Fields - Feeling Free – The Complete Recordings 1971-1973

Following the release of their second album, Rare Bird founding member and keyboardist Graham Field left the band and formed the short-lived three-piece Fields with ex-King Crimson drummer Andrew McCulloch and bassist/vocalist Alan Barry.  In 1971 they recorded and released their eponymous debut album, which is where this two CD collection begins.  While their sound on this debut is rooted in Progressive Rock there is actually alot of diversity amongst these ten tracks.  Starting things off is “A Friend Of Mine”, a really catchy track that is one of the more Prog tunes here with Field’s organ leading the way providing a really nice groove along with some outstanding drumming from McCulloch that has a bit of a jazz vibe.  The next track “While The Sun Still Shines” still has some really nice organ work, but overall moves in a bit more of a bluesy rock direction, while “Not So Good” starts off with some really nice piano and finds them slowing things down a little resulting in a track that has a bit of a Procol Harum feel, especially when the organ kicks in.  “Three Minstrels” starts off with a sparse medieval folk sound and eventually evolves into more of a prog tune towards the end with some great guitar work.  Next up is the slow, almost droning instrumental “Slow Susan”, which leads into “Over and Over Again”, a catchy prog rock track that adds a bit of a funk groove, and “Feeling Free”, which finds the band moving in a bluesy gospel direction with some really nice piano and organ.  “Fair-Haired Lady” is a really pretty stripped down ballad that is primarily vocals and acoustic guitar with a little clarinet and “A Place To Lay My Head” moves in the bluesy direction again bringing to mind Joe Cocker with some really strong blues guitar.  Closing things out is “The Eagle”, a really strong prog instrumental that at times draws from the classical influence of Pachelbel and displays the outstanding musicianship of the band and is the standout cut on the album.  Included at the end of disc one are four bonus cuts consisting of alternate versions of “Slow Susan” and “A Place To Lay My Head” and previously unreleased versions of “A Friend Of Mine” and the non-album track “Wouldn’t You Agree” from BBC Radio One Sounds Of The ‘70’s sessions recorded in December 1971.  Both tracks show how strong they were live and “Wouldn’t You Agree” is another solid Prog cut that would have fit right in on their debut.      

A short while after releasing their debut and doing some live shows Barry decided to leave the band.  He was replaced by ex-Supertramp bassist and vocalist Frank Farrell and the band got started on recording their new album.  Unfortunately for the band, while they were in the process of recording, the entire London-based A&R staff of their label was fired and replaced by staff from New York who had no interest in Prog or any band signed by their predecessor.  At this point the band had written and record two thirds of the next album, but decided there was no point in continuing if the label wasn’t going to support them.  In 2015, with Field overseeing it, that second album Contrasts was finally released along with three demos from that time that were included as bonus tracks.  These eleven tracks are now included here on disc two.  Kicking things off is “Let Her Sleep”, a really strong prog tune highlighted by Field’s impressive keyboard work and Farrell’s throbbing bass lines.  Next up is “Wedding Bells”, an extremely catchy tune that finds the band showing far more pop tendencies than ever before and leads into “Someone To Trust”, a slow, bluesy tune with some nice piano work and haunting violin.  “Wonder Why” is an interesting cut that’s catchy, but really sets itself apart from the rest with a funky jazz beat under high chorus like vocals and some really quirky keyboards, while “Music Is Their Game” is an extremely hook-filled tune that finds them moving in a pop direction again with some prog tendencies largely thanks to the the bouncy organ.  “The Old Canal” is a captivating laid-back song that is actually fairly reminiscent of the more orchestrated work of The Beatles and early Bee Gees.  Closing out Contrasts are the bouncy instrumental “Put Out To Grass” and “Storm”, a very prog rock sounding song that starts with calmness and birds chirping before moving into quiet keyboards that build and build in intensity as the lyrics detail an intensifying storm.  The aforementioned demos that are included on disc two include “Set Yourself Free”, a catchy, laid back tune with a lazy groove and a couple of keyboard driven instrumentals with “The River”, which has an almost easy listening feel and the bouncy R&B of “Spring”.  The band was really showing some interesting experimentation on this second album and it's unfortunate we never got to see what else they had in store for us.  Feeling Free – The Complete Recordings 1971-1973 also contains a CD booklet with photos and an essay detailing the history of the band. 

(Esoteric Recordings)