ACCOLADE were a short-lived band (1969-1971) whose musical emphasis was on combining acoustic instrumentation and light jazz/fusion arrangements with bucolic British folk lyrics and sensibilities. They released just two albums and a single in their brief tenure, though managed to tour throughout most of their active existence. The original lineup consisted of woodwind player Brian Cresswell, singer/guitarist Gordon Giltrap, drummer Ian Hoyle and guitarist Don Partridge. The band's first album included their most lasting contribution to music in the form of a version of American bassist eden ahbez' (aka George Aberle aka Eden Abba) "Nature Boy", a languid and complex folk tale first recorded by NAT KING COLE in the 1940's, and since covered more than seventy times, including by MILES DAVIS, HARRY CONNICK JR, CELINE DION, JAMES BROWN, JOSE FELICIANO, the GATHERING's Annie Haslam, and most recently by the Greek psych band WILL-O-THE WISP. The song has charted as a single five times in that period. Accolade's second album is well in the line of their debut album, despite Giltrap's departure from the band after a Sweden tour supporting Colosseum, but there are obvious progressions, primarily due to personnel change. A better-produced album than its predecessor, but sporting another collage artwork, this album didn't get a US release as its predecessor had, but the group's fairly different line-up also provide some change. Apart from a different bassist and Giltrap's lead guitar (replaced only partly by Wizz Jones), there are a few keyboards interventions as well.The songs have bluesier-folk spectrum than in the debut album, starting with the amusing and opening Transworld Blues so much of the Moody Blues feel of their debut is gone. The tracks are more like Gravy Train this time around, including the odd William Taplin and the closing Long Way To Go (with all too rare piano). But once again, it is the mammoth 11-mins, Cross Continental Pandemonium Theatre Company that grabs most of the proghead's attention with flutes, vibes, bowed bass. It's definitely not the album's only good track, though! Indeed Snakes In A Hole or Spyder To The Spy also good enough for a mention. Line-up / Musicians Malcolm Poole/contrabass,fiddle Ian Hoyle/drums Brian Cresswell/flute,saxophone Wizz Jones/vocals Mike Moran/piano Don Partridge/vocals,guitar,vibraphone Discography(Album) Accolade 2 1971
1.Transworld Blues 2.The Spider to The Spy 3.Baby, Take Your Rags Off 4.Cross Continental Pandemonium Theatre Company 5.Snakes In a Hole 6.The Time I´ve Wasted 7.Sector Five Nine 8.If Only I´d Known 9.William Taplin 10.Long Way to Go
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