The Enid

[madfrankfan]

I've been aware of them for many years now and always had a sneaking admiration for their brand of heavily orchestral prog-ness, but I went to see them a couple of weeks ago and they just had me mesmorised! What a sound!! I really felt that this band need supporting in order to fluorish, so I bought 5 CD's from the merch stand straight off and have added 3 more to my collection since, so I'm currently embarking on a crash course through 8 albums worth of guitar based symphonic brilliance!
Any one else like 'em?

[Evangelion]

I've been aware of the Enid since they started in the late 70s although it was the early 80s before I managed to see them live; have seen them many times since and bought loads of their albums. Bit of a marmite band, I love them but can understand why many people don't.
Johnny Walker once described Robert John Godfrey as 'one of the finest composers this country has ever produced.'

[jet_noise]

Dear mff,

in the late 70's/early 80's I regularly saw them at the Marquee. A remarkable juxtaposition of themes - orchestral prog in a seedy, sweaty club. 'twere fantastic, never less than sold out and rammed.
If you haven't yet got In the Region of the Summer Stars you must. Now. Don't do anything else until you have it. The title track is in my all time-top-10 tunes of all time.

They have a large back catalogue but they are one of those bands where that first album is maybe the best thing they've ever done,

regards,
Jet

[lockhart flawse]

Agreed. I also saw them at the Marquee and in a nightclub in Guildford of all places in late 1976. If they do a show anywhere near me I will go and see them again.

L.F.

[AdeTuono]

Saw them at Reading Festival in 1977. Amongst all the other bands (except SAHB), they're the only ones who've stuck in my mind all these years later.

£7.95 for the weekend!

[Honk]

Well, Mr Noise, I have ordered a copy from Amazon based on your recommendation.

[Evangelion]

You should try to get the original vinyl version of Summer Stars if you can (I believe it's now available on CD also).
The later version is the one from 1984, when most of the album had to be re-recorded as the band no longer had access to all the session tapes.

[jet_noise]

Dear H,

Honk said:

Well, Mr Noise, I have ordered a copy from Amazon based on your recommendation.

I say that's a bit formal Mr Honk, Jet, please

and [thread drift]
Reading '75 for me, quite a change in style over the two years to 77.
I recall Dr Feelgood being good already and chucking out hundreds of badges.
Highlight for me was probably Robin Trower at the height of his powers. Crowd went mental. The Albertos, Thin Lizzy & Wishbone Ash also.

ALBERTO Y LOS TRIOS PARANIOS
JOAN ARMATRADING
BABE RUTH
CARAVAN
CLIMAX BLUES BAND
DR FEELGOOD
HAWKWIND
HEAVY METAL KIDS
JUDAS PRIEST
KOKOMO
KURSAAL FLYERS
MAHAVISHNU ORCHESTRA
ALAN STIVELL
WALLY
OZARK MOUNTAIN DAREDEVILS
LOU REED
SNAFU
SOFT MACHINE
STELLA
STRING DRIVEN THING
SUPERTRAMP
THIN LIZZY
ROBIN TROWER
U.F.O.
WALLY
WISHBONE ASH
YES
ZZEBRA

Me and best mate in Mum's Hillman Imp. 18 isn't it. Camping, mmm. Jumpers for goalposts. [/Ron Manager]
I even took along my hi-tech Decca Legato cassette tape recorder. The recordings were surprisingly good but I think they've gone down the side of the seat of the Morris Minor of time,

regards,
Jet

EFS Dr Feelogood? An Irish covers band perhaps.

Edited by jet_noise on Thursday 20th September 19:12

[madfrankfan]

Some nice replies thanks.
'In the region of the summer stars' was one of the ones I bought at the gig and has been the last/latest one to get some attention.. There's some cracking tunes on there, but I feel there are better versions of some of the 'staple' songs like Judgement and Fand. ITROTSS as a stand alone album does sound a tad dated, but I appreciate that if it was an album you grew up with, it may well be THE signiture album. Of the early albums I'm preferring 'Aerie Fairie Nonsense' and 'And then there were none' myself

Another I'm really rating is 'Salome', though I'm hearing from others that it's a bit of a 'marmite' album for many afficianados. 'The Spell' I'm still working on - I suspect it needs a couple more plays to fully digest. There's also a recent double live offering recorded with the CBSO in Birmingham. The first CD is essentially the 1st set of the night and contains top drawer versions of classic Enid pieces including much from ITROTSS - superbly recorded and full of the power, majesty and beauty that exemplify what the band is all about.

There's a big show with full orchestra organised for Watford in November that I'm trying to juggle my schedule for and plans are afoot for a renewed gigging frenzy in spring 2013, so I'll definitely be making a couple of those shows!

Edited by madfrankfan on Sunday 23 September 14:58

[Evangelion]

Thanks for the heads up madfrankfan. I'm sure they'll be playing in my neck of the woods sometime.

