- Roye Albrighton -- vocals, guitar (1969-)
- Mick Brockett -- lights, visuals (1969-)

- Larry Fast -- synthesizers (1969-)
- Allan "Taff" Freeman -- keyboards, backing vocals (1969-)
- Ron Howden -- vocals, drums, percussion, backing vocals

  (1969-)
- Derek "Mo" Moore -- vocals, bass, backing vocals (1969-)

- Dave Nelson -- vocals, guitar

- The Grand Alliance (Roy Albrighton)

Genre: progressive

Rating: **** (4 stars)

Title:  Remember the Future

Company: Passport

Catalog: PPSD-98002

Year: 1973

Country/State: UK/Germany

Grade (cover/record): VG / VG

Comments: gatefold sleeve

Available: 1

GEMM catalog ID: 4922

Price: $10.00

Chronologically 1973's "Remember the Future" was the band's third studio set, providing the group with their first true European commercial success.  As a result of  a distribution deal with Passport Records, the album also served as the band's official American debut.  Produced by Peter Hauke and the band, the album offered up another heavily orchestrated concept piece that's seen by many of the group's older fans as their creative zenith.  Structurally the album was broken out into two parts coinciding with the two album sides, each in turn broken down into multiple sections.  While the concept was completely lost to my ears, the music proved surprisingly innovative, commercial and likeable.  Propelled by Albrighton's casual voice, the album was full of interesting textures, twists, turns and structural complexities.  That said, I'm constantly surprised by the fact tracks like 'Images of Light', 'Returning Light' and 'Questions and Answers' were so tuneful and even radio friendly - 'Path of Light' and ''Tomorrow Never Comes' actually sported funky breaks that would have sounded pretty good on top-40 radio.   

In support of the album the group also played their first American concert.  Partially documented on the 1978 "Thru the Ears" retrospective (see below), their September 1974 debut concert took place at New York's Academy of Music.  It must have been quite a show since among other memorable moments, they managed to blow the building's power supply.

"Remember the Future" track listing:
(side 1)

1.) Remember the Future (Part 1) - 16:38

    a.) Images of the Past   (Nektar)

    b.) Wheel Time  (Nektar)

    c.) Remember the Future  (Nektar)

    d.) Confusion  (Nektar)

(side 2)
1.) Remember the Future (Part II) - 18:55

    a.) Returning Light  (Nektar)

    b.) Questions and Answers  (Nektar)

    c.) Tomorrow Never Comes  (Nektar)

    d.) Path of Light  (Nektar)

    e.) Recognition  (Nektar)

    f.) Let It Grow  (Nektar)

Genre: progressive

Rating: **** (4 stars)

Title:  Down To Earth

Company: Passport

Catalog: PPSD-98005

Year: 1974

Country/State: UK/Germany

Grade (cover/record): VG+ / VG+

Comments: gatefold sleeve

Available: 1

GEMM catalog ID: 4921

Price: $10.00

I've owned this album since the mid-1970s, though I probably haven't listened to it for 15 years.  That said, I was watching something on cable television that featured a song I really liked, though not enough to track it down.  The very next day I was looking at a book on Krautrock and decided to pull out some of my German albums.  The first one I put on the turntable was "Down To Earth".  The minute I put it on I recognized the song I'd heard the previous evening - 'Astral Man'.  Strange to say the least.

Produced by Peter Hauke and the band, 1974's "Down To Earth" was the group's fifth studio set and marked a creative turning point for the band.  Although a pseudo-concept piece built around a circus theme (don't ask me what the plotline was about  ... life as a cosmic circus?), the album was surprisingly mainstream and commercial.  Such an abrupt change in musical direction probably cost the band the bulk of their longstanding fan base, while the collection's new found accessibility (hard to imagine saying that in a Nektar review) didn't do much to generate mega sales.  For what its worth, I think the album is pretty killer.  Backed by an all star cast including singer P.P. Arnold, Hawkwind's Bob Calvert (serving as ringmaster complete with a horrible German accent) and Chris Mercer, tracks such as 'Astral Man', 'Early Morning Clown' and 'Show Me the Way' were catchy, highly melodic and radio ready.  Think that was hard to believe?  Okay, 'Nelly the Elephant', 'Fidgety Queen' and 'Oh Willy' were actually funky !!!  No bullsh*t.  F-U-N-K-Y.  If they'd given it a chance older fans would've found quite a bit to like, including 'That's Life' which featured a wonderful mix of progressive and rock moves and some sterling bass moves from Derek Moore.  Definitely a highpoint in the group's extensive discography.    

