Gillan - Second Sight / Secret Of The Dance / I’m Your Man / Dead Of Night (Vinyl)

This video is for the purpose of entertainment only... The images used within my video are taken from photos of my personal vinyl LP jacket/cover/labels, original Japanese pressing of Gillan - “Gillan“ (1978) on the ’East World’ record label EWS 81120. The audio transfer was done with an Oracle Delphi MKIII turntable, an SME45 tone arm, and a Vanden Hull MC-10 MC cartridge. Though I suppose after digital transfer to mp3, compression this is irrelevant. Ian Gillan is an English rock music vocalist and songwriter, best known as the lead singer and lyricist for Deep Purple. During his career Gillan also fronted his own band, had a year-long stint as the vocalist for Black Sabbath, and sang the role of Jesus in the original recording of Andrew Lloyd Webber’s rock opera Jesus Christ Superstar in 1969, prior to his work with Deep Purple. The following “Gillan“ info is courtesy Purple - The GILLAN Japanese album captured the band at the very moment of their inception, and remains one of their best recordings. Released only in Japan, it nevertheless set the stage for Gillan’s worldwide success during the early eighties. After a break following his departure from Deep Purple, Ian ventured back with an off-the-wall offering CHILD IN TIME recorded by his new group, the IAN GILLAN BAND. IGB signed to Island Records, who released the second LP CLEAR AIR TURBULENCE in 1977, a complex jazz-rock offering which has its fans, but which proved heavy going for many people. The third album, SCARABUS, showcased shorter, more conventional material but as sessions started for a follow-up, it became clear that the line-up wasn’t gelling fully. Inspired by FIGHTING MAN, a demo song written by keyboard player Colin Towns, Ian decided a fresh start was needed. He and Colin set about getting a new band together. Drummer Liam Genocky joined and suggested John McCoy for bass. On lead guitar they brought in Richard Brampton - soon replaced by Steve Byrd. The revitalised line-up, now known as plain old GILLAN, were back in action in August 78 at the Reading festival. Genocky had to leave after the show, and was replaced by Pete Barnacle. The new album was promised for September 1978, but because of the interest the band had generated in Japan with their two earlier IGB live albums, it was decided to issue the LP there first. Confusingly titled just GILLAN it was an impressive piece of work. Ian Gillan had really turned the corner. Overjoyed to be back in the midst of it all, he’d ended up with a powerful band, while the material was fierce, heavy, and well performed. It remains one of the best albums he’s ever worked on. Japanese imports did brisk business, but a UK deal was slow to follow. Meanwhile they needed a follow-up for Japan and in March the group began a new album. In the process Byrd and Baranacle left, and in came Mick Underwood on drums and Bernie Torme on guitar. With a new line-up, it was decided to shelve all earlier recordings and start from scratch, retaping a few older tracks with Torme and Underwood and writing new material as well. The new album MR. UNIVERSE was released in Britain in October ’79, but as it included some tracks rerecorded off the GILLAN album, they had to record four more new songs for the Japanese edition of Mr. UNIVERSE! The GILLAN album was now seen as history and all thought of putting it out was dropped. Far from being forgotten though, it became something of a yardstick by which subsequent albums were judged amongst the fans. It first appeared on CD in 1993 on RPM. Deleted for some time, the material has now been reissued on the new Purple Record label (please note if you have the RPM edition, this new edition differs only in the packaging). The original album is included here in full, except for the instrumental opener which - as it turned up later in the UK - is replaced by another Japan only offering. Two of the extra Japanese MR. UNIVERSE songs were later issued in the UK on singles. The other two (MOVE WITH THE TIMES and the aforementioned instrumental STREET THEATRE) are included on this CD. The alternate version of VENGEANCE here was recorded along with the rest of the GILLAN album in 1978 but never released, while the unissued version of SLEEPING ON THE JOB was taped for a never issued single. The reasons behind the alternate version of ROLLER are long forgotten. The 12 page colour booklet featured detailed notes on the album and the band, with rare pictures. The original album cover is reproduced inside, while the new CD front features a shot of Ian himself holding the album up.