[onomatopoeia]

madfrankfan said:

Some nice replies thanks.
'In the region of the summer stars' was one of the ones I bought at the gig and has been the last/latest one to get some attention.. There's some cracking tunes on there, but I feel there are better versions of some of the 'staple' songs like Judgement and Fand.

The version of Fand on Live at Hammersmith is really good IMO, if you can find a copy.

I might also be a fan , although have never seen them perform live. Only have the re-recorded versions of ITROTSS and Aerie faerie nonsense on CD, this topic has prompted me to get the originals since I've now discovered they are available.

[Honk]

Thanks again for the recommendation Jet.CD arrived and been playing in the car.Very good.Unsurprisingly like a vocal-free early Genesis and ELP imho.I used to read about the Enid in the inkies during the 70's and more recently re the resurgence in Prog magazine.I'm pleased to have "discovered" Robert John Godfrey albeit 36 years late! Thanks again.

[EvoraEvora]

jet_noise said:

I say that's a bit formal Mr Honk, Jet, please

and [thread drift]
Reading '75 for me, quite a change in style over the two years to 77.
I recall Dr Feelgood being good already and chucking out hundreds of badges.
Highlight for me was probably Robin Trower at the height of his powers. Crowd went mental. The Albertos, Thin Lizzy & Wishbone Ash also.

ALBERTO Y LOS TRIOS PARANIOS
JOAN ARMATRADING
BABE RUTH
CARAVAN
CLIMAX BLUES BAND
DR FEELGOOD
HAWKWIND
HEAVY METAL KIDS
JUDAS PRIEST
KOKOMO
KURSAAL FLYERS
MAHAVISHNU ORCHESTRA
ALAN STIVELL
WALLY
OZARK MOUNTAIN DAREDEVILS
LOU REED
SNAFU
SOFT MACHINE
STELLA
STRING DRIVEN THING
SUPERTRAMP
THIN LIZZY
ROBIN TROWER
U.F.O.
WALLY
WISHBONE ASH
YES
ZZEBRA

Me and best mate in Mum's Hillman Imp. 18 isn't it. Camping, mmm. Jumpers for goalposts. [/Ron Manager]
I even took along my hi-tech Decca Legato cassette tape recorder. The recordings were surprisingly good but I think they've gone down the side of the seat of the Morris Minor of time,

regards,
Jet

EFS Dr Feelogood? An Irish covers band perhaps.

Edited by jet_noise on Thursday 20th September 19:12

I was there too! went to see Wishbone Ash in particular

Seen the Enid on a number of ocassions - they never fail to impress - excellent

[madfrankfan]

EvoraEvora said:

I was there too! went to see Wishbone Ash in particular

So was I - So did I!!

Honk... Next ones to go for in my opinion are 'Aerie Fairie Nonsense' and 'And then there were none'. Can't go wrong!

[Evangelion]

There isn't an Enid album called And Then There Were None AFAIK. You're probably thinking of Something Wicked This Way Comes (which contains a song called, And Then There Were None).

[jet_noise]

Dear H,

Honk said:

Thanks again for the recommendation Jet.CD arrived and been playing in the car.Very good.Unsurprisingly like a vocal-free early Genesis and ELP imho.I used to read about the Enid in the inkies during the 70's and more recently re the resurgence in Prog magazine.I'm pleased to have "discovered" Robert John Godfrey albeit 36 years late! Thanks again.

HTH.

Inkies...wavy screen...
Competition amongst student apprentices to see who could complete the Sounds & NME crosswords first.
In work time

Interesting age group in this thread with attendance at that Reading festival. Do you remember the pigeon on the end of the long bamboo pole?

regards,
Jet

[Evangelion]

Am currently listening to Tears Of The Sun for the first time. Sounding good so far!

[AdeTuono]

jet_noise said:

HTH.

Inkies...wavy screen...
Competition amongst student apprentices to see who could complete the Sounds & NME crosswords first.
In work time

Interesting age group in this thread with attendance at that Reading festival. Do you remember the pigeon on the end of the long bamboo pole?

regards,
Jet

Interesting? You mean old?

Yes, the omnipresent pigeon, the shouts of 'Wally' (never understood what that was about) and the chant's of 'John Peel's a !' (in an affectionate way...). Also the first instance of bottles of piss being thrown at the stage, J(W)ayne County being bottled off the stage (probably combined with the piss-bottles) and the resurrection of Slade, who filled in for Blue (not that one), who totally blew the place down.

And talking of NME when it was essential, how about The Lone Groover?

[Honk]

Thanks to all for further advice."Wally" used to be shouted frequently at the Liverpool Empire in the 70's/80's where i believe it originated though I also do not know why.

[lockhart flawse]

The Enid on tour at the moment. Got tickets for the Barfly at the end of May.

L.F.