Epitaph: Epitaph 1971 + Stop, Look And Listen 1972 + Ouside The Law 1974

 

Along with Lucifer's Friend, Blackwater Park, and other bands even more obscure, Epitaph were members of a curious fraternity of '70s German bands that featured British singers. The history of

EPITAPH begins in the winter of 1969/70 in his time hippest music club Dortmund Fantasio, in the basement Britain's Cliff Jackson (vocals, guitar), his compatriot James McGillivray (drums) and bassist Bernd Kolbe practiced and worked on her program, while the weekly Fantasio between sizes like Black Sabbath, Rory Gallagah, Yes and Argent occurred. Even at this time showed his full professional epitaph formality. Their big chance came when Champion Jack Dupree and his performance in Fantasio cancelte stepped in the famous Blue with pianist Günter Boas EPITAPH as a backing group.
                                

Günter Boas producer realized the potential of this band and it's not long and EPITAPH signed their first

contract with Polydor took subjected then to Hanover, shortened their band name of Fagin's EPITAPH in EPITAPH and began Klaus Walz (later Jane) as a second guitarist in London Wessex studio recording their first LP and the same epitaph, which was published in the autumn of 1971.
This was followed by concerts in Germany and an invitation to the legendary Beat Club, in 1972 the first television appearance had the effect of Epitaph.
                       

Epitaph wound up recording their third and most critically acclaimed LP, 1974's Outside the Law, in Chicago, afterwards embarking on a tour of the U.S. with ex-Karthago drummer Norbert Lehmann -- only

to have it rudely interrupted when Billingsgate went bankrupt. Drained by their string of bad luck and feeling lucky simply to escape back to Germany without being held responsible for Billingsgate's debts, Epitaph called it quits in January of 1975. But Cliff Jackson couldn't resist reviving Epitaph just a few months later, gradually rebuilding their damaged reputation until a revamped band -- rounded out by guitarist Heinz Glass, keyboardist Michael Karch, bassist Harvey Janssen, and drummer Fritz Randow -- finally re-emerged with 1979's Return to Reality album. 
                          

1978 EPITAPH plays as support for OMEGA three legendary concerts in Budapest, who were cheered on by more than 30,000 spectators frantically. With the new lineup recorded the band's fourth album, Return to Reality, published in April 1979 on the cult label Brain. The first couple of albums

(while they were signed to Polydor) had prog leanings indeed, but they then sold out to a fairly predictable type of 'Arena Rock'. The early stuff reminds me of Wishbone Ash a lot, and perhaps early Uriah Heep too. Uriah Heep are filed away in Heavy Prog on Progarchives, but Wishbone Ash are only in Prog-Related...and that's where I think I'd personally place these guys too. Excellent music, don't get me wrong (before they copped out to the wishes of the American record company, and similarly later on with the German 'Brain' label), but I don't think that overall they produced sufficient prog to merit inclusion in one of the 'proper' sub genres. 
                                              

ALBUMS ON THIS POST

Epitaph (1971, Polydor)
Stop, Look and Listen (1972, Polydor)
Outside the Law (1974, Billingsgate)

LINE - UP

Cliff Jackson (lead guitar, acoustic guitar, vocals) 
Bernd Kolbe (bass, vocals, 1970-77, 1981-88, 2000-present) 
Jim McGillivray (drums, 1970-72, 1976-77, 2000-01) 
Klaus Walz (guitar, 1971-77, 1981-88) 
Achim Wielert (drums, percussion, 1972-75, 2001-present) 
Fritz Randow (drums, 1977-81) 
Heinz Glass (guitar, vocals, 1977-81, 2000-present)
Luitjen Jansen (bass, 1977-81)
Michael Karch (keyboards, vocals, 1977-80)
Norbert Lehmann (drums, vocals, 1981-88)

 Interview With Cliff Jackson (It's Psychedelic Baby Magazine)

01. EPITAPH - EPITAPH 1971

                           

Very good first album by the german band Epitaph. This album alternate prog-ish hard rock tunes with good dual lead guitars solos, with slower moments and use of mellotron. The lead vocals by the

englishman Cliff Jackson are clean and a bit dreamy. A quite varied album with elements of Wishbone Ash, T2, Nektar, Eloy with a touch of King Crimson. Really strong unknown early 70's album. The guitar sound and drum sound on this record are absolutely top quality. The record is outstanding, sometimes mind-blowing. And the best thing about it is mood, emanating largely from chords (particularly so on 'Hopelessly' and 'Early Morning', with the latter's memorable, evocative arpeggio in A minor).
                       

