Ark 2

Ark 2 is the first and only album released by the British rock band Flaming Youth. It was a concept album released in October 1969, the album featured the theme of an evacuation from a dying Earth. The lead single from the album was "From Now On". The album and its space theme were influenced by the media's attention to the moon landing. The songs were composed by Ken Howard and Alan Blaikley, writers of such commercial hits as Dave Dee, Dozy, Beaky, Mick & Tich's "Zabadak!", and "The Legend of Xanadu". The original Fontana pressing gave no composer label credit to Howard and Blaikley (possibly to distance the album's music from their pop music credentials), but the US pressing bore their names.

For the 1970s American science-fiction television show, see Ark II.
Not to be confused with Ark Two Shelter.
Ark 2
Studio album by
Flaming Youth
ReleasedOctober 1969
RecordedDe Lane Lea Music, London
GenreRock
Length43:32
LabelUni
ProducerKen Howard & Alan Blaikley

Shortly after the release of Ark 2, the band went into the Dutch TV Station TROS studio and recorded a short 5-song set to promote the album, which was filmed and later broadcast on 14 May 1970 on the TROS TV station. The five songs were "Earthglow", "Weightless", "Changes", "Space Child", and "From Now On (Immortal Invisible)". It is the only known footage of Flaming Youth that exists. Both the music and vocals were mimed.

Although the album today remains difficult to obtain, it has been reprinted in various markets mainly for the novelty of Phil Collins' first major label recording. Collins was the group's drummer, and Ark 2 was Collins' last recording before auditioning for Genesis the following year.

Critical reception

The album received some critical praise in the music press. Melody Maker listed the album as "Pop Album of the Month", calling it "adult music beautifully played with nice tight harmonies". Disc and Music Echo said "there is some splendid music on this very good first album".[1] The rock press of the time was even more favorable and it was awarded Sunday Times Rock Album of the Year in 1969.

Despite this, the album and single were not commercially successful. The BBC did not know what to make of it: there were no radio or TV slots for an extended rock work at the time. So it remained largely unheard except by those who sought it out.

Tracks
  1. "Guide Me Orion" - 3:18
    • Lead vocals: (Flash) Gordon Smith
  2. "Earthglow" - 2:54
    • Lead vocals: Brian Chatton & (Flash) Gordon Smith
  3. "Weightless" - 2:38
    • Instrumental
  4. "The Planets" - 12:49
    • 1. "Mars - Bringer of War"
    • Lead vocals: Flaming Youth
    • 2. "Venus - Bringer of Peace"
    • Lead vocals: Brian Chatton
    • 3. "Mercury - The Winged Messenger"
    • Lead vocals: Flaming Youth
    • 4. "Jupiter - Bringer of Jollity"
    • Lead vocals: Phil Collins
    • 5. "Saturn - Bringer of Old Age"
    • Lead vocals: Phil Collins
    • 6. "Uranus - The Magician"
    • Lead vocals: Brian Chatton
    • 7. "Neptune - The Mystic"
    • Lead vocals: Ronnie Caryl
  5. "Changes" - 5:47
    • Lead vocals: Phil Collins & (Flash) Gordon Smith
  6. "Pulsar" - 3:07
    • Lead vocals: Brian Chatton & (Flash) Gordon Smith
  7. "Space Child" - 5:11
    • Lead vocals: Phil Collins
  8. "In the Light of Love" - 3:27
    • Lead vocals: Flaming Youth
  9. "From Now On (Immortal Invisible)" - 4:21
    • Lead vocals: Brian Chatton

References
  1. Coleman, Ray. "Phil Collins: The Definitive Biography". Simon & Schuster, 1997. London, pp. 55-56.
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