Flaming Youth Ark 2 STL 5533 UK LP Phil Collins 1st Pr

	£		23
	$		30

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Album Information

Artist Flaming Youth     (featuring Phil Collins & Brian Chatton) Title Ark 2                Record Label Fontana Cat. number STL 5533 Mono/Stereo? S

Country

UK Released 1969 Matrix no. 881 017 1Y 1 881 017 2Y 1 Please enquire if you need the matrix numbers

 

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Album Condition

Disc

Marks

Side 1

EX Side 2 EX  

Surface
Hairlines

Side 1

VG Many light surface hairlines Side 2 VG Many light surface hairlines

Scratches

Side 1

VG Circular scratch on Tk 4 Side 2 VG Scratch on Tk 5

Other Info.

 

Sound

Surface Noise

Side 1

EX   Side 2 EX  

Pops/Clicks

Side 1

VG Many light surface hairlines - occasional light crackle Side 2 VG Many light surface hairlines - occasional light crackle

Scratches

Side 1

VG Circular scratch on Tk 4 - a few clicks Side 2 VG Scratch on Tk 5 - clicks Other Info. A well played copy

Sleeve

Ring / Surface Wear

Front

VG Light storage wear. A few scratches on the plastic panel Back EX Light ring wear Inside VG Storage wear

Card Creases

Front

VG A few light creases Back EX Inside VG A few light creases

Shelf Wear

Edge

G Split along bottom edge. Storage wear Spine EX Light storage wear Corner VG   Other Info.

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Background Information

  Click on the link to find the original source of this information: - Ark 2 Ark 2 is the sole full length recording from Flaming Youth and over the years it has endured the most dreadful reputation. Is it really that bad? Given the context of the time in which it was released, not really. But it is exceedingly outdated. Perhaps some listeners are expecting an early progressive rock gem due to the involvement of one Phil Collins on drums or because the band prominently feature orchestra, choir and organ in their music. Originally issued in 1969, the album has been reissued for fresh ears some 35 years later by Mason Records.

Ark 2 actually begins promisingly with a trio of whimsical psychedelic ditties: "Guide Me, Orion", "Earthglow" and the kitschy instrumental "Weightless" all call to mind a more pop oriented take on bands like Traffic, Family and Procol Harum. There are also some nice Moody Blues inspired harmonies on compositions like "Changes" and "Pulsar".

Unfortunately, when Flaming Youth attempt to be ambitious, they get into trouble: "The Planets" is an insipid 12 minute rock opera pastiche that weakly imitates The Who's "A Quick One While He's Away". Incorporating elements of surf, rock, pop and psychedelia as well as a limp string arrangement, the piece resembles Gustav Holt's "Planets Suite" in name only. Elsewhere we have the embarrassing acid folk rock of "Spacechild" and the truly cringe worthy closer "From Now On (Immortal Invisible)" which features a gospel choir arrangement incredibly more portentous than the song title would suggest. 

Though its flaws are many, Ark 2 exudes a likeable dopey charm. Had Phil Collins not jumped ship a year later to join Genesis, who knows where Flaming Youth might have gone? But the album sank without a trace and the band quickly fell apart. Genesis completists and collectors of underground British rock may like this, but I cannot recommend it to the perfectly sane. File under: guilty pleasure.


Track Listing

1. Guide Me, Orion (3:16)
2. Earthglow (2:52)
3. Weightless (instrumental) (2:37)
4. The Planets (12:47)
5. Changes (5:48)
6. Pulsar (3:05)
7. Spacechild (5:10)
8. In the Light of Love (3:26)
9. From Now On (Immortal Invisible) (4:19)         

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