Stackridge — Friendliness
Friendliness was the second album from Bristol/Bath-based Stackridge. The 1973 eleven-track album saw the band polishing and(largely) perfecting their blend of folk-rock and light prog-symphonic rock- with more of a pop-bound feel, quicky genre dabs, and generally playful/ wacky edges. Here from Esoteric Records, as part of a series of reissues of the band's back catalogue, is a two-CD release of the album.
The CD comes presented in a glossy yellow six-panel digipak- with the artwork bringing together the album's original artwork of a friendly-looking pipe-smoking old man, and photos of the six-piece clowning around. Also included is a twenty-three-page inlay booklet- featuring a new eleven-page write-up about the band/ album, promo/poster artwork, reproduction of the comic book elements of the original album inlay, and lyrics/ full credits. The first CD takes in the original album, and the second a few A & B sides, and a live set of the band playing in Paris.
Stackridge where formed in Bristol/ Bath area in 1969- by Andy Cresswell-Davis(lead guitars, keyboards, vocals) and Jim "Crun" Walter(Bass)- with Crun later becoming an on/off member. With the band having a fairly shifting lineup over their career- their first run was between 69 & 1976- when they released five albums- Stackridge (1971), Friendliness (1972), The Man In The Bowler Hat (1974), Extravaganza (1975), and Mr Mick (1976). The band regrouped between 1999 & 2015- putting out another three albums- Something For The Weekend (1999), The Original Mr Mick (2001), and A Victory For Common Sense (2009).
Like the band's first self-titled album, Friendliness appeared on MCA Records. It was released in August 1972- and while it was more sonically sophisticated & layered in its sound- the band's more wondering prog track lengths were largely cut back- with only one track moving over eight minutes, with most hitting around the two to three-minute mark.
The first half of the album moves from the opening instrumental track “Lummy Days” which is a bounding & swooning mix of piano keys, weaving-to-flighty orchestration, and dramatically crashing drums. Onto slightly trad jazz touched singer-songwriter quirky pop of “Anyone for Tennis” which sounds like a saner version of Bonzo Dog Doo-Dah Band. Onto grand orchestration swooned, & vocal harmony layered singer-songwriter goes slight prog of “Syracuse The Elephant” which features a forlorn piano & violin breakdown midway.
Into the second half and we find the strutting ‘n’ darting almost reggae-like groove of “Amazingly Agnes” with its blend of grooving organ, jiving guitar tones, and quirky slide whistle tones. We have the 70’s pop-rock bound, blues guitar sear, and doo-doo backing vocals of “Keep On Clunking”. With the album plays out with lulling ‘n’ subtle crashing percussive hits of the folk-rock meets symphonic pop weave of “Teatime” which in its last few minutes go all flute-led prog freak out
The second CD features a set of two A & B sides, and an eight-track live set of the band playing in Paris in June 1972- this takes in a few album tracks, as well as a few other tracks. And it’s a good solid live set, showing that the band could also play well live.
Friendliness is a great second album from Stackridge- as it really showed the band distilling and refining their sound. Yes, the more prog-bound elements were rather reined back, but for the most part, I think this is a positive thing- though I guess if you are here for that side of things you maybe be disappointed. But for me, Friendliness is a wondeful example of Stackridge at its best.