In the early 1970s, progressive rock was big here in the UK as the likes of Yes, Genesis, Gentle Giant etc. ruled the roost.
A band which certainly should have been up there with them was the wonderfully named Wally – just two magnificent albums before they called it a day.
I’d all but forgotten about them until having a conversation recently with a friend from Harrogate (which was Wally’s stomping ground) and we got talking about the NWOBHM and prog which we both grew up on and Wally came up.
A bit of clicking around to look Wally up and found that Cherry Red/Esoteric re-issued Wally’s two albums as a double CD – Martyrs and Cowboys the Atlantic Recordings. The order button duly pressed and it arrived a few days later transporting myself back forty-odd years and a reminder about how good Wally were.
With the use of electric violin and steel guitar in amongst the proggy stuff they had a bit of a USP. And when they came to the attention of Rick Wakeman and “Whispering” Bob Harris then surely Wally were on the up and up……..weren’t they?
Their debut self-titled album was produced by Rick and Bob and released in 1974. A sublime effort of consummate musicianship and well-crafted progressive rock with folky leanings with some excellent harmonies as well. Think something along the lines of Barclay James Harvest and Curved Air.
The opening track – The Martyr – is a killer. The violin based intro is excellent before it stretches out in to seven or so minutes of classic prog as good as you’ll hear anywhere. To The Urban Man similarly stirring showing the band’s talents. As do songs such as Just Wanna Be a Cowboy which are more restrained affairs not unlike say early Eagles.
Wally’s second album – Valley Gardens – named after an area of Harrogate is generally more consistently towards classic progressive rock. In particular the title track and the superb The Reason Why which took up the whole second side of the album.
Around twenty minutes of the most impressive slab of 19701s prog rock as it meanders over those twenty minutes having it all and then some. Based around the Charge of the Light Brigade it’s marvellously evocative.
Despite much critical acclaim, things wouldn’t work out for Wally. Support slots with Yes on a major America tour and the Eagles on a European tour fell though as did Atlantic’s support and that was that. Such as shame as they’d surely have been a big hit with Yes fans on that tour.
Have a listen to The Martyr as an example of how good Wally were:
The anthology is available from Cherry Red as I type this post for a tasty price of just £11.99. A small price to pay for two albums from a band who surely should have been right there with Yes, Genesis, BJH and all the other giants of early 1970s prog rock.