Contenido de esta entrada:

Portada del álbum Born Again

Introducción

En este artículo traemos al grupo de rock progresivo Rare bird.

Rare Bird fue una banda inglesa de rock progresivo formada en 1969. Tuvieron más éxito en otros países europeos. Lanzaron cinco álbumes de estudio entre 1969 y 1974. En el Reino Unido, nunca llegaron a las listas con un álbum, pero llegaron a las listas con un sencillo, la canción basada en el órgano "Sympathy", que alcanzó el número 27 y vendió un millón de copias en todo el mundo.

La formación inicial de la banda era la siguiente:

Steve Gould (n. Stephen Burt Gould, 25 de marzo de 1950, Battersea, South London) – voz principal y bajo, guitarra rítmica
David Kaffinetti (n. David Franklyn Ewer, 17 de abril de 1946, Folkestone, Kent) – pianos y teclados variados
Graham Field (n. Graham Frederick Stansfield, 3 de mayo de 1940, Beaminster, West Dorset;m. 13 de abril de 2018[2]) – órgano y teclados variados
Mark Ashton (n. Mark Ian McVey, 23 de junio de 1949, Herne Bay, Kent) – batería y coros

Rare Bird

A principios de 1971, Graham Field dejó Rare Bird para formar un proyecto en solitario de corta duración, Fields. En cualquier caso, en 1972 la banda tuvo un cambio drástico en la alineación y el sonido con solo Steve Gould y David Kaffinetti de la antigua formación. Steve Gould cambió del bajo a la guitarra, mientras que adquirió un guitarrista adicional en Ced Curtis. También cambian de sello discográfico cambiando a Polydor.

En un anterior artículo comentamos sus cuatro primeros álbumes: 1973: Rare Bird, sus cuatro primeros álbumes

Portada del cuarto álbum

En este artículo comentamos el quinto y último álbum de Rare Bird, Born Again., en el que se alejan del rock progresivo para hacer un rock suave y accesible. De paso comentamos su separación.

Quinto y último álbum: Born Again

Tras el lanzamiento de su cuarto álbum Somebody's Watching, Rare Bird hizo un tour de tres meses por Europa para promocionar el álbum. La banda estaba formada en ese momento por Fred Kelly (batería), Nic Potter (bajo), Steve Gould (guitarra, voz) y Dave Kaffinetti (teclados). A pesar de esta actividad, no llegaron a tener éxito en el Reino Unido. Lanzaron el sencillo Virginia con Lonely Street en la cara B (Polydor 2058 402) a finales de 1973 que pasó sin pena ni gloria. La canción Lonely Street aparecería en su quinto álbum. La canción Virginia no se incluyó en ningún álbum originalmente. Posteriormente fue publicada como bonus track en las ediciones en CD de Somebody's Watching.

Rare Bird - Virginia (lyrics + remastered)

Dada la situación Nic Potter abandona la banda. Para la grabación del que sería el quinto y último álbum de Rare Bird, Born Again, volvía a estar en la necesidad de reforzar la formación de la banda. Se encontró como sustituto de Potter en el bajo a Andy Rae. El álbum fue grabado en los estudios Polydor de Londres entre diciembre de 1973 y enero de 1974. El resultado fue un álbum menos progresivo y más pop con un rock suave y accesible, quizás con el ánimo de conseguir el éxito soñado. No fue la única banda que por aquel entonces tomó ese camino, pensando que el progresivo estaba pasando de moda. El álbum muestra temas de gran calidad como "Body and Soul", "Diamonds", "Reaching You", "All That I Need" and "Redman". El álbum fue publicado en julio de 1974 en el Reino Unido (Polydor 2383 274).

