The band Phoenix rose from the ashes of Argent in 1976 and immediately scored a major label deal with CBS. Their debut album was released to much critical fanfare, and they recorded their follow-up and finest record in 1977. Unfortunately, the musical landscape was changing. Disco was on the airwaves and punk was around the corner when CBS decided against releasing Phoenix’s second album.

The album ‘Out of the Sun’ was recorded at Trident Studios in 1977, and has been lying dormant since. A few months ago John Verity rediscovered the album and set about preparing it for release:

“Bob Henrit, Jim Rodford and I recorded and released our first Phoenix album in 1976 at Trident Studios in Central London and released on CBS Records. We toured extensively to promote the album, fitting in time between shows to write and demo new songs with the intention of getting into the studio fresh from playing live, whilst ‘match fit’, to put a follow-up album together.”
“Our timing couldn’t have been worse…There was a New Wave of ‘Punk’ music on the streets and overnight we were about as unfashionable as you could be on the UK music scene. CBS decided not to take up the option to release a new Phoenix album so these recordings were put on ice.”
“Our management company wanted us to take a different musical direction. Bob remembers this was known to us as “Boston-Foreigner-Styx” though this was very much like what we’d been doing with Argent. We had wanted to be the Worlds first ‘Power Trio’ and came up with one track that would have surprised the hell out of the guys who eventually did it first – it was ‘Day Tripper’ complete with thundering double bass drums and screaming guitars!”
“As a band we set about trying to come up with something new.There followed a period during which we did try new things, and released further singles and an album of new material, first on Rocket Records, then on Charisma Records. For a time, Phoenix became a four-piece, then Jim was offered the opportunity to join the Kinks and left with our blessing.”
“We continued as a 3-piece for a while but though I hadn’t realised at the time, without Jim Rodford the heart had gone from Phoenix. Something special can happen when certain groups of musicians get together, and I think that our ‘something special’ only truly happened with Jim in the lineup.
So, the second Phoenix album seemed to be lost forever but recently by a twist of fate I got the opportunity to look again at these recordings with a view to releasing them over 40 years after they were recorded.
To me they sound as fresh as the day they were recorded, with all of us at the top of our game.”

Out of the Sun

Winds of Change

Musical artists Tom Marshall of Sparrow and Harmony Grass, The Feels' Christian Migliorese, Danny Adlerman from the band The BAR and a special flashback on The Time Machine Radio Show with singer-songwriter Rupert Holmes were the line-up of musical guests with radio hosts Tanya Teal and Michael McCartney on The Time Machine this past week.

Tom Marshall has been a part of our playlists for the entire time span of The Time Machine broadcast with his band Harmony Grass.   Tom  later became a member of the band Sparrow with an incredible album produced by Chris White of The Zombies back in 1975 that sadly the record company decided to shelve after releasing their single "Oh Doctor" that did make it onto the charts.   That song has been featured many times over the years on this radio show, but this broadcast is truly special with Tom sharing not only his memories of the band, but giving us a chance to hear the world broadcast debut of this wonderful album.  You are so going to love this.  Curt Vance returned with another Power Pop Overdose Moment as well as Radio Deer Camp With Rich Firestone with more great selections to add to the playlist.

You're In My Heart On The Time Machine

The Chris White Experience - Chris White is the songwriter, producer bass player in the 60s classic British rock n' roll band The Zombies. Volume One represents the start of the story of his songwriting. Promo enquiries - sunfishpromotion@gmail.com

www.thechriswhiteexperience.com

Winds of Change

Sunfish Music

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