T2 was formed in early 1970 when Peter Dunton (drums, lead vocals and songs) left the Gun to join up with Keith Cross (guitar and keyboards) and Bernard Jinks (bass), both from Bulldog Breed. They soon found a strong musical rapport and, after less than a week of rehearsals, they started a residency at a club in London's West End.
By their third gig, the club was packed, and the producers from four major record companies and three TV and Radio programmes were there to check them out. This led to a recording deal with Decca Records, the release of "It'll All Work Out In Boomland" and several TV and radio appearances later in the year.
Their rise continued throughout the year, with appearances at several important open-air festivals, including the Isle of Wight and Plumpton. They headlined a series of residencies at the Marquee Club, and appeared at virtually every major rock venue in the London area before branching out onto the university circuit. They were constantly in the music press - indeed Keith, still only seventeen, was being hailed as the new Eric Clapton! In the end, the pressures grew too great and first Keith and then Bernard left the band.
After a short break, Peter put the band back on the road with new musicians, and T2 toured the UK continuously throughout 1971 and 1972. Finally, a settled line-up was achieved - including Mike Foster, who had been a friend of the band since the early lays. However, the UK music scene had changed considerably by then. The band found that to resume their recording career, they would have to compromise their musical policy. Rather than do this, they decided to stop altogether.
Essentially, T2 were an exceptional live band with a unique blend of musical styles. The three musicians played as one, with great emotional intensity, and sounded like no one else. Their music went through constant changes of light and shade, from wistful acoustic whispers to thunderous roars of anger, creating great musical tension on the way. Their concerts were not just a series of favourite songs, they were emotional experiences, which somehow triggered feelings and memories in their audiences. In some ways it was fitting that they should end too soon - a promise unfulfilled, a question unanswered. But the dream did not die.
Tracks
1. In Circles - 8:34
2. J.L.T. - 5:44
3. No More White Horses - 8:35
4. Morning - 21:14
Bonus tracks:
5. Questions And Answers - 5:17
6. CD - 7:01
7. In Circles - 9:07
T2
*Keith Cross - Guitars, Keyboards, Harmony Vocals
*Peter Dunton - Drums, Lead Vocals
*Bernard Jinks - Bass Guitar, Harmony Vocals
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1965-68 The Flies - Complete Collection
1968-69 Please - Please
1969 Please - Seeing Stars
1969-70 Infinity - Collected Works
1971-72 Keith Cross, Peter Ross - Bored Civilians (2010 remaster)
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Such a CLASSIC heavy post-psychedelic proto-prog album. Vocals distinctive for the idiom -- not loud, but haunting and mournful, over loud music. Self-titled release, issued much much later from other sessions is very good too, but not that well-recorded.
ReplyDeleteFor me one of the greatest pop album with Dark.
ReplyDeleteGreat guitar playing from Keith Cross .
No trace from this young guitarist after a Cross & Ross album (not at the level of T2).
Thanks for this post.
Thank you very much Marios!!
ReplyDeletethanks for sharing Marios
ReplyDeletewe need this up again fearless leader!
ReplyDelete....renewed...
ReplyDeleteMuito obrigado pelo excelente blog!!!
ReplyDeleteT2 were unique in so many ways .
ReplyDeleteBy that summer of '1970' King Crimson had already released 'In the court of the Crimson king a year earlier and now in 1970 so many bands like Jethro Tull, Yes, Free, Family , The Moodies, Zeppelin, Purple ,ELP and Santana had all released so many incredible records that an album such as 'Boomland' would find it hard to find a place ...
Labels were very important and if you were on the 'wrong label' it would have some significance on your future wellbeing .
Atalntic was cool , so Yes' and Zep' were ok , Island' was super cool so Crimson , Elp and Free were sorted but 'Decca' ...?
Decca had turned down The Beatles , they were middle of the road compared to all the others ...
So lack of good promotion , lack of investment , label bosses out of touch with the Zietgiest and an unknown band who had come from obscurity to be something of the 'new underground darlings ' .
It was always going to be a 'hard act to follow' as they used to say ...
And hard it was ...
Decca got fed up and should have offered them a transfer to 'Deram' ( Decca's new prog arm of their label) they has Caravan' so at least that way they could have have had a chance ...
No this wasn't to be and it went down the pan ...
Boomland was deleted in the next 12 months , the band split and never ever managed to achieve that highpoint whch was 'Boomland ' ...
Pete Dunton -Drums and vocals tried to keep the band touring and they recorded a few patchy records mainly demos and even managed to release albums in the early 90's as a version of T2 but no ...
Last heard of playing bars and clubs in Thailand !! so sad, there is a shaky vid on YouTube othis current band doing 'All the White Horses' in a tiny bar with people talking over them just like any other regular pub band...Bahhh not good . I think Pete Dunton lives over there ...
Keith Cross was last seen in the USA and reportedly teachng music .( Not confirmed)
Nothing heard of Bernard Jinks since the early days , some reports of him passing away not sure about that...
One of the great great lost albums and right up there with Terry Reid turning down the vocal spot in Zeppelin because he had a tour booked and couldn't commit , so he suggested his mate Robert Plant !!- a 'What might have been' situation.
Imagine a 'sliding doors ' world where both T2 had become as big as say Yes' and Terry Reid fronting Led Zeppelin ...wow .
Now that would have been something ...
Boomland' is hard to get hold of ...
The vinyl album is worth a lot of money and any cd versions have been pretty messy .
There is a current Japanese print of the album , it's expensive and sells for around £34.00 so you decide.
Marios, could you please provide new link? I have this CD but without bonus tracks. Thank you!
ReplyDeleteMusicFan, "T2 - It'll All Work Out in Boomland" updated..
ReplyDeletein my top 5 favorite bands & they still record. Follow them on Facebook go to there website ...they are still prolific
ReplyDeleteHi, thanks for this update Marios.
ReplyDeleteBought the album back in 1970, amazing piece of music, been trying retrace the band but got the name wrong, Christopher Cross some how. Great memories of listening to Boomtown on the headphones.
Going to do some more research and dig out the album to play more often. Made my Christmas, thanks.