Customer Reviews

And It Came to Pass

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You already know who Paul Carrack is. He was in groups like Ace ("How Long"), Squeeze ("Tempted") and of course Mike & the Mechanics. Let's not forget "Don't Shed a Tear" which was his big solo hit. If you're a prog rock fan, his name would make you run.

Would it surprise you back in 1970 he was actually in a real prog rock band? That group was Warm Dust, and he wasn't even 20 at the time when they recorded and released And It Came to Pass, same year Genesis (containing Carrack's future Mike + the Mechanics bandmate Mike Rutherford, of course) recorded and released Trespass (Genesis was still quite obscure in 1970). Carrack handled keyboards here, mainly sticking to the Hammond organ. Musically, this is that kind of jazzy prog with sax and flute. They were often compared to the likes of Chicago or BS&T, without the horns, but to me, they're much closer to Web/Samurai (Dave Lawson's pre-Greenslade band). Warm Dust did use wind instruments, but not in the Chicago or BS&T style, but more in the Web/Samurais style, hence the comparison. One listen to "Turbulance" you'll find it hard to believe this came from a band that spawned the guy that gave us "Don't Shed a Tear". Really nice prog with nice Hammond organ work. The rest of the group consisted of Dransfield "Lee" Walker on guitar and vocals, John Surgey on wind instruments, Alan Saloman on additional wind instruments, Terry "Tex" Comer on bass, and Dave Pepper on drums. It's a double album, which is strange for a debut (Chicago and the Mothers of Invention pulled off double album debuts), but it's true. Meaning it's a bit uneven. "Keep on Trucking", as you might gather, is rather out of place on the album, a boogie number. I believe that was probably a piece that kept Paul Carrack happy (he was more of a pub rocker). The rest is more great jazzy prog and psych that is simply great. Even if you run at the thought of Paul Carrack, you won't get reminded of anything he's done later, no "Tempted", "Living Years" or "Don't Shed a Tear" to even be remotely reminded of!

Paul Carrack is rather embarrassed of this era of his career. The band did hang around for a couple more albums, but it was obvious Carrack was not comfortable playing this kind of music (his next group was called Ace which we all know through that hit "How Long"). As you gather, prog rock was really never his thing, that's why all the following groups he's been in had been pop-oriented. But this isn't like Yes or Genesis (which you know Carrack had a connection with through Mike & the Mechanics), more like Web/Samurai, or perhaps The Greatest Show on Earth, or a bit of IF. This might be a bit much for Paul Carrack's pop crowd, but this isn't pop. Recommended for those who enjoy those jazzy British horn-driven prog bands mentioned!