Halfway Dreaming: Anthology 1969-1975 [2021] (5 x CDs)

BYZANTIUM

Halfway Dreaming: Anthology 1969-1975 [2021] (5 x CDs)

During their five years of existence in the early 1970s, British group Byzantium created an eclectic body of work that ranged from lush orchestral prog rock and gritty psychedelia to American-influenced pop with strains of country, jazz, and folk. A multi-headed beast of young singer/songwriters, they harmonized with the grace of Crosby, Stills, & Nash and rocked with the thump of Wishbone Ash, all the while layering in complex time signatures, tape loop effects, and the kind of scintillating guitar rivalries that should have made them stars, or at the very least a larger cult band than they were. Instead, after two stylistically diverse and commercially disappointing albums for A&M, they were dropped by both label and management and left to fend for themselves in the hinterlands of British independent music. As songwriters and instrumentalists, they certainly had the goods, but it was perhaps their inability to conform to a singular style that eventually did them in. Formed out of the nascent pop scene at University College School in Hampstead, Byzantium's lineup tended to shift from release to release, but at its core were Jamie Rubenstein (vocals, guitar), Robin Lamble (vocals, bass), and Steve Corduner (drums), with key members Nico Ramsden (vocals, guitar), Chaz Jankel (vocals, guitar), and Mick Barakan (vocals, guitar) each making significant marks on at least one or more of their three albums. Like other progressively minded groups of the time who utilized multiple frontmen, Byzantium's personality often changed from song to song, and while they lacked the overall cohesion of someone like the Moody Blues, they were extremely exciting to listen to and boasted a dynamic live show rippling with intricacy and edge. Dusted off and lovingly compiled here are the band's complete recordings beginning with Rubenstein's charming pre-Byzantium group Ora on through their sterling last-ditch demos which they made for Atlantic shortly before calling it quits in 1975. Along with the two A&M records (Byzantium and Seasons Changing) is their privately pressed and extremely rare Live & Studio LP, and an odds-and-sods disc of excellent live recordings, demos, and singles. There is, of course, much to love about Grapefruit Records' detailed packaging and exemplary liner notes, but in listening to gems like the gorgeous prog-pop ballad "I Am a Stranger to My Life" or the jangling country-rock of "Halfway Dreaming," it's truly a wonder this band isn't better known. Hopefully this lavish five-disc box set will go some way in adding some much-deserved lustre to their legacy. (B)

One of the most underrated bands from the magic 70s... beautiful melodic progressive music.

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Track lists

CD1

01 Ora - Seashore 2:52

02 Ora - About You 2:41

03 Ora - Deborah 3:06

04 Ora - Whitch 6:26

05 Ora - Venetia II 2:09

06 Ora - You 2:44

07 Ora - Fly 3:44

08 Ora - Ladyfriend 2:21

09 Ora - Are You Seeing 2:53

10 Ora - Emma's Saga 2:37

11 Ora - The Morning After The Night Before 2:19

12 Ora - The Seagull and The Sailor 3:20

13 Ora - Ooo 1:17

14 Ora - What is Happening 4:17

15 Ora - I Love You 3:08

16 Ora - Deborah (Alternative Version) 3:02

17 Ora - I Am A Stranger to My Life 4:57

18 Ora - Fly (Alternative Version) 3:45

19 Ora - It Was an Easy Legend 2:38

20 Ora - Seashore (Alternative Version) 4:12

21 Ora - No More Love 3:20

22 Ora - Pomme 2:40

CD2

01 Byzantium - What is Happening 5:09

02 Byzantium - I Am A Stranger to My Life 5:00

03 Byzantium - Come Fair One 5:54

04 Byzantium - Baby I Can Hear You Calling Me 5:20

05 Byzantium - Trade Wind 2:56

06 Byzantium - Into The Country 4:13

07 Byzantium - Lady Friend 4:39

08 Byzantium - Why Or Maybe It's Because 10:15

09 Byzantium - Morning Love 3:17

10 Byzantium - This Time I Won't Let You Go 3:45

11 Byzantium - Thank God 4:47

CD3

01 Byzantium - What A Coincidence 3:54

02 Byzantium - My Season's Changing With The Sun 2:35

03 Byzantium - Show Me The Way 4:01

04 Byzantium - I'll Always Be Your Friend 4:07

05 Byzantium - October Andy 5:16

06 Byzantium - Something You Said - A Trilogy: Pt. 1 Something You Said / Pt. 2 I Can See You / Pt. 3 Morning 20:34

CD4

01 Byzantium - Flashing Silver Hope 9:33

02 Byzantium - Cowboy Song 3:26

03 Byzantium - Feel It 4:27

04 Byzantium - I'll Just Take My Time 4:40

05 Byzantium - Surely Peace Will Come to Those Who Try 3:08

06 Byzantium - If You Wanna Be My Girl 2:32

07 Byzantium - Oh Darling 3:06

08 Byzantium - Move With My Time 3:57

09 Byzantium - Alright Now 3:39

10 Byzantium - It Could Be Better 3:12

11 Byzantium - You Made Me Stand Up Straighter 2:24

12 Byzantium - I'd Still Love to Have You Around 5:31

CD5

01 Byzantium - Gypsy Man (Live) 10:31

02 Byzantium - Every Day's The Same (Live) 3:17

03 Byzantium - High Time (Live) 4:00

04 Byzantium - October Andy (Live) 7:29

05 Byzantium - Halfway There (Live) 4:15

06 Byzantium - It Could Be Better (Live) 3:59

07 Byzantium - Small World (Live) 4:50

08 Byzantium - Flashing Silver Hope (Live) 14:16

09 Byzantium - This Time Around (Live) 6:11

10 Byzantium - A Day Like This (Live) 6:10

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