. Gravy Train is pretty cool. I was kinda surprised to see them show up in a ranking like this. 👍

[@kevinconnell3896]

I had their first and last LP's. I pulled "Staircase To the Day" out of the import box at Franklin's Music Shop in 1976 (during my high school daze) and bought it for the cool Roger Dean cover. Played it maybe 3X total, good prog but nothing really grabbed me. Then in Germany in 1982, I came across their debut, used near mint, great cover design, only a few bucks, so I bought it. MUCH better recording, great songs, especially the 16 min. "Earl of Pocket Nook." Too bad they didn't continue with the same formula and approach as with the debut. Norman Barratt was a decent vocalist and a very fluid guitarist.

[@crazymanmichael100]

Hello Kevin, agree about their debut, they were really good live, much better than on record, saw them quite a few times in Liverpool where i was born and bred, (living in the Cotswolds now), playing in the famous Cavern Club, O'Connors Tavern and The Mardi Gras, those were the days. I remember chatting to Norman Barratt, he didn't rate Jimmy Page! sacrilege.

[@kevinconnell3896]

@@crazymanmichael100 Hey Michael, I'm blown away! You got to see them live many times, how cool is that?! I've never met a guitarist who didn't like Jimmy Page. Sacrilege indeed! I'd read Barratt died of post surgery complications a few years back.

[@crazymanmichael100]

@@kevinconnell3896 Hey Kevin, sorry to here about Norman Barratt, that's the trouble now, we are losing those musicians from back in the day, i am at a similar age to some of these guys, it's a bit scary. Anyway, back in those days Kevin, there were bands playing everywhere, at the pubs and clubs as well as the bigger venues, got to see a lot of bands, no doubt will talk more (if you so wish) about these great bands, they were great times indeed. Hope you have a great day.

[@kevinconnell3896]

@@crazymanmichael100 Michael, I feel the same way. These guys can never be replaced. There's not another generation carrying on the great music that bands from the 60's carried over into the 70's and so forth. It seems as if decent, listenable music just stopped, and the bands / musicians that were like old friends to us are passing away at an alarming rate. The best live band I ever saw was Procol Harum in 1974 when I was 14. Two hours of mind blowing musicianship with a full orchestra. BJ Wilson, FANTASTIC drummer. And now recently Gary Brooker died, and soon after Keith Reid died. Very depressing. You bet I'd like to hear about the bands you've seen!!!

[@crazymanmichael100]

@@kevinconnell3896 Cheers, Kevin

[@scabbarae]

Pete, I'd love to hear your take on High Tide!

[@nolifetilmetal1]

Ahhh. A band I am unfamiliar with. Guess I need to rectify that.

[@jimhawkes]

Great band. My ranking would be the same as yours. The debut is fantastic.

[@МаксРогозин-е1ю]

Vocals quite specific.

[@acebailey60]

Humble Pie. Smokin'. First LP without Frampton? Great memories with this one.

[@brucybabyy7355]

i have the 1st and 2nd lps. i,ll be checking out the middle two.

[@acebailey60]

Will check Gravy Train out.

[@damiankarras]

Anathema with Fränkø please.

[@gideonlapidus8996]

Great One

[@purplesabbath]

new to me!

[@BlameNate]

Please consider ranking Steve Miller Band albums.

[@seaoftranquilityprog]

I've only got 3 of them and an early Anthology.

[@BlameNate]

@@seaoftranquilityprog Understood! I've got hold of their greatest hits album recently and didn't know if there were any hidden gems out there. thanks for replying 👍🏼

[@toneman8478]

Who?

[@wolf1977]

The four albums I've heard were frankly spoiled (for me anyway) by mediocre/sometimes 'weird' vocals. A shame, they join a list of early 70's prog bands with potentially interesting instrumentation & songs but vocals I just can't get past...All four are posted out on YT - Roger Dean did at least one of their album covers

[@МаксРогозин-е1ю]

Alone in Georgia makes me cringe due vocals, yeah.