"Down To Earth" track listing:
(side 1)

1.) Astral Man   (Nektar) - 3:07

2.) Nelly the Elephant   (Nektar) - 5:02

3.) Early Morning Clown   (Nektar) - 3:21

4.) That's Life   (Nektar) - 6:49

(side 2)
1.) Fidgety Queen   (Nektar) - 4:04

2.) Oh Willy   (Nektar) - 4:00

3.) Little Boy   (Nektar) - 3:03

4.) Show Me the Way   (Nektar) - 5:55

5.) Finale   (Nektar) - 1:36

Genre: progressive

Rating: ** (2 stars)

Title:  Magic Is a Child

Company: Polydor

Catalog: PD-1-6615

Year: 1977

Country/State: UK/Germany

Grade (cover/record): VG+ / VG+

Comments: white inner label; original lyric inner sleeve

Available: 1

GEMM catalog ID: 5208

Price: $10.00

For some reason Nektar's always been one of those 1970s-era progressive bands that I could stomach.  Mind you they could be as pretentious and overbearing as most of their contemporaries, but Roye Albrighton and company managed to keep the experimentation in check, balancing it with material that was surprisingly commercial.  Those comments aside, I wish I could be as positive about this 1977 release.  Produced the band and Jeff Kawalek, "Magic Is a Child" had a couple of moments, including the surprisingly commercial 'Train From Nowhere' and the stark ballad 'Listen' (co-written by Roye Albrighton), but for the most part was simply dull and aimless.  Group-penned material like 'Away from Asgard', Love To Share (Keep Your Worries Behind You)' and 'Spread Your Wings' (the latter sporting what may have been the year's lamest cornball lyrics) came off as a weird blend of Yes and Moody Blues influences that managed to highlight the worst aspects of both groups.  I'd suggest that Roye Albrighton's absence was certainly a factor in the band's unenthusiastic release.

"Magic Is a Child" track listing:
(side 1)

1.) Away from Asgard   ( Derek "Mo" Moore - Ron Howden - Taff Freeman - Dave Nelson - Steve Barth) - 

2.) Magic Is a Child   ( Derek "Mo" Moore - Ron Howden - Taff Freeman - Dave Nelson - Steve Barth) - 

3.) Eerie Lacawanna   ( Derek "Mo" Moore - Ron Howden - Taff Freeman - Dave Nelson - Steve Barth) - 

4.) Love To Share (Keep Your Worries Behind You)   ( Derek "Mo" Moore - Ron Howden - Taff Freeman - Dave Nelson - Steve Barth) - 

(side 2)
1.) Train From Nowhere   (Derek "Mo" Moore - Ron Howden - Taff Freeman - Dave Nelson) - 

2.) Listen   ( Derek "Mo" Moore - Ron Howden - Taff Freeman - Dave Nelson - Roy Albrighton) - 

3.) On the Run (The Trucker)   ( Derek "Mo" Moore - Ron Howden - Taff Freeman - Dave Nelson) - 

4.) Spread Your Wings   ( Derek "Mo" Moore - Ron Howden - Taff Freeman - Dave Nelson) - 

Genre: progressive

Rating: *** (3 stars)

Title:  Thru the Ears

Company: Import

Catalog: IMP-9001

Year: 1978

Country/State: Germany/UK

Grade (cover/record): VG / VG

Comments: gatefold sleeve; double set LP

Available: 1

GEMM catalog ID: 4834

Price: $20.00

The late 1970s saw everyone and his mother releasing a double album set. For better or worse, the Anglo-German band Nektar joined the club in 1978 with the release of  "Thru the Ears".  A 12 track, double album set, the compilation offered up a mix of previously released studio material drawn from material ranging back to 1971 and three in-concert tracks drawn from a 1974 radio concert in New York City.  Cynics and some long standing fans will point out that the album was released at a time when Nektar had already lost a large chunk of its audience.  While the album would appear to be little more than a throwaway effort meant to grab a couple of  bucks before fading into oblivion, the collection actually had a lot going for it.  

I have to admit that I'm always surprised at how commercial much of this sounds - particularly 'Do You Believe In Magic' and the other four studio tracks on the first side.  Even more surprising is the fact that much of the live material is equally tight and focused.  Doubt that, then simply check out pretty ballad 'Good Day'.  Not that commercial is necessarily good, but in this instance these guys seem to have benefited from a bit of focus. Mind you, the set isn't perfect.  Long time fans are likely to squawk over the song selection, but as a casual fan I don't have a problem with the line up, though the fact that it isn't in any apparent order is kind of frustrating.  I've lost track of their CD catalog, but if you can locate a copy of this one, it's a great place for the curious or casual fan to start.

"Thru the Ears" track listing:
(side 1)

1. Do You Believe In Magic   (Nektar) - 3:46
2. The Dream Nebula 1 & 2   (Nektar) - 4:40
3. It's All In the Mind   (Nektar) - 3:22
4. King of Twilight   (Nektar) - 4:18
5. Wings   (Nektar) - 3:48

(side 2)
1.) Remember the Future (Part 1) - 16:36

     a.) Images of the Past   (Nektar)

     b.) Wheel of Time   (Nektar)

     c.) Remember the Future   (Nektar)

     d.) Confusion   (Nektar)

(side 3)
1.) That's Life   (Nektar) - 6:35
2.) Desolation Valley   (Nektar) - 9:45

(side 4)

1.) Astral Man   (Nektar) - 3:15

2.) Fidgety Queen    (Nektar) - 3:40
3.) Good Day   (Nektar) - 6:51
4.) It's All Over   (Nektar) - 5:20