Exposé Online banner

Simon Dupree & the Big Sound — Part of My Past - The Simon Dupree and the Big Sound Anthology
(EMI 7243 593727 2 3, 1968/2004, 2CD)

by Jon Davis, Published 2005-09-01

Part of My Past - The Simon Dupree and the Big Sound Anthology Cover artThere’s no doubt that a complete collection of the recordings of Simon Dupree and the Big Sound has historical value. Aside from being a curious footnote in the story of the psychedelic 60s with their one hit, “Kites,” the band is of course a curious footnote in the history of Gentle Giant, the simple pop band with a silly name that gave birth to a progressive powerhouse. The musical merits of such a collection are subject to debate, however, since the band never really found a successful place in their own time, first playing British blues rock after the fad had passed, then flailing desperately for a hit to follow their moment in the spotlight. Maybe it’s just hindsight, but they do seem to be a band in search of an identity, musicians of talent unsure of what to do with their gifts. The blues-based material is well-played and features some interesting arrangements with organ and trumpet. The psychedelic material runs quite a gamut, from the hilarious (even stupid) “Broken Hearted Pirates” to wonderful gems like “Part of My Past,” “Castle in the Sky,” and “Thinking about My Life.” Of particular interest are the tracks recorded for the never-issued second album, a Mellotron-heavy set of florid late-60s British pop, maybe not a match for Odessey & Oracle, but a solid entry in the history of psychedelia. Some of the vocal arrangements are quite elaborate, showing where the Shulman brothers learned some of the tricks they would utilize in their later endeavors. This collection is amazingly well conceived and executed, with thorough liner notes and the best sound you could expect for sources of the time, well worth the expense for fans of Gentle Giant or psych-rock.

Filed under: Archives, Issue 32, 2004 releases, 1968 recordings

Related artist(s): Gentle Giant, Simon Dupree & the Big Sound

Latest news

2018-07-09
Soft Machine Set to Release New Music – It's been 50 years since The Soft Machine changed the face of music with their first album. Their blend of psychedelic rock and jazz was unique, and while the band went through many changes before disbanding in 1981 — by which time there were no original members remaining — they remained an innovative force with a style all their own. » Read more

2018-07-01
7d Surfaces Happy Rhodes Back Catalog – We've covered singer Happy Rhodes before, both for her solo work and recently with The Security Project, but her 11 albums have been hard to track down. Until now. 7d features high-quality downloads of all her releases, and several of them are also available on CD. » Read more

2018-06-25
Fred Chalenor RIP – We have news of another sad passing in the world of creative music. Bassist Fred Chalenor, whose creativity featured on albums by Tone Dogs, Caveman Shoestore, and many more, died on June 23, 2018 after a long battle with Alzheimer's. Tributes have poured in from the many musicians and fans whose lives he touched. » Read more

2018-06-13
Jon Hiseman RIP – One of the great drummers of the rock era has died. Jon Hiseman was a veteran of such ground-breaking groups as Colosseum (I and II), Tempest, John Mayal's Bleusbreakers, and was a founding member of the innovative large band United Jazz + Rock Ensemble. » Read more

2018-06-05
Koenjihyakkei Seeks Funding for New Album – It's been quite a few years since the last new studio album by the amazing Koenjihyakkei. Now they are preparing Dhormimviskha for worldwide release, and they're asking fans to pre-order via a Kickstarter campaign to help it happen. » Read more

More news

Previously in Exposé...

Steve Roach - Sigh of Ages – Sigh of Ages is Steve Roach's fourth release of 2010. Six continuous tracks totaling 74 minutes take you on a journey that is deep, dark and hypnotic for its duration. You either really like this type...  (2011) » Read more

Random review

Listen & discover

Amon Düül II on stage

More recommendations
ProgStock 2017

Print issues