BRIEF SUMMARY
Probably desired more from a historical perspective than the talent on display musically, given where the journey took him. Take a look at the music review…
Hollier Tim - Skysail - Tim Hollier
TITLE: Skysail
ARTIST: Tim Hollier
LABEL: Phillips
CAT NO: 6308044
RELEASED: 1971
FORMAT: Vinyl LP album
COUNTRY: UK
GENRE: Folk Rock
VINYL: VG+
LABEL: Ex
COVER: VG+
The vinyl is almost NM, but very faint occasional surface noise.
The cover is also bordering on excellent, there is hardly a mark to be seen. A faint ring on the back cover showing where the LP sits and a little rubbing along the bottom. Pictures have lost none of their shine or colour. Cleaned on a VPI Cyclone RCM. For photos and music review, see my .com site
VINYL: VG+
LABEL: Ex
COVER: VG+
Side 1
- Skysail
- Beauty of the gardens
- Time has a way of losing you
- And I wait or that
- Your quiet life
- Tenderly stooping low
Side 2
- Flowers in the morning
- Sunshine moonshine
- Yesterday’s dreams
- Tomorrow is the first day of the rest of your life
- Through the darkness
- While London’s days increase
There are many musicians out there, and in the current era, many start off in their bedroom with sophisticated ‘at-home / on-line’ musical equipment that, with the processing power available nowadays, would have previously seen you tripping to the moon and back not long ago.
But in 1968, an art school background probably helped in securing a music deal. After all, no one had a clue what they were doing in those pioneering days of eclectic musical activity. Maybe as he moved away from recording after 4 LP’s (with 4 different record labels which probably says a thing or two), into the word of music publishing, he realised his potential away from the studio (I suspect he did). Nevertheless I was saddened to hear he died in 2017 after a minor operation.
When I put this on, and wrote this, it was 2 days following Des O’Connor’s passing. Fortunately the similarity ended after Track 1. There are a few hints of excellence on here but it’s easy to miss them. Vocal dominant on the recording, if I’m honest, I’m unsure of the audience for an LP such as this back in 1971, given what else was around at the time, and whilst I heard it described as ‘psychedelic folk music’ I think that was more hope than expectation. Probably a desperate attempt by a marketing type, lost in a hazy cloud, to open up a niche market.
Most songs are self-penned and as Side 2 progresses, more song experimentation help introduce interest and variety. But I suspect the writing was on the wall by this point. It appears he had a much more successful business career but I suspect these early, post art school years, put him in good stead for the career that was to follow. RIP Tim.