Miller Anderson - Bright City

Another outing for Gary Thain here, This time playing Bass on fellow Keef Hartley band member Miller Anderson's solo album from 1971 'Bright City'

 The following text has been borrowed and abridged from here 

http://time-has-told-me.blogspot.com/2006/11/miller-anderson-bright-city-uk-folk.html

Miller Anderson has been on the cutting-edge of rock for more than three decades. Although he's only released two solo albums -- Bright City in 1971 and Celtic Moon in 1988 -- the Scotland-born guitarist and vocalist has been involved with many influential musicians. Since cutting his musical teeth in bands with Ian Hunter (pre-Mott the Hoople) and Bill Bruford (pre-King Crimson and Yes), Anderson has been a member of such bands as the Keef Hartley Band, Savoy Brown, T. Rex, Mountain, the Spencer Davis Group, and in groups led by Yes vocalist Jon Lord and folk-rock balladeer Donovan. Anderson launched his career with the Royal Crests in 1964, continuing to play with the group as they evolved into Karl Stuart & the Profiles. Although he recorded one single with the Voice, "Train to Disaster" b/w "Truth," he left the band soon afterwards and was replaced by Mick Ronson. After meeting Ian Hunter during recording sessions at Regent Sound Studios, Anderson and Hunter formed a band, the Scenery, with drummer John Verson Smith. The group, which enlarged into a quartet with the addition of keyboardist Dante Smith, released an EP in Japan. In 1967, the group became the backup band for pianist/vocalist Freddie "Fingers" Lee as the Freddie "Fingers" Lee Band. While Anderson temporarily left the group to join the Paper Blitz Tissue, where he met Bill Bruford who replaced drummer Dave Dufort, he rejoined Hunter and Lee in March 1968 to form the oddly named group At Last the 1958 Rock 'n' Roll Show. After recording one single, "I Can't Drive" b/w "Workin' on the Railroad," the band changed their name to Charlie Woolfe. Upon leaving this group, Anderson and Hunter temporarily resurrected the Scenery. In late 1968, Anderson joined the Keef Hartley Band. Although they had begun to work on their debut album, the group had changed their lead singer twice before Anderson was recruited. In addition to playing with them at the Woodstock Festival in August 1969, Anderson recorded five albums with the band -- Halfbreed, The Battle of North West, The Time Is Near, Overdrive, and the live album Little Big Band. Leaving the group to start his solo career, Anderson formed the Miller Anderson Band.


Miller Anderson issued his sole solo album, "Bright City" in 1971, featuring songs that were not considered suitable for Hartley's repertoire. Lineup featured among others Mick Weaver on keyboards plus the bassist (Gary Thain) and reed players of Hartley's. Plus a string section. Pretty melodies, acoustic guitars, fluegel horn & flute - no doubt mirroring Miller's interest in a softer, more acoustic brand of music.
But "High Tide, High Water" and "Nothing In This World" were something else: two riffing electric guitars (the other deftly handled by Neil Hubbard), wah-wah, and a fat, forceful organ. Extended workouts - true timepieces.

1. Alice Mercy (To whom it may concern)
2. The age of progress
3. Nothing in this world
4. Bright City
5. Grey broken morning
6. High Tide, High Water
7. Shadows 'cross my wall

All compositions written by Miller Anderson



Miller Anderson Vocals and acoustic/electric guitars
Mick Weaver (Wynder K Frog) Organ/piano/harpsichord & congas
Peter Dines Organ & piano
Gary Thain Bass
Eric Dillon Drums
Neil Hubbard Guitar on 'High Tide' & 'Alice Mercy'
Lynn Dobson Flute
Harold Beckett Fluegelhorn
Background Vocals.... Madeline Bell, Liza Strike, Tracy Miller

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