NEW REMASTERED & EXPANDED 2 CD EDITION OF THE CLASSIC 1969 ALBUM BY COLOSSEUM
WITH A BONUS CD OF THE REMASTERED U.S. & CANADIAN ALBUM “THE GRASS IS GREENER” (FEATURING TRACKS UNRELEASED IN THE UK AND ALTERNATE MIXES RELEASED IN 1970) & A BONUS TRACK OF “TELL ME NOW” (RECORDED IN APRIL 1969)
FULLY RESTORED ARTWORK

Esoteric Recordings are pleased to announce the release of a newly re- mastered and expanded edition of the classic 1969 album by COLOSSEUM, “Valentyne Suite”.

Originally released in November 1969 housed in a striking sleeve designed by Marcus Keef, “Valentyne Suite” was the first release on the Progressive imprint VERTIGO and spent nine weeks on the UK album chart, peaking at number 15. The album featured the “classic” Colosseum line-up of Jon Hiseman (Drums), Dave Greenslade (Organ & Vibes), Dick Heckstall-Smith (Saxophones), James Litherland (Guitar, Vocals) & Tony Reeves (Bass).

“Valentyne Suite” is arguably the finest album by the band, featuring such outstanding tracks as ‘The Kettle’ (with a distinctive riff later sampled by Fatboy Slim), ‘Elegy’ and ‘The Machine Demands a Sacrifice’ (with lyrics by Pete Brown). However the album’s focal point was the three part ‘Valentyne Suite’ which earned the band critical praise and is now regarded as a milestone in early Progressive Rock.

This newly re-mastered and expanded reissue includes a bonus track of ‘Tell Me Now’ (recorded at Lansdowne studios in April 1969) and a bonus remastered CD of the US and Canadian album “THE GRASS IS GREENER”, released on the Dunhill label in 1970. The album featured some material featured on “Valentyne Suite”, albeit remixed and featuring new member Dave “Clem” Clempson (Guitar, Vocals), who replaced James Litherland in the group. The album also featured a series of songs unreleased in the UK such as ‘Jumping Off the Sun’, ‘Lost Angeles’, ‘Rope Ladder to the Moon’ (written by Jack Bruce & Pete Brown), and a version of Ravel’s ‘Bolero’.

“Valentyne Suite” remains one of the band’s seminal releases, a fine combination of rock, jazz and blues.

The Esoteric Recordings edition also features a booklet that fully restores the original album artwork of both “Valentyne Suite” and “The Grass is Greener” and features a new essay.

TRACK LIST:

DISC ONE
“VALENTYNE SUITE” RE-MASTERED and EXPANDED
1. THE KETTLE
2. ELEGY
3. BUTTY’S BLUES
4. THE MACHINE DEMANDS A SACRIFICE
5. THE VALENTYNE SUITE:
i. JANUARY’S SEARCH
ii. THEME TWO – FEBRUARY’S VALENTYNE
iii. THEME THREE – THE GRASS IS ALWAYS GREENER

BONUS TRACK
6. TELL ME NOW
RECORDED AT LANSDOWNE STUDIOS, LONDON 22nd APRIL 1969

DISC TWO
THE GRASS IS GREENER”
US. & CANADIAN ONLY ALBUM RELEASED IN 1970
1. JUMPING OFF THE SUN
2. LOST ANGELES
3. ELEGY
4. BUTTY’S BLUES
5. ROPE LADDER TO THE MOON
6. BOLERO
7. THE MACHINE DEMANDS A SACRIFICE
8. THE GRASS IS ALWAYS GREENER