Principal Edwards
The Devon Tapes
"Principal Edwards Magic Theatre is one of those hard-to classify bands that made the late 60s a musical adventure playground for listeners. What was more, the live music scene and airwaves were broad-minded enough to give bands who dared to be different the chance of exposure. They enjoyed the attention of the late John Peel who broadcast them on his BBC shows and made them the first band to be signed to his Dandelion record label".
The original line-up disbanded in late 1971, but a smaller unit then emerged under the abbreviated name Principal Edwards, recording an album, 'Round One', for the Deram label.
In the summer of 1974, with Miles Copeland expressing an interest in taking over management of the band, they acquiesed to his insistence that percussionist David Jones be ousted and guitarist/keyboardist Peter White (nowadays best known in the smooth jazz field) be added in his place.
Renting a cottage in Devon the new line-up began rehearsing new material, recording it on a two-track tape machine, although "all that survives is a fairly grotty cassette copy which bassist Richard Jones has managed, with great skill and digital trickery, to turn into a decent-sounding record".
Not only do we fully agree with the latter opinion, we also happen to think it constitutes one of the best archival Prog-rock releases of 2008!
Tracklisting
1 The Beast
2 Saccharine Lady
3 Assassin Senorita
4 Shipwreck
5 Double Jointed
6 Helix
7 Yes, She Said Yes
8 The Alamo
9 Over And Out
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LRP £10.99 - discounted to...
