Stomu Yamashta is a master percussionist who studied Jazz drumming at Berklee School of Jazz. In the 1970’s he recorded a string of innovative albums for Island records fusing his percussion talents with jazz, electronic and classical music. "Freedom Is Frightening" features a fine band, including Soft Machine bass guitarist Hugh Hopper and guitarist Gary Boyle. It was a fine achievement which propelled Yamashta to a wider audience which would eventually lead to his acclaimed Go albums featuring collaborators Steve Winwood, Michael Shrieve, Klaus Schulze. Never before released on CD, this Esoteric reissue has been re-mastered from the original master tapes and fully restores the original vinyl artwork and continues Esoteric's series of Yamashta’s work for Island Records.

Esoteric Recordings are pleased to announce the long overdue release of the re-mastered edition of the classic 1976 album 'Softs' by the celebrated Jazz and Rock group Soft Machine. The album was the band s second for EMI s Harvest label and featured a line-up of Mike Ratledge (keyboards), Karl Jenkins (Oboe, Piano, Soprano Sax), John Marshall (Drums), Roy Babbington (Bass) and new member John Etheridge (Guitar), along with Saxophonist Alan Wakeman. An accessible collection featuring John Etheridge s considerable guitar playing talents and would also be the final album to feature founder member Mike Ratledge. Unavailable on CD for nearly 15 years, this reissue has been re-mastered from the original tapes and fully restores the original artwork.

Esoteric Recordings are proud to release the debut album by Jackie Mcauley on CD in the UK for the first time. A former member of legendary band Them, Jackie teamed up with original Fairport Convention singer Judy Dyble in the acclaimed duo Trader Horne. In 1970 he recorded this stunning debut album for Pye Records Progressive imprint, Dawn. An acclaimed work, it failed to sell in large quantities but has since become a much sought-after album. This Esoteric reissue has been re-mastered from the original master tapes and adds both sides of his 1970 single as bonus tracks.

The Web are perhaps best known for their progressive rock classic I Spider (available on Esoteric Recordings), an album of innovation that continues to draw comparisons with the work of Van Der Graaf Generator at that time. The Web began life as a jazz and soul influenced outfit, fronted by singer John L. Watson, enjoying Top Ten hit singles throughout Europe. By the time of Theraphosa Blondi the band underwent a metamorphosis, with their music taking on more Jazz and Progressive influences, resulting in an excellent album that is rightly seen as a precursor to both the album I Spider and the band'sevolution into the group Samurai.

The quartet comprised Wolf-Rodiger Uhlig (organ, piano, vocals), Wolfgang Rumler (guitar, vocals), Andreas Scholz (bass) and Schim Schmidt (drums, vocals) and were responsible for recording one of the finest albums for the Kuckuck label. Incorporating jazz and classical influences, the album was dominated by Uhlig's organ playing and was arguably the hardest album released by Kuckuck. Murphy blend was a short lived group with first loss being their sole recorded legacy. This re-mastered edition of First Loss is an essential release for all lovers of so called Krautrock.

Premiata Forneria Marconi (or P.F.M.) were arguably the finest Italian Progressive rock band of the 1970 s and certainly one of the most well known. A successful act in their home land, they came to international attention when they signed to Manticore label in 1973, recording a series of albums with English lyrics, some penned by Elp and King Crimson lyricist Pete Sinfield. Over the next four years they released four studio albums and a live recording for the label, and it is from these albums that this 2CD anthology is drawn. In addition, four previously unreleased live recordings from the Manticore vaults also grace this collection, along with the CD debut of a rare B-side to a UK single.

Esoteric Recordings are proud to announce the release of a newly re-mastered and expanded edition of the classic 1970 album Home by Procol Harum. Released in June 1970, the record followed on from the huge international success of the band's debut single A Whiter Shade of Pale and the superb albums Procol Harum, Shine On Brightly and A Salty Dog. Hailed by many fans as one of the finest albums released by the band, Home saw the exquisite song writing of Gary Brooker and Keith Reid reach new heights on pieces such as The Dead Man's Dream, the epic Whaling Stories, About to Die and more. Produced by Chris Thomas, the album captured a new line-up of the band featuring Gary Brooker (voice, piano), Chris Copping (bass guitar, organ), Robin Trower (lead guitar), and B.J. Wilson (drums).
Newly re-mastered from the original tapes, this Deluxe edition of Home has been expanded to include 11 bonus tracks…

Future Legends (1973). Originally released in October 1973 on Pye's Dawn label, Future Legends was the debut release by these Northern Irish Progressive Rock masters. A wonderful exercise in Symphonic and Melodic rock, the album was highly acclaimed upon release launching the band on a live career that saw them share the bill with such luminaries as Genesis (with whom they were often compared). Future Legends is now remastered from the original tapes and includes the track 'On a Clear Day' which only featured on the first 100 copies of the album…

Samurai is truly a lost classic of the Progressive era. Released on the short lived Greenwich Gramophone label in 1971, the album was influenced by the experiments of groups such as King Crimson, Gentle Giant et al, but was more than a mere clone of these bands. Evolving from the equally excellent band Web (whose album 'I Spider' is a classic of the genre), the musicianship on the album was excellent and Keyboard player Dave Lawson's compositions were groundbreaking and memorable. Sadly the group disbanded shortly after the release of the record resulting in limited sales. However, the influence of the album was not lost as both Dave Lawson and Tony Reeves soon joined Dave Greenslade to form the group Greenslade, effectively taking up the musical mantle laid down by Samurai. This Esoteric reissue features a booklet with previously unseen photographs and an interview with Dave Lawson.

