Hatfield and the North - The Rotters' Club

Out of print in the U.S.! Reissue of the 1975 sophomore album from this Prog band featuring five bonus tracks. Featuring Dave Stewart, Phil Miller, Richard Sinclair and Pip Pyle, this band emerged from the Canterbury scene and impressed audiences and critics with their expert musicianship and intriguing songs. Virgin. Album Description

just great

The best way to describe the music on this album is that some of the guitar playing is extremely tasty, but slightly unusual at the same time. It must be the instruments you hear in the background giving off a highly unusual sound, including the way the female vocals were implemented into the sound. But you can't deny the guitar playing is some of the most beautiful and innovative that you've ever heard. Caravan and Camel fans will LOVE this.

May 8, 2008

I like the first one better

This an "import" re-issue of the 1992 re-issue. This is like many of the progressive rock CD's: There are many versions offered on Amazon. Some are exactly the same, and others can have variable sound quality. This one has very good sound quality and bonus tracks. But, look a little more on Amazon and you can find the same thing cheaper.

This is the second Hatfield and the North album. Hatfield and the North features Ricahrd Sinclair (singer and base from Caravan), Pip Pyle (drummer from a number of groups including Gong), Phil Miller (guitarist from a short stint with Caravan) and leader Dave Stewart (egomaniac keyboardist from Egg). They are a progressive band from the mid-seventies with roots from the Canterbury music scene.

Phil Miller is a phenomimal guitar player reminscent of Robert Fripp from King Crinsom. Sinclair is a good bass guitarist, with an interesting vocal style. Hoevever, his vocals tend to drone in the Hatfield and the North compositions. Stewart is a manic and innovative keyboard player, but tends to write structured and sometimes tedious compositions.

There are a few tedious moments on this CD, featuring Richard Sinclair's vocals. He does his famous underwater vocal stylings (which he also does on one of his solo albums). It is a gurgling sound, like he is under water.

But, those moments are rare, and this is a great album of complex Canterbury music.

The bonus material is not that good. The first four bonus tracks are just different versions of tracks already on the album. Personally, I can't tell the difference between them.

After this, the group would dissolve and sort of become National Health. Dave Stewart likes to say that they are not the same, but there are big portions of the first National Health ablum that sounds like Hatfield and the North. March 31, 2008

Great memories

I remember first discovering Canterbury groups through a high school friend many years ago. I was amazed music like this existed! Dave Stewart became one of my musical heroes. All the Hatfield crew are top-notch composers and musicians and they have a sense of humor as well (e.g., they don't take themselves too seriously). This is not your basic I-IV-V rock song with bridge and guitar solo. This is music to think about and wonder at - progressive, complex and melodic all at once.

I was also looking all over for the live Dave Stewart version of "Halfway Between Heaven and Earth," which I used to have on vinyl - I almost sprung for a very expensive Australian import. But lo and behold, it's an extra track on this release! Stewart's organ solo on this track is beyond belief - perfectly controlled, soaring and supremely melodic.

R.I.P Pip Pyle. July 9, 2007

Hatfield And The North - Essential Canterbury

Hatfield and the North released two studio albums in the mid 70's. For some reason the debut album never really clicked with me, but I do enjoy this, their second disc, "The Rotters Club". Along with Caravan, Hatfield seemed to be poised to be the next big thing from the Canterbury rock scene in 70's England. In fact the members of Hatfield: Dave Stewart, Phil Miller, Pip Pyle, and Richard Sinclair in retrospect were basically an all star lineup of artists that would influence a whole generation of music. The album is a cool mix of progressive rock, jazz fusion, and lengthy jams with each band member a master at their respective instruments. To me they have always sounded very similar to Caravan only with more of a jazz influence. The vocals are done by Richard Sinclair who has a unique approach that is distinctively English. No one else quite sounds like Sinclair. The lyrics are often non-sensical and are meant to be humorous. There is also a lot of hippy type sentiment in the lyrics as well, especially in tracks like "Share It". The highlight of the album is the 20 minute plus "Mumps" which features all of the elements that made this band great. If you are at all into the Canterbury sound this album is a must own. May 5, 2007

Seminal Canterbury Sound Album

If you like soft machine, matching mole, national health, caravan,robert wyatt and the rest of the Canterbury bands from the 70's you wil love this. If you've never heard their stuff then this is an excellent place to start. Quirky, eccentric, quintessentially English blend of rock and jazz. Sort of a mix between pink floyd and chick corea & return to forever. But words can't convey the amazing spark of originality this CD has. The book by the same title is also well worth reading especialy if you relate to the era of the UK in the 70's. February 11, 2007

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