Beggars Opera - Act One - 1971 - 01 - Poet And Peasant

This band was from Scotland, their name is derived from a novel by the poet John Gray in 1728. The musicians of BEGGARS OPERA were Martin Griffiths (vocals), Rick Gardiner (guitar and vocals), Alan Park (keyboards), Gordon Sellar (bass, acoustic guitar and vocals), Virginia Scott (Mellotron and vocals) and Raymond Wilson (drums and percussion). BEGGARS OPERA made a lot of records but remained acting in the shade of most progressive rock bands.

Their debut-album "Act one" ('70) contains fluent and tasteful organ driven progrock with powerful "Sixties" sounding guitarwork. The long track "Raymond's Road" is a splendid tribute to the "classics" featuring Mozart's A la Turka, Bach's Toaccata in d-fuga en Grieg's Peer Gynt Suite on the Hammond organ. The second album "Waters of Change" ('71) is build around the dual keyboardplay of Alan Park and newcomer Virginia Scott and the distinctive, a bit cynical vocals of Gardiner. The nine tracks are beautiful symphonic landscapes with many organ solos, some swelling and glorious Mellotron waves (like The MOODY BLUES and early KING CRIMSON) and fine electric guitarwork. On the third LP "Pathfinder" BEGGARS OPERA seems to have reached its pinnacle: strong and alternating compositions with lush keyboards (Mellotron, organ, piano and harpsichord), powerful electric guitarplay and many shifting moods (even Scottish folk with bagpipes). The band released three more albums but, in my opinion, they sounded far less captivating: "Get your dog off me" ('73), "Saggittary" ('76) and "Beggar's can't be choosers" ('79).

: : : Erik Neuteboom, The NETHERLANDS : : :

Category:

Music

Tags:

• Beggars
• Opera
• Act
• One
• symphonic
• progressive

[urkmister]

I'm an old guy .... saw them at their first gig ... Williamwood High School .. 1969 .... put me on a music trail ..... then Clarkston Halls every Saturday night ..... you couldnt buy it for a fortune ..... if any of you Beggars guys are reading this ... bet you remember that night at Williamwood ..?????

[VespaKlaus]

I know Beggars Opera since 1971 and i like to hear it also today. A wonderful music.

[sauterio]

Von Suppé



[DeathTimer]

@VespaKlaus

I know Beggars Opera since 2011 and I wish we had music like this today.

[Gabry20002010]

Actually, Beggars Opera took their name from a BALLAD OPERA by the poet John GAY, not Gray; great music, great posting.

[EugenCluster]

Die Platte hatte ich auch mal!

[stetrak1967]

A very nice band, i like too much Alan Park's organistic inspiration, also if i must say that also the others musicians are really good. Martin Griffiths has a nice voice.

[Karlfalcon]

0_0

Holy Crap.

[TheFreshPeddler]

i see nipple, damn these guys were incredible. this shits all over lady gaga

[bonitas666]

wow- die LP habe ich auch- super music- tolle zeiten damals...

habe dann die Gruppe 1971 das erste mal "live" gesehen. Grugahalle Essen- zusammen mit osibisa und den damals gerade aufkommenden Deep Purple-

schöne Zeiten damals.........

[Prospro8]

Actually it's neither a play nor a novel,but was a musical opera by John Gay in the 18th Century. Some of the tunes are in there.

[sonical53]

still the best