Contraportada del álbum

Lista de pistas

Lado uno

1. "Body and Soul" 3.12 (Gould, Camm)

2. "Live for Each Other" 2.57 (Ashton)

3. "Diamonds" 4.09 (Gould, Kelly, Kaffinetti)

4. "Reaching You" 3.31 (Gould, Kelly, Kaffinetti)

5. "All That I Need" 3.58 (Gould, Kaffinetti, Kelly)

Lado dos

1. "Redman" 3.50 (Gould, Kaffinetti, Kelly, Curtis, Hall)

2. "Peace of Mind" 5.30 (Gould, Kaffinetti, Kelly)

3. "Harlem" 3.25 (Gould, Kaffinetti, Kelly, Camm)

4. "Lonely Street" 3.20 (Gould, Kelly, Kaffinetti, Camm)

5. "Last Tango in Beulah" 6.27 (Gould, Kaffinetti, Kelly)

Créditos

Steve Gould – voz principal, guitarra, bajo; Piano eléctrico (pista 10)
Fred Kelly – batería, armonía, percusión
Dave Kaffinetti – pianos acústicos y eléctricos, armonías vocales, órgano Hammond, sintetizador Korg
Andy Rae – Bajo Fender
Kevin Lamb – armonía vocal (pistas 7, 9)

Créditos extraídos del libreto de una edición en CD

Letras

Lado uno

1. "Body and Soul" 3.12 (Gould, Camm)

Well it is hard enough

When the game is getting tough

To keep body & soul together

But I'm a doing alright

I'm winning the fight

Sailing through stormy weather

As any man can see

Whose stood in the dark like me

Yeah, I'm taking control

Keeping body & soul together

A wise man likes a road for his life
But me I couldn't make the border
I stood on the side, hitching a ride
Trying to make it around the corner

As any man can see
Whose stood in the dark like me
Yeah, I'm taking control
Keeping body & soul together

Keeping it all together
Now, now, now, body & soul together
X2

You know that I've made my mistakes, but who's there to blame?
The road that we're travelling on is one and the same

Well it is hard enough
When the game is getting tough
To keep body & soul together
But I'm a doing alright
I'm winning the fight
Sailing through stormy weather

As any man can see
Whose stood in the dark like me
Yeah, I'm taking control
Keeping body & soul together

Keeping it all together
Now, now, now, body & soul together
X2

2. "Live for Each Other" 2.57 (Ashton)

This world is a filled with trouble, oh and heartache

It ain't hard to get in our minds, what road we should take

But if we really want to love and live

Why do we fight in every war to give?

Come on and start again and live for each other

Don't it sadden your heart when you hear what's going on?

Is this world going to better itself, or has it all gone?

Then will we ever ever find solutions?

Our fellow man has tried too long to answer

Come on and start again, Woah

Why don't you lend a hand
See where you're going
See where you're coming from
Can't you understand the river is flowing?
And life is for moving on?

This world is a filled with trouble, oh and heartache
It ain't hard to get in our minds, what road we should take
But if we really wanna love and live
Why do we fight in every war to give?
Come on and start again, yeah

Yeah, live for each other now

3. "Diamonds" 4.09 (Gould, Kelly, Kaffinetti)

Some of us are dealing, dealing in diamonds

Some of us are dreaming, of digging up some gold

Some of us wanting, much more than we're getting

Taking while the luck is running through

You got a crooked hand and I'm calling you

You had it planned and now it's fallen through

So why don't you

Woah oh!

They take it while they can

They take the money while they can mister
Take it when we can I'll deal another hand
X2

You know it's up to you, so what you gonna do?

Bring it on out

Looking for good times, gold mines, a life of ease
Setting it all up, the joke is on the line
Oh winning the game tonight, my friend, is all you need
But I ain't gonna leave the table until the money's mine
You got a crooked hand and I'm calling you
You had it planned and now it's fallen through
So why don't you

They take the money while they can mister
They take the money while they can mister

They take the money while they can mister
Take it when we can I'll deal another hand

Woah oh!
They take it while they can
X3

They take the money while they can mister
Take it when we can I'll deal another hand

Take it while you can, take it while you can
X4

4. "Reaching You" 3.31 (Gould, Kelly, Kaffinetti)

Taking time is very hard baby

I'm needing you by my side

Please excuse and don't refuse

My feelings I just can't hide

I'm only trying to stay ahead

But sometimes I get left behind

Please step down and comfort me

With your sweet love, so divine

Always waiting (Always waiting)

Always hoping (Always hoping)

That the time is right for me to call you

In the evening (In the evening)

