Time Machine: Vertigo Retrospective

The Vertigo Records label emerged at a time when rock was shaking off the "Sgt. Pepper" mindtrip of psychedelia to concentrate on heavy metal, progressive rock and fusion jazz. From 1969 to 1974, Vertigo's varied and truly experimental roster included Black Sabbath, The Sensational Alex Harvey Band, Vangelis (and Aphrodite's Child, the group Vangelis was in prior to going it as a solo artist), Gentle Giant and Status Quo. Those were the big names. But the label was also home to genuinely obscure acts who only ever recorded 1 or 2 albums for the label: Freedom, Tudor Lodge, Affinity, Atlantis, Cressida, Ramases. Each Vertigo album of the era boasted the distinctive "swirl" logo that occupied the A-side of every album label (the B-side contained song listings and timings). Also, every album boasted impressive artwork that sometimes spilled over into elaborate die cut designs or as two-panel gatefold artwork. TIME MACHINE is a veritable capsule of the era. A three CD set which boasts crisp, clear and clean remastered sound, a lovingly crafted and highly detailed 48 page booklet and a veritable bounty of music from a wide variety of instant appeal to seventies rock fans (ie. those who can tell the difference between Gentle Giant and Status Quo). The tracks that inspire the most awe are "Spiral Architect" from Sabbath (you can hear strummed acoustic guitars and passionate string sections at work while Ozzy turns in a lucid and heartfelt vocal!), "The Kettle" from Colosseum (a surprisingly heavy mix of hard rock and fusion progressive jazz), "Lord Of The Ages" by Magna Carta (which is recommended to each and every Moody Blues fan in existence) and "Midnight Moses" by SAHB (are you an AC/DC fan? Check out Alex Harvey's early Sensational Band sides, you won't be disappointed). Some of the songs are, admittedly, a little challenging (ie. selections from Gracious!, Manfred Mann's Chapter Three and Bob Downes). Yet at the end of it all, you'll feel a certain sense of awe at the music of an era that too often, has been denigrated or ridiculed as being "heavy hippie horsesh*t"). A vital collection that rightfully takes its place next to other classic compilations like "Nuggets", "Atlantic Gold" or "Freakbeat Scene".

Ah, the decidedly British Vertigo label, with the distinct black and white swirl on one label of the LP, and the track listings on the other side's label. Something we've lost in the one-sided CD age. And was also lost when their acts wound up recording for other labels here in the US.Their paper label wasn't their only distinction; as the "experimental" subsidiary of Philips records, they also intentionally brought us delicious non-commercial music. Unintentionally failing to sell zillions of records in the process. They were hugely responsible for the promotion of progressive jazz a la Ian Carr's Nucleus, Ben, Jade Warrior and (yes) Manfred Mann. The MM boys weigh in with a dark Coltrane-esque "Travelling Lady" (see review of Manfred Mann Chaper III). They brought us marvellous adventurous rock a la Gracious, Doctor Z, Juicy Lucy, May Blitz and Clear Blue Sky. And a stand-up version of "MacArthur Park" by Beggar's Opera, turning this pop classic into something the progressive age could absorb. And, as you see, they brought Rod Stewart to us as a solo act with the splendid "Handbags and Gladrags," written by a young Mike D'Abo with a maturity that made the song an instant standard.As with all comps, there are a few things on here I can't quite see, for example, I think a better tune by Patto (successor band to the great great Timebox) could have been chosen. But all in all this is very nice, even if you might have to listen a couple of times to really get into it. A deserved celebration of a seminal label of the period.

Whoever signed bands for Vertigo back in the late 60s and early 70s had incredible discretion and good taste. Collusim, Atlantas, Cresseda, and yes, even the mighty Sabbath made some fantastically advanced music, sampled on Time Machine.This boxset really is a Time Machine: No Demographics, no labals, no test-marketing, no bounderies. Rock, Jazz, Classical and Blues are all molded by each band on this set, but in ways very unique to each band. The idea in music then was to outdo the other bands, but by doing something very different, and doing it very well. You will never mistake one band or another here.You will also find very little self-indulgance or meandering in any of this music. This is not like ELP, Yes, or any of the "progressive" stuff you now hear on classic radio. This music is "prog" defined by jazz and blues, not qusi-classical jazz.I would also advise music junkies to pinch their pennies: most of the bands on here have been reissured on expensive imports, and I can tell you from my own adventures, nearly ALL of them are worth collecting.Buy Buy!

Fantastic compilation. I compared some tunes included here with the ones included in the original LPs I owe, and these sound very very very good, and not digital or harsh at all; this talks well about the remastering. Great stuff for anyone wanting to know more about a legendary label.

This a really great compilation of progressive rock from the late sixties and early seventies. Highly recommended for those with deep tastes in rock and roll. Great price.

Great collection! Diverse and excellent sound! Can't recommend it hardly enough!

Great 3 CD compilation of early Progressive Rock from the Vertigo Swirl label. If you're looking for the roots and what Progressive Rock is made of - you can't go wrong with this compilation.