Epitaph – Epitaph
Label: Polydor – 060249827537, Revisited Rec. – SPV 49582 CD, Universal Music Group – 060249827537
Format: CD, Album, Reissue, Digipak
Country: Germany
Released: 2005
Genre: Rock
Style: Hard Rock, Prog-Rock

TRACKS

                        

01. Moving To The Country    5:10
02. Visions    5:25
03. Hopelessly    9:07
04. Little Maggie    8:40
05. Early Morning    9:58

BONUS TRACKS        

    
06. London Town Girl    3:27
07. Autumn 71    4:28
08. Are You Ready    4:25
09. I'm Trying    5:31
10. Changing World    5:50

LINE - UP

Bass, Mellotron, Vocals – Bernd Kolbe
Drums, Vocals – Jim McGillvray
Guitar, Vocals – Cliff Jackson , Klaus Walz
Composed By [All Titles] – Epitaph 

Flac Size: 436 MB

02. EPITAPH - STOP, LOOK AND LISTEN 1972

                                

This second Epitaph album follows in the same footsteps as their debut. Stop, Look and Listen is a very

guitar driven progressive rock record with some elements from hard rock and blues rock as well. This one is even less krautrock oriented than it's predecessor. Their S/T first LP has some krautrock elements but this second album is just a prog rock record.
                                           

Epitaph – Stop Look And Listen
Label:Alcinous Ltd – AL 0077/B
Format:CD, Album, Limited Edition, Reissue, Unofficial Release
Country:?
Released:1998
Genre:Rock
Style:Classic Rock

TRACKS

                    

01. Crossroads    4:49
02. Nightingale    5:53
03. Uptight    5:53
04. Fly    8:50
05. Stop Look And Listen    9:55

BONUS TRACKS        

    
06. Autumn 71    4:28
07. Are You Ready    4:25
08. We Love You Alice    3:38
09. Paradise For Sale    3:16

LINE - UP

Bass, Mellotron, Vocals – Bernd Kolbe
Drums, Vocals – Jim McGillivray
Guitar, Vocals – Cliff Jackson, Klaus Walz
Written-By – Kolbe (tracks: 5, 9), Jackson (tracks: 1 to 5, 6 to 8), McGillivray (tracks: 5), Walz (tracks: 5, 9)

Flac Size: 336 MB

03. OUTSIDE THE LAW 1974

                               

Epitaph's best album (actually, many would argue it's their only good album), 1974's Outside the Law, was

produced during the German-based, English-fronted quartet's brief sojourn in America, while benefiting from the patronage of tiny independent label Billingsgate Records. Having just lost their deal with mighty Polydor the bandmembers now seemed motivated to edit themselves, and emerged from Chicago's Omega Studios with a far more focused and engaging set of songs, marked by fluid, mid-paced grooves, radio-friendly choruses, and dual-guitar harmonies often backed by acoustic rhythm guitars for added sweetening. 

                     

Epitaph – Outside The Law
Label: Repertoire Records – REP 4885
Format: CD, Album, Reissue
Country: Germany
Released: 2000
Genre: Rock
Style: Hard Rock, Prog Rock, Krautrock

TRACKS

           

01. Reflection    5:15
02. Woman    4:16
03. Big City   5:53
Grand Piano – Fred Kaz    
04. In Your Eyes   2:50
Grand Piano – Fred Kaz
05. Outside The Law    6:07
06. Tequila Shuffle   4:58
Organ – Billy Shaw    
07. Fresh Air    9:01

LINE - UP

Bass, Vocals – Bernd Kolbe
Drums, Percussion – Achim Wielert
Lead Guitar – Klaus Walz
Lead Guitar, Acoustic Guitar, Vocals – Cliff Jackson
Words By – Bernd Kolbe (tracks: 6), Cliff Jackson (tracks: 1 to 5, 7)
Written-By – Kolbe (tracks: 2, 6, 7), Jackson, Walz (tracks: 5 to 7)

Flac Size: 253 MB