Rob riffs on U.K., the debut studio album by the prog rock supergroup U.K. from May of 1978 (In the Dead of Night / By the Light of Day / Presto Vivace and Reprise / Time to Kill). ENTERTAINMENT TRACK: “That'll Be the Day” by Buddy Holly (from the motion picture “The Buddy Holly Story” STAFF PICKS: “Goodby Girl” by David Gates — Bruce. “Lay Down Sally” by Eric Clapton — Brian. “Ain't It Fun” by Dead Boys — Wayne. “With a Little Luck” by Wings — Rob. INSTRUMENTAL TRACK: “Alaska” by U.K. **(NOTE: What the Riff?!? does not own the rights to any of these songs and we neither sell, nor profit from them. We share them so you can learn about them and purchase them for your own collections.)
The supergroup U.K. was founded by former King Crimson percussionist Bill Bruford (also a former founder of Yes) and bassist and vocalist John Wetton (also a former member of Uriah Heep, and Roxy Music). After failing to reform King Crimson, each of the two brought in a musician they thought would work well in the group. Wetton brought in Eddie Jobson, violinist and keyboardist from Frank Zappa's band. Bruford brought in Allan Holdsworth on guitars (who had worked on Bruford's prior solo project.
Their self titled debut album was released in May, 1978. Although a couple of songs were edited for single release, the album U.K. is best known as a prog rock masterpiece, and is cited as inspirational to many musicians who followed in the prog rock genre.
After an extensive tour supporting the album, Wetton and Jobson had a falling out with Holdsworth and fired him. Bill Bruford left at that time and was replaced by Terry Bozzio, another alumnus of Frank Zappa's band and a future founding member of Missing Persons.
John Wetton would go on in the days after U.K. to be the front man for Asia.
Rob brings us the prog rock monster-piece.
In the Dead of Night
The track that leads off the album was one of two songs to be edited for release as a single. On the album it is the first of three songs which form a continuous suite on the first album side. The 7/4 time and the synthesizer - the Yamaha CS-80 had just been released - are prog rock hallmarks. The electric violin is an unusual addition.
By the Light of Day
This track is the second movement of the "In the Dead of Night" suite. Rather than have a clear change in tracks, there is a slow transition via a "spacey" interlude into the new song of the suite. "Black clouds moving gray skies to thunder. Kinetic sunrise fever and flood. Fire and water element anger horizon melting to blood."
Presto Vivace and Reprise
This is the third movement of the "In the Dead of Night suite. This is a much faster piece (as the term Vivace would suggest) before transitioning back into a reprise of "In the Dead of Night."
Time to Kill
The abrupt start to this song is due to the way the tracks drift into each other. The concept is that of boredom, of being stuck in a place. "Time to kill, going nowhere, killing time, staying where there's time to kill, going nowhere..."
ENTERTAINMENT TRACK:
That'll Be the Day by Buddy Holly (from the motion picture "The Buddy Holly Story")
Gary Busey was nominated for the Oscar for his portrayal of early rocker Buddy Holly in this film. Busey would sing and play for the part.
STAFF PICKS:
Goodbye Girl by David Gates
Bruce leads off the staff picks with a soft rock solo from former Bread front man David Gates. The song is from the Neil Simon movie "The Goodbye Girl," which would lead to Richard Dreyfuss becoming the youngest man to win an Oscar for Best Actor at the time.
Lay Down Sally by Eric Clapton
Brian presents a pop hit from Clapton's album Slowhand. It went to number 3 on the Billboard Hot 100. It was written by Clapton, George Terry (guitar), and Marcy Levy (who sings the female parts on the song). It was written in the country blues style of J.J. Cale, and hit number 26 on the Hot Country Songs chart, Clapton's best showing on that chart as a crossover.
Ain't It Fun by Dead Boys
Wayne features a song from Cleveland's own Dead Boys. This song appears on their second studio album, "We Have Come for Your Children." They were known as one of the rowdiest bands on the punk scene. It hit number 8 on the Mainstream Rock charts, and is an ode to the punk rock lifestyle.
With a Little Luck by Wings
Rob brings us Paul McCartney with a song recorded largely in the Virgin Islands on a yacht equipped with a 24-track mobile recording studio installed on it. This single from the album "London Town" hit number 1 on the pop charts.
INSTRUMENTAL TRACK:
Alaska by U.K.
This instrumental lets us do some double dipping with the track that leads off side 2 of the U.K. album.