Stackridge — The Man In The Bowler Hat
The Man In The Bowler Hat was the third album from Bristol/Bath-based Stackridge. Appearing in the year 1974- the ten-track album saw the band adding an even more pronounced pop-rock edge to their folk-rock & light prog-rock sound- though still retaining a feeling of both quirkiness & mixed genre elements. 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 black six-panel digipak- with the cover bringing together the album's original artwork of a woman wearing a bowler hat & apron in a field. It comes with an eighteen-page inlay booklet- featuring a new seven-page write-up about the band/ album, promo/poster artwork, news clippings, and lyrics/ full credits. The first CD takes in the original album, a live set of the band playing in London in 1973, and BBC session tracks.
Stackridge formed in Bristol/ Bath area in the year 1969 by Andy Cresswell-Davis(lead guitars, keyboards, vocals) and Jim "Crun" Walter(Bass)- with Crun later becoming an on/off member. Over their career, the band having a decidedly shifting lineup - 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).
The Man In The Bowler Hat was first released on MCA Records in February of 1974- with it being the band's highest charting album at number twenty-three in the UK chart. As well as a six-piece band- there was a selection of eleven supporting session musicians playing strings, accordion, trumpet, horn, trombone, tuba & Sax- which gives many of the tracks a decidedly majestic/ grand air.
In the first half of the album, we go from the buoyantly waltzing “Pinafore Days” with its string swoon, trombone pump, light percussive and bell detail. There’s climbing piano runs ‘n’ darts meets lightly orchestrated pop-rock of “To The Sun And The Moon. Or the bright guitar strum, maraca click, and violin fiddling of “The Road to Venezuela” which in its last quarter has some great quirky percussion hits.
In the second half of the record, we move from the lulling keys & soothing male vocalizing of “Humiliation” which features some lovely trombone & tuba playing. There’s the churning guitar pop of “Dangerous Bacon” with a nice meaty sax solo. With the album playing out with the ornate plodding to grandly darting piano, string swoon and flute flightiness of the instrumental track “God Speed the Plough”.
The second disc takes in another ten tracks- six are from a Radio One concert in January 1973, with the remaining four tracks coming from a Radio One session from February 1973 with Bob Harris.
In finishing The Man In The Bowler Hat is another very consistent & fairly varied album from Stackridge- with the non-rock instrumentation used & arranged to great effect. If you enjoy the more grandly pop side of folk rock/ prog- it’s certainly an album worthy of your time.