The first band to be signed to Chrysalis Records, Edinburgh trio CLOUDS didn’t last long but, after a residency at London’s Marquee club in 1967, left a lasting impression on British musicians, with THE NICE, YES and KING CRIMSON citing the Scots as influence. With no guitarist in the line-up, and organist Billy Ritchie at the fore, the ensemble didn’t manage to reproduce their concert sound in the studio and left people, who enjoyed their performance in Europe and the States and hoped to hear the same charge on record, frustrated. Over the years, though, the combo’s cult status has grown enough to evoke interest in the listeners, and the packaging of their legacy into a box set seems alluring.
Scheduled for August 29th, “Once Upon A Time – The Collection” consists of three CDs that comprise both of the collective’s UK longplays, 1969’s “The Clouds Scrapbook” and “Watercolour Days” from 1971, as well as the US-only platter “Up Above Our Heads” which partially used cuts from the band’s debut platter, with a few exclusive numbers, plus no less than 23 previously unreleased tracks, including rarities and demos. With all three members – Billy Ritchie, Ian Ellis and Harry Hughes – contributing to the booklet, this set looks indispensable for any prog lover.
Once Upon A Time –
The Collection
CD 1 – The Clouds Scrapbook:
1. Introduction – Scrapbook
2. The Carpenter
3. The Colours Have Run
4. I’ll Go Girl
5. Grandad
6. Ladies And Gentlemen
7. Humdrum
8. Union Jack
9. Old Man
10. Waiter, There’s Something In My Soup
11. Scrapbook
bonus tracks:
12. Make No Bones About It
13. Heritage
14. Sleepless Nights
15. Laughin’
16. She’s A Dish
17. Go Now Sheray
18. Preacher Man
19. Old Folks Home
20. Smokey Old Town
21. You’ve Been Bad
22. Miscellaneous
23. Union Jack
24. Ice Cream
25. Pawnshop
26. No Sign Of Being Better
27. The Clothes She Wore
28. The Camera Never Lies
29. French Franc
30. J. Graham, Watchmaker Jeweller
31. Danger, Roadworks Straight Ahead
32. That’s What Bothers Me
CD 2 – Up Above Our Heads:
1. Imagine Me
2. Sing, Sing, Sing
3. Take Me To Your Leader
4. Big Noise From Winnetka
5. In The Mine
6. The World Is Madhouse
7. Once Upon A Time
8. See Me I’m Home
9. That Was Yesterday
10. The Feeling
11. R.I.P
CD 3 – Watercolour Days:
1. Watercolour Days
2. Cold Sweat
3. Lighthouse
4. Long Time
5. Mind Of A Child
6. I Know Better Than You
7. Leavin’
8. Get Off My Farm
9. I Am The Melody
bonus tracks:
10. Once Upon A Time
11. Mind Of A Child
12. Why Is There No Magic
13. Shadows
14. A Day In The Rain
15. Clockwork Soldier