Esoteric Recordings are proud to announce the release of a newly re-mastered and expanded edition of the classic 1969 album A Salty Dog by Procol Harum. Released in June 1969, the record followed on from the huge international success of the band's debut single A Whiter Shade of Pale and the follow up single Homburg and the superb albums Procol Harum and Shine On Brightly. One of the finest releases of the era A Salty Dog saw the exquisite song writing of Gary Brooker and Keith Reid honed to perfection on highlights such as the album's title track, The Devil Came From Kansas, Wreck of the Hesperus, The Milk of Human Kindness and more. Recorded at Abbey Road studios, the album captured the excellence of the musicians in the group, namely Gary Brooker (voice, piano), Robin Trower (lead guitar), David Knights (bass guitar), B.J. Wilson (drums) and Matthew Fisher (Hammond organ)…

Esoteric Recordings are proud to announce the release of a newly re-mastered and expanded edition of the classic 1968 album by Procol Harum. Released in the UK in December 1968, "Shine on Brightly" followed on from the huge international success in 1967 of the band's debut single 'A Whiter Shade of Pale' and the follow up single 'Homburg' and built on the creative path begun on Procol Harum's self-titled debut album issued in January 1968. Gary Brooker (voice, piano), Robin Trower (lead guitar), David Knights (bass guitar), B.J. Wilson (drums) and Matthew Fisher (Hammond organ) took the music of the band to new heights with this, their second album. Dominated by the 17-minute epic suite 'In Held 'Twas in I', Procol Harum re-wrote the rule book of popular music with the material written and recorded for "Shine On Brightly"…

Big Sleep were a Welsh band whose influence was far beyond their sole album offering released in 1971. The band members (formerly with Eyes Of Blue) would all soon head for greater things in bands such as Gentle Giant, Man and Wild Turkey (formed by ex-Jethro Tull bassist Glenn Cornick). An album that features many fine songs and styles, "Bluebell Wood", (originally released on the highly collectable Pagusus label), has been sought after by collectors for many years thanks to its influence and place in the history of British progressive rock and in the annals of Welsh rock. Remastered from the original master tapes, “Bluebell Wood” has never sounded so good. This release is sure to appeal to followers of Man and Gentle Giant in particular. The First ever- official CD release for this classic album.

One of the great overlooked albums of the 1970s, Time Actor was the result of a collaboration between legendary Crazy World & Kingdom Come visionary Arthur Brown and German Synthesiser and Ambient genius Klaus Schulze, recording under the pseudonym of his alter-ego Richard Wahnfried. The resulting record was a unique fusion of Brown’s amazing vocals and eccentric musical visions and Schulze’s innovative keyboard playing. Originally released on the German Innovative Communication label, Time Actor also features special guest Vincent Crane (who recorded a collaborative album with Arthur Brown for the label during this period). This newly re-mastered reissue restores the original album artwork and includes a new essay.

Esoteric Recordings are pleased to announce the release of a Deluxe edition of the self titled album by Quatermass. Originally released in 1970 on the Harvest label, "Quatermass" is one of the most remarkable albums of the era. Featuring Peter Robinson (Keyboards), John Gustafson (Bass, Vocals) and Mick Underwood (Drums, Percussion), Quatermass were one of the most imaginative groups of the Progressive era. Their unique brand of powerful progressive rock encompassed classical music and hard rock, a unique combination that influenced contemporaries such as Deep Purple (indeed Ritchie Blackmore covered "Black Sheep of the Family" on the first Rainbow album). This Esoteric Recordings edition features stunning new mixes by Peter Robinson, along with three bonus tracks, two of which are previously unreleased. The set also features a lavishly illustrated booklet with new essay written by Peter Robinson.

Esoteric Recordings are pleased to announce the release of a 50th Anniversary Remastered Edition of the debut album by The Moody Blues, "The Magnificent Moodies”.
Now associated as being pioneers of pro-gressive orchestral rock, the Moody Blues had another life between 1964-1966, as one of Britain’s finest Rhythm and Blues influenced acts. With a line-up of Denny Laine (Guitar, Vocals, Harmonica), Ray Thomas (Vocals, Harmonica, Flute), Mike Pinder (Keyboards, Vocals), Clint Warwick (Bass, Vocals) and Graeme Edge (Drums), the band signed to a London based management company who leased recordings to Decca Records. Their second single, a cover version of Bessie Banks’ ‘Go Now!’ was a huge chart success across the world. Their debut album, "The Magnificent Moodies” was released in1965 to great acclaim and tours with The Beatles eventually led them to become part of Brian Epstein’s management stable…