内容は主にプログレ系だがブリティッシュハードロック系も数多く収録されている。時代は古いが新しい音楽を求めているなら意外と満足できるかも。プログレというと一般的に気難しい様なイメージがあると思うが、その良さを感じ取ってもらえればいいなと思う。同傾向オムニバスで｢カリスマ｣や｢デッカ｣のレーベルものもあります。

This is the second time I bought this box set in about 3 years. I sold the first one after a quick listen because it just didn't 'click' with me and I was probably going through my Pat Boone phase or something equally ridiculous. Since then something remarkable happened. I got divorced and started to grow my brain back. As my IQ and testosterone levels rose again, I started revisiting music from my misspent youth and I was hearing new things with a clear head and brighter perspective. Chanced on Andy Votel's Vertigo Remixed cd, loved it and figured I'd give the 3-cd box another go. I'm glad I did. Stayed in bed until 10 a.m. this morning listening to the 3 volumes again and also perusing the 48-page booklet as I was unfamiliar with many of these bands. I had the standard Black Sabbath, Warhorse, Juicy Lucy, etc stuff when I was a youth in the late 60s of course, but at that time I had little or no interest in the jazzier stuff like Nucleus, Ben, etc.. This time around I really got into the groove but an all too common problem arose. NOW I am starting to buy the individual albums by most of the artists here in order to delve back into this magnificent prog rock that I had either forgotten about or didn't know existed (I'd never heard of Magna Carta, Cressida, Dr. Z and a handful of others).. so yeah, there goes the bank account.As the liner notes tell you, this is not music for dancing but music to be listened to. I think I may have missed a lot by just having my first copy of "Time Machine" playing as background music while I did things around the place while this stuff is best appreciated with your head twixt the speakers and your full attention. This is assuming you like this kind of sound or have done in the past. If you are a rabid Michael Buble fan then it probably wont have any effect on you and the horn blasts from Manfred Mann Chapter Three will only give you a headache.So to sum up (sans the personal waffle), a great little sampler of what was going on when rock music was truly inventive and exciting. Three cds in individual cardboard sleeves, a 48-page booklet full of pictures and info all in a sturdy, hardboard, clam-shell case. My only complaints: I wish some of the album art reproduced in the booklet was larger and I wish I hadn't gotten a taste for more of the same. Enjoy.

From the golden era of the early 1970's when the majors all had subsidiary labels aimed at the "underground" scene of the day, of which Vertigo were one of the foremost. If extended trippy jazz-rock-psych fusion and oddball out there jams are your thing, then you're in the right place. Excellent booklet too with a short history of the bands and the music therein. Wonderful - 3 CD's worth of some of the greatest prog made, OK some of the tracks do go on a bit but surely that was what the scene was all about wasn't it? Grab a pair of headphones and just dig it, man. Because that's what this music was made for.

Back in 1973 I purchased a double album sampler on the Vertigo label called Suck It And See (with the suggestive stick of candy rock cover), one of many such samplers released in the '70s to introduce artists on specific record labels. I still have the cassette release of this (and, yes, it still plays well after 40 years - so much for disintegrating tape!), but then discovered this 2005 version on amazon. It's a well-priced 3 cd box set (over 3 hours of music) with considerably more stuff from the Vertigo stable circa late '60s/early '70s, but with some questionable omissions from Suck It And See, notably Catch You On The Rebop/Spencer Davis Group, Bump "n" Grind/Jackson Heights, Ruckzuck/Kraftwerk and Roller Derby Queen/Jim Groce. However, it is still a cracking set and well worth your cash if you want a great overview of the amazingly diverse bands signed to this label at the time. Some went onto bigger things, some faded away, some burnt and crashed, but they were never less than entertaining, and there are some downright classics on this set. It really encapsulates the fervent and extraordinarily unique time that was this period of musical evolution. Time Machine comes with a 48 page booklet containing extremely informative Mark Powell penned mini biographies of all the contributors, including archival photos thereof.Time Machine is a veritable time capsule, and gets you wanting more of the same. Fortunately, other similar samplers are available from the Decca/Deram, Polydor, EMI Harvest, EMI Liberty, Pye /Dawn, Charisma, and Island labels, and once you've got one you'll be hard pressed to stop yourself from getting them all. Hours of pure enjoyment, everyone of 'em. But beware - you'll be adding massively to your music collection seeking out albums from the artists on these collections! Suck It And See Legend Of A Mind - The Underground Anthology Strange Pleasures: Further Sounds Of The Decca Underground Spirit Of Joy: Tales From The Polydor Underground 1967-1974 A Breath Of Fresh Air: A Harvest Records Anthology 1969-1974 All Good Clean Fun Cave Of Clear Light - The Pye And Dawn Records Underground Trip 1967-1975 Refugees: An Anthology Of The Famous Charisma Label 1969-1978 Strangely Strange But Oddly Normal: An Island Records Anthology 1967-1972Suck It And SeeLegend Of A Mind - The Underground AnthologyStrange Pleasures: Further Sounds Of The Decca UndergroundSpirit Of Joy: Tales From The Polydor Underground 1967-1974A Breath Of Fresh Air: A Harvest Records Anthology 1969-1974All Good Clean FunCave Of Clear Light - The Pye And Dawn Records Underground Trip 1967-1975Refugees: An Anthology Of The Famous Charisma Label 1969-1978Strangely Strange But Oddly Normal: An Island Records Anthology 1967-1972