As Your Mind Flies By [Import, Original recording remastered]

Rare Bird | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (September 17, 2007)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: Import, Original recording remastered
• Label: Esoteric
• ASIN: B000TV4MOA
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  Vinyl
• Average Customer Review: 4.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #177,892 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

1. What You Want to Know

2. Down on the Floor

3. Hammerhead

4. I'm Thinking

5. Flight: I. As Your Mind Flies By/II. Vacuum/III. New Yorker/IV. Central

6. Waht You Want to Know [Mono Single Version][*]

7. Hammerhead [Mono Single Version][*]

8. Red Man [#][*]

9. Central Park

Editorial Reviews

Reissue of the English prog rock outfit's second album, which the All-Music Guide chose as their artist pick, giving it four & a half stars out of five possible. Contains all five tracks from when the ABC first released the album in 1970, including the five part suite 'Flight'. 1999 release. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Fine keyboard-driven prog rock, February 27, 2002

By 

BENJAMIN MILER (Veneta, Oregon) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: As Your Mind Flies By (Audio CD)

Rare Bird supposedly formed in October 1969 and had their debut album, simply called Rare Bird released within two months of their formation. The band had a distinction of being one of the first rock bands to feature two keyboardists (David Kaffinetti, Graham Fields, David played electric piano, Graham played organ) but no one on guitar. The band also featured the powerful voice of Steve Gould (who also played bass) and drums from Mark Ashton. As Your Mind Flies By, released in 1970, is regarded as their best album by many prog fans, and some claim it to be the best prog album, but I wouldn't go that far, but it's still a fine example of what early prog was all about. The original LP was released on Charisma on the pink scroll label, and the American LP was released on ABC with a totally different cover. Now it's available on CD. Side one contains four, somewhat shorter pieces, "What You Want to Know", "Down on the Floor", "Hammerhead" and "I'm Thinking". My favorite is the heavy and powerful "Hammerhead" with some truly killer vocals and Hammond organ. The rest of these cuts often have pop and soul tendencies, but still progressive enough not to scare off the progheads. "Down on the Floor" has a more classical feel thanks to the presence harpsichord. Side two (that is, if you own the LP) is a four part suite called "Flight" which is often regarded as the album's masterpiece and without a doubt the most progressive thing on the album. Choir is used from time to time, not to mention a middle part that features some rather experimental and spacy Hammond organ that reminds me of those Krautrock bands from around the same time. Most of the rest of "Flight" is very much in typical early British prog fashion. Unfortunately As Your Mind Flies By was Rare Bird's last album with the original lineup, Graham Fields and Mark Ashton left, replaced by a new drummer and two guitar players making their first two albums their only albums not to feature any guitar. It might be interesting to note that many years after Rare Bird broke up, David Kaffinetti later appeared on the movie This is Spinal Tap, he shorted his name to David Kaff. Anyway, if you enjoy early keyboard-driven British prog, be sure to get a copy of As Your Mind Flies By.

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars RareBird, a rare talent, August 29, 2002

By A Customer

This review is from: As Your Mind Flies By (Audio CD)

RareBird were a late 60's English rock band that had a unique keyboard sound which is self evident when you listen to As Your Mind Flies By .
This CD is a superb blend of hard keyboard driven rock with a couple of beautiful melodic compositions also included.
The talent of the four band members is there for all to hear on the title track.From the sublime keyboard playing of David Kaffinetti and Graham Field to the outstanding vocal talent of Steve Gould,backed up by some great percussion from Mark Ashton.As Your Mind Flies By is a great and unique example of keyboard driven rock.
RareBird were indeed, a very rare talent!

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Legendary Rare Bird Strikes Again, February 15, 2002

By A Customer

This review is from: As Your Mind Flies By (Audio CD)

The original lineup's second and final album, and another brilliant one. Music like this just isn't made anymore, and the musicianship is just top-notch. RB's most progressive certainly, and a shame the original members went their separate ways shortly after its release. With the trademark dual keyboards and no guitar other than bass, the music is at times heavy, yet still melodic. "Down on the Floor" is a classic with the medieval harpsichord, and evocative and otherworldly vocals from the underrated Steve Gould. "Flight" is a progressive classic that virtually no one has heard of nowadays. Another seminal album from the great English band who didn't even make it big in their homeland, seemingly being more popular in the USA, Germany, France and elswhere in Europe. These guys just put out great music and faded away when not enough people noticed. If only we had more like them today. Get this one, the two-for-one CD w/ the 1969 debut and 1973's Somebody's Watching, and of course, the all time classic from 1972, Epic Forest. These three CDs are unparalleled, and progressive/classic rock fans will not be disappointed. If Born Again, the swan song album from 1974, is ever released to CD (with a few bonus tracks), we can all live happily!