The idea that 4 geniuses stumbled upon a crumbling Downton Abbey in Monmouth- shire in 1971, moved in, and recorded a suite of masterpieces between 1972 -1974 that no one has ever heard is so attractive it must be, and is, true. A pony trekking Baronet, a Lord of Bards, a Casey Jones lookalike and a man who swore to change his name to Mer- leau-Ponty if he lost a bet, and did. That was The Great Crash. And Deadfire Echoes is the sublimest lost masterwork of British Rock. It may be the British answer to Deja Vu.
Hints of early Elton John at his finest, of 10cc, of Edwardian melancholia and Noel Coward, and W.E.Johns and Wodehouse. The original- ity in this record alone, is simply overwhelm- ing. That a song about a Celebration Dinner is an intricate, complex masterwork of pathos, and one of the finest works in the rock and roll pantheon. This then is The Great Crash, and our great privilege to let these exquisite songs finally be heard.
The former home of The Great Crash, Plas Llecha, became Loco Studios, and the ghosts of these songs swirled unknown around Oasis and The Verve.
Liner-Notes
Tracks
1. Magnolia Street - 4:14
2. Deadfire Echoes - 5:02
3. Celebration Dinner - 4:35
4. Never Been So Long - 3:45
5. Sophia - 2:52
6. Beyond The Pyramids - 4:38
7. Naughty Postcards - 2:36
8. Monastery Wine - 3:10
9. Regimental Reunion - 4:43
10.She's A Winner - 5:38
11.Drugstore Cowboy - 3:52
12.Love Will Find A Way - 2:57
13.Crystal Waters - 3:41
14.Memorial Twist - 2:37
15.Silver Wing (George Benn) - 3:53
16.Witchfinder General (George Benn, Nick Smith) - 3:22
17.She Throws It All Away - 3:35
18.The Sweetest Thing - 4:51
19.Let It Rain (George Benn, Nick Smith) - 2:18
20.Cool Mountain Water (George Benn, Nick Smith) - 3:23
21.Western Shore (George Benn, Nick Smith) - 3:22
All songs by Alan Gray, Piers Geddes except where stated
The Great Crash
*Alan Gray - Guitar, Vocals, Clavinet, Piano
*Piers Geddes - Drums, Vocals, Percussion, Harmonium
*George Benn - Bass, Vocals
*Nick Smith - Guitar, Bass, Harmonium, Percussion
