from ProgWeed : The Rotters Club is definitely one of the definitive "Canterbury" albums, a sub-genre of progressive rock that was decidedly jazzier, more instrumentally based and featured a more humorous, less-pretentious take on everything. The serious musical chops and tongue-in-cheek attitude fenced off many of these groups from the kind of criticism that more theatrical contemporaries like Yes and Genesis were being pummelled with. Hatfield & the North were on the forefront of this movement, carrying some already distinguished musicians from the likes of Caravan, Matching Mole and Egg. Rotters Club was their second album and is a monster of jazz infected progressive rock, made up of great extended jams and phenomenal musicianship from all parties.
"Share It" opens up with Richard Sinclair's whimsical vocals, already familiar to all Caravan fans, and is a very nice track. However, it is the last time we see vocals for awhile, as Hatfield and the North places much less emphasis on lyrics and such than Sinclair's former band. Instead, songs like "The Yes No Interlude" and "Underdub" are just replete with exciting playing, great organ from Dave Stewart as well as exquisite guitar work from Phil Miller. "Mumps" is a huge epic track that features some more vocals here and there but for the most part is another explosive instrumental. Basically this album is probably the next step the average prog fan should take into exploring Canterbury after Caravan's best albums.
"Share It" (Sinclair/Pyle) – 3:03
"Lounging There Trying" (Miller) – 3:15
"(Big) John Wayne Socks Psychology on the Jaw" (Stewart) – 0:43
"Chaos at the Greasy Spoon" (Sinclair/Pyle) – 0:30
"The Yes No Interlude" (Pyle) – 7:01
"Fitter Stoke Has a Bath" (Pyle) – 7:33
"Didn't Matter Anyway" (Sinclair) – 3:33
"Underdub" (Miller) – 4:02
"Mumps" (Stewart) – 20:31
"Your Majesty Is Like a Cream Donut" (Quiet) 1:59
"Lumps" 12:35
"Prenut" 3:55
"Your Majesty Is Like a Cream Donut" (Loud) 1:37
bonus : "(Big) John Wayne Socks Psychology on the Jaw" (edit of album version) – 0:43
"Chaos at the Greasy Spoon" (edit of album version) – 0:20
"Halfway Between Heaven and Earth" (from "Over The Rainbow" compilation) (Sinclair) – 6:07
"Oh, Len's Nature!" (aka "Nan True's Hole") (live 1975) (Miller) – 1:59
"Lything and Gracing" (live 1974) (Miller) – 3:58
Phil Miller: Guitar
Dave Stewart: Fender Rhodes electric piano, Hammond organ, Minimoog, Piano, Tone generator
Richard Sinclair: Bass guitar, Lead vocals, Guitar (7)
Pip Pyle: Drums
Jimmy Hastings: Saxophone (5 & 9), Flute (6-8 & 9)
Barbara Gaskin, Amanda Parsons & Ann Rosenthal: Backing vocals (6 & 9)
Lindsay Cooper: Bassoon (3 & 5)
Tim Hodgkinson: Clarinet (3 & 5)
Mont Campbell: French horn (3 & 4)
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