Through the morning (In the morning)

I reflect on changes that I'm going through

But in spite of it all, I keep on trying
Because reaching you is something so satisfying
X2

We're close together, better than ever
I don't know how we could part
Giving me everything I need
Now you're gone, I'm back to the start

When it's time to say goodbye
I want to have you here to stay
You're so good for me you see
You help me make it through the day

Always waiting (Always waiting)
Always hoping (Always hoping)
That the time is right for me to call you
In the evening (In the evening)
Through the morning (In the morning)
I reflect on changes that I'm going through

But in spite of it all, I keep on trying
Because reaching you is something so satisfying
X4

Reaching you (Reaching you)
Reaching you (Reaching you)
Reaching you (That's what I gotta do)
X4

5. "All That I Need" 3.58 (Gould, Kaffinetti, Kelly)

Here in the night, it seems like there's no tomorrow

Because since you've been gone, I can't carry on

Here in my room, it feels like a depth of sorrow

All of my dreams are now passed and gone

All I need, all that I need

Is the strength to carry me through (To carry me through)

All I want is your loving

And you know that only you will do

That's all that I need, so lady don't leave, my side

I'm begging you please, come on help me through the night

Here in the night, as I lie alone without you
Just thinking of ways of trying make you stay
Calling your name, but I'm getting no answers
Just the sound of your footsteps fade away

All I need, all that I need
Is the strength to carry me through (To carry me through)
All I need is you lady
Mmmm only you will do

That's all that I need, so lady don't leave, my side
I'm begging you please, come on help me through the night

That's all that I need, so lady don't leave, my side
I'm begging you please, come on help me through the night

Lado dos

1. "Redman" 3.50 (Gould, Kaffinetti, Kelly, Curtis, Hall)

Brave and proud as all the village vowed

That the land would belong to our sons

We pledged our name, but then the wagons came

And we ran from the sound of the guns

Fugitives across the land with empty hearts and empty hands

And all the troubles underneath the sun

Life was all we had to give, but not the life we used to live

With all the triumph over now and done

Sick and weak, we came to Bitter Creek

In the year I became twenty-five

The young and old we faced the bitter cold

In the last great event of our lives

Underdogs in every place and every line on every face
Remained to tell of land that we had lost
Leaning on the only hope we lay with elk and antelope
To fight the killing fever of the frost

Robbed of the right to be one with the white
It's the end of the fight for the Red Man
Gone is the grace and the pride from his face
It's the end of the race for the Red Man

2. "Peace of Mind" 5.30 (Gould, Kaffinetti, Kelly)

Always standing there in the morning sun

The silent questions turn my eyes

By the light in the distance

And from cloudy skies

You're waiting for someone who gives advice

Yeah you're waiting for the man who tells no lies

You will find peace of mind

Like you never felt before

That you thought you left behind

You will find peace of mind

That will open up the door

That was always closed before

Peace of Mind, Peace of Mind

Always reaching out for the help you need
The way life takes you here this day
Your happiness is all I seek
But my time is running shorter than ahead
And I hope you make it through safe and yet

You will find peace of mind
Like you never felt before
That you thought you'd left behind
You will find peace of mind
That will open up the door
That was always closed before
Peace of Mind, Ohh Peace of Mind
Peace of Mind, Peace of Mind

Tried to show you what was right or wrong
Remember what the old man used to say
You can find a rhyme, and you can sing along
And I may get back to see you anyway
So I say goodbye and meet another day

You will find Peace of Mind
Like you never felt before
That you thought you'd left behind
You will find Peace of Mind
That will open up the door
That was always closed before
Peace of Mind, Peace of Mind
Peace of Mind, Peace of Mind
Peace of Mind, Peace of Mind
Peace of Mind, Peace of Mind

3. "Harlem" 3.25 (Gould, Kaffinetti, Kelly, Camm)

Irate observations

By the people of the streets of Harlem

Two centuries, covered in tears

But now there's a storm and it's raging

Across every highway, I know

In the words of the many

It won't ever, hold back the tears no more

Irate observations

But none know the cries weren't answered

Who holds the hand
That deals so much pain?

