Formed in 1968, Skin Alley were part of the infamous Clearwater stable that included fellow acts such as Hawkwind, High Tide, Trees and Cochise. The band’s infectious fusion of Jazz and Rock was suited to the time and the band became a regular attraction on the underground festival and concert circuit.
Skin Alley recorded their self-titled debut album for CBS Records in November 1969 with former Pretty Things guitarist Dick Taylor producing. The band’s second album, “To Pagham and Beyond” was recorded in 1970, along with a shelved soundtrack album for an unreleased film about the German model Verushka.
In June 1971 Skin Alley performed at the legendary Glastonbury Fayre and the following year they contributed a track to the fund-raising triple album of the same name which also featured The Grateful Dead, David Bowie, Marc Bolan, Gong and Hawkwind among others. Signing to Transatlantic Records in 1972 they released the album “Two Quid Deal” later that year. Their final album, “Skintight,” was issued in 1973.
This 4xCD set has been newly remastered and is a fine tribute to one of Britain’s great unsung underground acts of the early 1970s includes all of Skin Alley’s albums and rare single tracks, along with the shelved Stop Verushka! soundtrack and the version of “Sun Music” from Glastonbury Fayre.
Tracklist:
DISC ONE – Skin Alley Remastered
01. Living in Sin
02. Tell Me
03. Mother, Please Help Your Child
04. Marsha
05. Country Aire
06. All Alone
07. Night Time
08. Concerto Grosso (Take Heed)
09. (Going Down the) Highway
Bonus Tracks:
10. Better Be Blind (B-side of single)
11. Tell Me (single version)
12. Shower Music (from Stop Verushka)
13. Sofa, Taxi and Sand Themes (from Stop Verushka)
14. Cemetery Scene (from Stop Verushka)
15. First Drug Scene (from Stop Verushka)
DISC TWO – To Pagham & Beyond Remastered
01. Big Brother is Watching You
02. Take Me to Your Leader’s Daughter
03. Walking in the Park
04. The Queen of Bad Intentions
05. Sweaty Betty
06. Easy to Lie
Bonus Tracks:
07. Russian Boogaloo (from Stop Verushka)
08. Skin Valley Serenade (from Stop Verushka)
09. Sun Music (from Stop Verushka)
10. Bird Music (from Stop Verushka)
11. Snow Music (from Stop Verushka)
DISC THREE – Two Quid Deal Remastered
01. Nick’s Seven
02. So Many People
03. Bad Words and Evil People
04. Graveyard Shuffle
05. So Glad
06. A Final Coat
07. Skin Valley Serenade
08. The Demagogue
09. Sun Music
Bonus Tracks:
10. You Got Me Danglin’ (A-side of single)
11. Sun Music (‘Glastonbury Fayre’ version)
DISC FOUR – Skintight Remastered
01. If I Only Had Time
02. At a Quarter to One
03. How Long?
04. Surprise Awakening
05. Broken Eggs
06. Maverick Woman Blues
07. The Heap Turns Human
08. What Good Does It Do?
09. Mr. Heavy
10. Instermental
Bonus Tracks:
11. In the Midnight Hour (A-side of single)
12. Broken Eggs (single version)
