Extravaganza (album)

Extravaganza is the fourth album by the British rock group Stackridge. The album was produced by Tony Ashton at AIR Studios, London. The band experienced a significant lineup change after its previous album, with James Warren, James "Crun" Walter and Billy Sparkle all leaving.

Extravaganza
Studio album by
Stackridge
ReleasedJanuary 1975 (UK)
Recorded1974
GenreProgressive rock, folk rock
Length42:34
LabelThe Rocket Record Company
Sire Records
Stallion Records (CD re-issue)
Angel Air (CD re-issue)
ProducerTony Ashton
Stackridge chronology
The Man In The Bowler Hat
(1974)		 Extravaganza
(1975)		 Mr. Mick
(1976)
UK. Single label
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
Allmusic[1]

The album was originally released in the UK on Elton John's label, The Rocket Record Company. Stackridge was the first group signed to the new label.

A different version of the album was released by Sire Records in the U.S and Canada. This version removed two songs already released on Pinafore Days and added "Do The Stanley" from a UK single and "The Indifferent Hedgehog" from the UK album The Man In The Bowler Hat.

Singer and songwriter Gordon Haskell rehearsed with Stackridge for a short time during 1974. Though Haskell decided not to join Stackridge they did keep one of his songs in their repertoire and decided to record it for Extravaganza. Originally called "Worms", the song was re-titled "No One's More Important Than the Earthworm".

The song "Happy In The Lord", written by Phil Welton, was a cover of a song originally performed by the band Fat Grapple, and released by them as a single in 1975.[2]

Track listing

Side one
  1. "Spin 'Round the Room" (Rod Bowkett, Lucy Vernon) – 2:45
  2. "Grease Paint Smiles" (Bowkett, Bathos) – 4:04
  3. "The Volunteer" (Andy Davis, Smegmakovitch) – 5:05
  4. "Highbury Incident (Rainy July Morning)" (Davis, Bowkett, "Mutter" Slater) – 4:02
  5. "Benjamin's Giant Onion" (Bowkett, Bathos) – 4:04
  6. "Happy in the Lord" (Phil Welton) – 3:51

Side two
  1. "Rufus T. Firefly" (Bowkett) – 4:51
  2. "No One's More Important Than the Earthworm" (Gordon Haskell) – 5:12
  3. "Pocket Billiards" (Bowkett) – 4:04
  4. "Who's That Up There with Bill Stokes?" (Bowkett, Davis) – 4:36

Track listing: U.S. version, Sire Records SASD-7509
  1. "The Volunteer" (Davis, Smegmakovitch) – 5:05
  2. "Rufus T. Firefly" (Bowkett) – 4:51
  3. "No One's More Important Than the Earthworm" (Haskell) – 5:12
  4. "Grease Paint Smiles" (Bowkett, Bathos) – 4:04
  5. "Happy in the Lord" (Phil Welton) – 3:51
  6. "Benjamin's Giant Onion" (Bowkett, Bathos) – 4:04
  7. "Pocket Billiards" (Bowkett) – 4:04
  8. "The Indifferent Hedgehog" (Davis, Graham Smith) – 3:15
  9. "Do the Stanley" (Wabadaw Sleeve) – 2:53
  10. "Who's That Up There With Bill Stokes?" (Bowkett, Davis) – 4:36

Note that "Bathos", "Smegmaokovitch" and "Wabadaw Sleeve" are entities invented by the band to signify the whole band. Many lyrics were joint efforts.[3]

Personnel

Production
  • Produced by Tony Ashton and Stackridge
  • Engineers: Geoff Emerick, Pete Swettenham, Gary Edwards
  • Recorded at AIR Studios, London, England 1974
  • Remastered under the watchful eye of Andy Davis and James Warren at Sundried Artists by Glenn Tommey during November 2006.
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References
  1. AllMusic Review by Christopher Evans. "Extravaganza - Stackridge | Songs, Reviews, Credits". AllMusic. Retrieved 2016-07-27.
  2. "Fat Grapple - Happy In The Lord / My Friends And I - Beeb - UK - BEEB 005". 45cat.com. Retrieved 2016-07-27.
  3. "Stackridge". Stackridge.net. Retrieved 2016-07-27.
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