Flaming Youth — Ark 2 (1969) (UK, Psychedelic Rock-Proto-Prog)

Flaming Youth — Ark 2 (1969) (UK, Psychedelic Rock-Proto-Prog)

The British rock band Flaming Youth released their only concept album, Ark 2, in 1969. The band disbanded shortly after the release of their debut album. Today, Flaming Youth is best known for being the band where Phil Collins began his musical career at the age of 18. In November 1969, the British music magazine NME reported that the album's concept was the subject of a one-hour television special the band recorded in the Netherlands. Ark 2 failed to achieve commercial success. A short time later, a single, "Man, Woman, and Child / Drifting," was released. After a short concert tour, the band finally disbanded.
This was one of the great albums of the sixties - brilliantly melodic, original and intelligent - but known till now only to a small band of passionate cognoscenti.

ARK 2 was the first 'concept album' - a 'space cantata' (though that makes it sound inaccessible and pretentious, which it is far from being). Written by the UK songwriting team whose success, according to The Penguin Encyclopedia of Popular Music, was 'rivalled only by Lennon & McCartney': Ken Howard and Alan Blaikley, both from Hampstead, London.

Though brilliantly reviewed in the music and rock press of the time (it was Sunday Times Rock Album of the Year in 1969), the BBC did not know what to make of it: there were no radio or TV slots for an extended rock work at the time. So it remained largely unheard except by those who sought it out.
01. Guide Me, Orion - 0:00

02. Earthglow - 3:17

03. Weightless - 6:11

04. The Planets — 8:49 including:

a). Mars - Bringer Of War
b). Venus - Bringer Of Peace
c). Mercury - The Winged Messenger
d). Jupiter - Bringer Of Jollity
e). Saturn - Bringer Of Old Age
f). Uranus - The Magician
g). Neptune - The Mystic


05. Changes - 21:40

06. Pulsar - 27:29

07. Spacechild - 30:36

08. In The Light Of Love - 35:46

09. From Now On (Immortal Invisible) - 39:14

Bonuses:

10. Man, Woman And Child (Single A-Side, 1970) - 43:35

11. Drifting (Single B-Side, 1970) - 47:19


Personnel:

(Flash) Gordon Smith - guitar, 12-string guitar, bass, vocals
Ronnie Caryl - bass, 12-string guitar, guitar, vocals
Brian Chatton - organ, piano, vocals
Phil Collins - drums, percussion, vocals
+
Ken Howard & Alan Blaikley – producers

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