The album reached publish fifteen inward the UK Albums Chart
Allmusic's review was laudatory, proverb the album "is a powerful one, unleashing each member's instrumental prowess at i yell for piece consolidating each talent to shape an explosive outflow of progressive jazz/rock the next." They highly praised the diverseness as well as uniqueness of each song, the playing of the musicians, as well as the group's powerfulness to exercise a blend of jazz, rock, as well as classical elements that was unconventional yet accessible.
Valentyne Suite was the 2nd album released past times the band Colosseum. It was Vertigo Records' foremost album release, as well as reached publish fifteen inward the UK Albums Chart inward 1969.[1]
Though the vocal "The Kettle" is officially listed every bit having been written past times Dick Heckstall-Smith as well as Jon Hiseman, a credit which is confirmed past times Hiseman's liner notes for the album, bassist as well as producer Tony Reeves later on claimed that it was written past times guitarist as well as vocalizer James Litherland
Allmusic derided the foremost 3 tracks, referring to "The Kettle" as well as "Butty's Blues" as, "tarted-up 12-bar blues", as well as claiming that "Elegy" was beyond James Litherland's abilities every bit a vocalist. They were to a greater extent than approbation of the residual of the album, as well as described Dave Greenslade's solo on "The Valentyne Suite" as, "something to offering a challenge to vintage Keith Emerson, only alongside swing." They were critical of Litherland as well as Reeves's playing on the song, however, as well as concluded, "In retrospect this mightiness non quite the classic it seemed at the time, only it remains listenable.
This is i of the pivotal progressive bands that emerged inward the 2nd work of the Sixties. Unfortunalety the progressive basis was to a greater extent than impressed past times The NICE as well as KING CRIMSON, as well as hence inward my thought COLOSSEUM is a flake underestimated progrock band. In 68 the founding members were drummer Jon Hiseman, tenor sax-player Dick Heckstall-Smith as well as bass thespian Tony Reeves, later on joined past times Dave Greenslade (keyboards), Dave Clempson (guitar), Chris Farlowe (vocals) as well as Mark Clark, he replaced Tony Reeves. COLOSSEUM made 3 studio albums: "Those Who Are To Die We Salute You" as well as "Valentyne Suite" (both from 69) as well as "Daughter Of Time" (70). The music is a progressive mix of several styles (rock, jazz, blues) alongside lots of sensational solos as well as captivating interplay. In 71 the band released their highly acclaimed alive album "Colosseum live", a proove of their cracking skills on phase only also showing that at some moments the compositions sounded a flake also stretched. After COLOSSEUM was disbanded inward 71, almost of these members formed or joined known groups similar HUMBLE PIE (Clem Clempson), ATOMIC ROOSTER (Chris Farlowe), GREENSLADE (Dave Greenslade re-united alongside Tony Reeves) as well as COLOSSEUM II (founded past times Jon Hiseman). In 91 the label Castle Communications released the comprehensive compilation CD entitled "The Time Machine".
The 2nd album "The Valentyne Suite" is considered every bit their best. It sounds mature as well as varied alongside the epic titletrack every bit the highlight: its construct upwards to a greater extent than or less a mindblowing solo on the Hammond organ past times Dave Greenslade as well as cracking guitarwork past times James Litherland. And if you lot similar brass (I dont!), Dick Heckstall-Smith delivers stunning tenor-saxophone work.
Tracks Listing
Those Who Are About to Die Salute You: (40:22)
1. Walking inward the Park (3:51)
2. Plenty Hard Luck (4:23)
3. Standard Mandarin (4:27)
4. Debut (6:20)
5. Beware the Ides of March (5:34)
6. The Road She Walked Before (2:39)
7. Backwater Blues (7:35)
8. Those About to Die (4:49)
Valentyne Suite: (35:27)
9. The Kettle (4:25)
10. Elegy (3:10)
11. Butty's Blues (6:44)
12. The Machine Demands a Sacrifice (3:52)
13. The Valentyne Suite (16:35)
- a. Theme One - January's Search
- b. Theme Two - February's Valentyne
- c. Theme Three - The Grass Is Always Greener...
Total Time: 75:49
Line-up / Musicians
- Dave Greenslade / organ, keyboards, vocals
- Dick Heckstall-Smith / tenor & soprano saxophone
- Jon Hiseman / drums
- James Litherland / guitar, vocals
- Tony Reeves / bass guitar
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