Bill Fay - Time Of The Last Persecution (1971) 24-bit/96kHz Vinyl Rip
Rock, Folk Rock | 2013 US reissue | 4MWB 4m819
"Enigmatic" was the tag oft-times tossed 'round Bill Fay, whose loyal cult following grew significantly over the years. Signed to Decca, the singer/songwriter and pianist released two albums in the late '60s and early '70s; their haunting, darkly shadowed songs were never meant to appeal to the masses, even at the height of the psychedelia-streaked introspection sparked by the soul-searching of the day. While the Beatles flew off to meet the Maharishi, Fay fell under the spell of a 19th century compendium of commentaries on the Biblical books of Daniel and Revelations, which would inspire his second album, Time of the Last Persecution. But before the born-agains jump on to the Fay bandwagon, they should be warned that the artist was equally influenced by the ravaging events of the day. The title track, "Time of the Last Persecution," was written in an immediate and visceral response to the killings of four students at Kent State. Even in 1971, the intensity of Fay's lyrics -- reflecting his commentaries in their poetical language, their highly introspective nature, the brooding quality of the music, all exquisitely enhanced by Ray Russell's evocative blues guitar work -- left most reviewers cold and confused. In truth, the album would have slotted much more neatly into the coming firestorm that descended on Britain later in the decade, and would have provided a surprisingly supple bridge between the apocalyptic visions of roots reggae and the political polemics of punk. The set certainly contains all the fire and fury of the latter movement, as well as the deeply dread atmospheres of the former. By 2005, with the rise of evangelicalism and Christian rock, Persecution no longer sounds so obscure or out of place; it is, however, a personal journey of spirituality, not a platform from which to proselytize. For all its dark vision, it's the possibility of peace and hope that shines through the gloom, and as for all the seeming quietude of the music, it thunders, too, with a power and emotion that speak in volumes as loudly as Fay's striking lyrics. Jo-Ann Greene, Allmusic.
Please note: the slight glitch at 0:26 track 4 is on the vinyl.
Track listing:
01. Omega Day
02. Don't Let My Marigolds Die
03. I Hear You Calling
04. Dust Filled Room
05. 'til the Christ Come Back
06. Release Is In The Eye
07. Laughing Man
08. Inside The Keeper's Pantry
09. Tell It Like It Is
10. Plan D
11. Pictures of Adolf Again
12. Time of The Last Persecution
13. Come a Day
14. Let All The Other Teddies Know
Personnel:
Piano, Vocal: Bill Fay
Guitars: Ray Russell
Drums: Alan Rushton
Acoustic & Electric Bass: Daryl Runswick
Tenor, Alto, Flute: Tony Roberts
Trombone: Nick Evans
Trumpet: Bud Parkes
Words and music by Bill Fay
Arranged & produced by Ray Russell & Bill Fay
Recorded at Decca Studios, West Hampstead, London, October 1970
Engineer: Derek Varnals
Technicals:
Knosti RCM.
Michell GyroDec full version.
Funk Firm FXR II Tonearm.
Audio Technica AT33PTG/II MC Cartridge.
Harman Kardon HK990 Integrated Amplifier.
Gold Interconnects. E-MU 0204 Audio Interface.
Recording, split and manual de-click with Adobe Audition 3.0.1
Click Repair 3.9.1
Vinyl transfer by son-of-albion, September 2013