Cause now there's a feeling and it's growing
In the heart of the nation, so much pain

But now there's a storm and it's raging
Across every highway, I know

In the words of the weak
It won't ever, hold back the tears no more

4. "Lonely Street" 3.20 (Gould, Kelly, Kaffinetti, Camm)

The bars are closed and all the rooms are taken

And the billboard signs for once seem to be true

The sky is black and looks like it's been raining

Oh but that don't seem to bother you

You must go on and see it through

Forget the things that meant so much to me and you

I might as well be

Stuck on a lonely street

Only who's got the answers?

I might as well be

Stuck on a lonely street

Only who's got the key to your heart?

Bifid streets fulfilled with faceless people
And you're lost with wounds you know you just can't heal
It's really no use asking any questions
Oh 'cause people just don't want to see
They're stuck inside their fantasies
And cannot think for you or me

I might as well be
Stuck on a lonely street
Only who's got the answers?
I might as well be
Stuck on a lonely street
Only who's got the key to your heart?

5. "Last Tango in Beulah" 6.27 (Gould, Kaffinetti, Kelly)

Someone told me if I stopped for a while

I would have a chance to make it

And seeing things I've never seen before

Ooh... it's just a dream now

Someone told me to get it on

I would have to change direction

Doing things I didn't wanna do

Ooh. I disagree now

I love the feeling that I'm getting right now

Huumm. follow the feeling

Head to Beulah just to work it all out

Huumm. loving the feeling

Just the feeling

For a while I took to foolin' myself

But it only led to sadness

And making out, I didn't really care

Ooh. but I do now

And the time to change is over and well...

I can feel a great sensation

Trying things I've never tried before

Ooh. and I'm free now

'Cause I'm loving the feeling

That I'm getting now

And I'll follow the feeling

That I'm getting right now

I love the feeling that I'm getting right now

Huumm. follow the feeling

Have to * just to work it all out

Huumm. loving the feeling

El sencillo Diamonds

En una apuesta por promocionar el disco, Polydor lanzó un disco flexible que se regaló con el Melody Maker en junio de 1974 y con Sounds en julio con el tema Diamonds, llevando en el lado opuesto el tema Negative Earth de la banda Barclay James Harvest que acababa de fichar por el sello.

BJH: Negative Earth

Versiones

Una primera versión de la canción Redman grabada cuando aún estaban con el sello Charisma, vio su luz como bonus track en 2007 en la reedición en CD de su segundo álbum As Your Mind Flies By.

Portada del segundo álbum

Separación

Tras la publicación del álbum Born Again, Rare Bird se embarcó en una gira por el Reino Unido como teloneros de Barclay James Harvest y participaron en el programa Old Grey Whistle Test de la BBC.

Rare Bird Live 1970 & 1975 Disco 2 & OGWT - YouTube

Si el estilo de Rare Bird se parecía al de Barclays James Harvest, al actuar de teloneros de estos, no se lo que pensaría la gente de ellos: ¿Qué eran la copia barata?

En un intento de llevar aún más lejos el potencial comercial de Rare Bird, Polydor lanzó el sencillo Body and Soul con Redman en la cara B a finales de 1974, ambas canciones extraídas del álbum pero no consiguió llegar a las listas.

El 30 de mayo de 1975 Polydor lanzó el sencillo Don't Be Afraid con Passing Through en la cara B (2058 591). Ambas canciones eran temas nuevos que auguraban un siguiente álbum, pero en realidad eran el canto del cisne, o sea, lo que auguraban eran su próxima separación. Ambos temas aparecerían como bonus tracks en las reediciones en CD del álbum Born Again. La banda se separó poco después del lanzamiento del sencillo, víctimas de la falta del merecido reconocimiento. Nunca consiguieron el éxito comercial que auguraba sus primeras canciones. Desde mi blog aporto mi granito de arena para al final se reconozca la valía de su música.

Lista de canciones

A: Don't Be Afraid

B: Passing Through

Letras

Don't Be Afraid

Coming from darkness hidden by the shade

It's only a vison that your mind has made

And notice the people as they hurry by

There's no one to talk to and you wonder why