Ark 2
Encyclopedia
Ark 2 is a 1969 concept album
released by obscure British rock group Flaming Youth
. Released in October, the album featured the theme of an evacution from a dying Earth. The main single from the album was "From Now On". The album and its space theme were influenced by the media's attention to the moon landing
. The songs were composed by Ken Howard
and Alan Blaikley
who were not credited on the original record as they did not want their reputation as writers of commercial hits to jeopardise its chances.
The album received some critical praise in the music press. Melody Maker
listed the album as "Pop Album of the Month", calling it "adult music beautifully played with nice tight harmonies". Disc and Music Echo said "there is some splendid music on this very good first album". The rock press of the time was even more favourable and it was awarded Sunday Times Rock Album of the Year in 1969.
Despite this, the album and single were not commercially successful. The BBC did not know what to make of it: there were no radio or TV slots for an extended rock work at the time. So it remained largely unheard except by those who sought it out. Ark 2 was the only album released by Flaming Youth.
Shortly after the release of Ark 2, the band went into the Dutch TV Station TROS studio and recorded a short 5-song set to promote the album, which was filmed and later broadcast on May 14, 1970 on the TROS
TV station. The five songs that were performed are: Earthglow, Weightless, Changes, Space Child, and From Now On (Immortal Invisible). It is the only known footage of Flaming Youth that exist. Both the music and vocals were mimed.
Although the album today remains difficult to obtain, it has been reprinted in various markets mainly for the novelty of Phil Collins
' first major label recording. Collins was the group's drummer, and Ark 2 was Collins' last recording before auditioning for Genesis
the following year.
Concept album
In music, a concept album is an album that is "unified by a theme, which can be instrumental, compositional, narrative, or lyrical." Commonly, concept albums tend to incorporate preconceived musical or lyrical ideas rather than being improvised or composed in the studio, with all songs contributing...
released by obscure British rock group Flaming Youth
Flaming Youth (band)
Flaming Youth was an obscure British rock group, who recorded an album in 1968 before breaking up. Today, the band is more known as the original group of singer Phil Collins, then 18 years of age, who was the group's drummer....
. Released in October, the album featured the theme of an evacution from a dying Earth. The main single from the album was "From Now On". The album and its space theme were influenced by the media's attention to the moon landing
Moon landing
A moon landing is the arrival of a spacecraft on the surface of the Moon. This includes both manned and unmanned missions. The first human-made object to reach the surface of the Moon was the Soviet Union's Luna 2 mission on 13 September 1959. The United States's Apollo 11 was the first manned...
. The songs were composed by Ken Howard
Ken Howard (composer)
Ken Howard is an English songwriter, lyricist, author and television director.-International hits in the 1960s and 1970s:...
and Alan Blaikley
Alan Blaikley
-Early life and career:Born in London, where he survived the Blitz, Alan Blaikley was educated at University College School , Hampstead, and Wadham College, Oxford, where he read Classical Moderations and English, and was Reviews Editor of the university newspaper Cherwell.After coming down from...
who were not credited on the original record as they did not want their reputation as writers of commercial hits to jeopardise its chances.
The album received some critical praise in the music press. Melody Maker
Melody Maker
Melody Maker, published in the United Kingdom, was, according to its publisher IPC Media, the world's oldest weekly music newspaper. It was founded in 1926 as a magazine targeted at musicians; in 2000 it was merged into "long-standing rival" New Musical Express.-1950s–1960s:Originally the Melody...
listed the album as "Pop Album of the Month", calling it "adult music beautifully played with nice tight harmonies". Disc and Music Echo said "there is some splendid music on this very good first album". The rock press of the time was even more favourable and it was awarded Sunday Times Rock Album of the Year in 1969.
Despite this, the album and single were not commercially successful. The BBC did not know what to make of it: there were no radio or TV slots for an extended rock work at the time. So it remained largely unheard except by those who sought it out. Ark 2 was the only album released by Flaming Youth.
Shortly after the release of Ark 2, the band went into the Dutch TV Station TROS studio and recorded a short 5-song set to promote the album, which was filmed and later broadcast on May 14, 1970 on the TROS
TROS
TROS is a Dutch television and radio organization part of the Netherlands Public Broadcasting...
TV station. The five songs that were performed are: Earthglow, Weightless, Changes, Space Child, and From Now On (Immortal Invisible). It is the only known footage of Flaming Youth that exist. Both the music and vocals were mimed.
Although the album today remains difficult to obtain, it has been reprinted in various markets mainly for the novelty of Phil Collins
Phil Collins
Philip David Charles "Phil" Collins, LVO is an English singer-songwriter, drummer, pianist and actor best known as a drummer and vocalist for British progressive rock group Genesis and as a solo artist....
' first major label recording. Collins was the group's drummer, and Ark 2 was Collins' last recording before auditioning for Genesis
Genesis (band)
Genesis are an English rock band that formed in 1967. The band currently comprises the longest-tenured members Tony Banks , Mike Rutherford and Phil Collins . Past members Peter Gabriel , Steve Hackett and Anthony Phillips , also played major roles in the band in its early years...
the following year.
Tracks
- "Guide Me Orion" - 3:18
- Lead vocals: (Flash) Gordon Smith
- "Earthglow" - 2:54
- Lead vocals: Brian Chatton & (Flash) Gordon Smith
- "Weightless" - 2:38
- Instrumental
- "The Planets" - 12:49
- 1. "Mars - Bringer of War"
- Lead vocals: Flaming Youth
- 2. "Venus - Bringer of Peace"
- Lead vocals: Brian Chatton
- 3. "Mercury - The Winged Messenger"
- Lead vocals: Flaming Youth
- 4. "Jupiter - Bringer of Jollity"
- Lead vocals: Phil CollinsPhil CollinsPhilip David Charles "Phil" Collins, LVO is an English singer-songwriter, drummer, pianist and actor best known as a drummer and vocalist for British progressive rock group Genesis and as a solo artist....
- 5. "Saturn - Bringer of Old Age"
- Lead vocals: Phil CollinsPhil CollinsPhilip David Charles "Phil" Collins, LVO is an English singer-songwriter, drummer, pianist and actor best known as a drummer and vocalist for British progressive rock group Genesis and as a solo artist....
- 6. "Uranus - The Magician"
- Lead vocals: Brian Chatton
- 7. "Neptune - The Mystic"
- Lead vocals: Ronnie CarylRonnie CarylRonnie Caryl is an English musician. Over the years Caryl has worked alongside Phil Collins, plus David Hentschel, Michel Polnareff, Lulu, Stephen Bishop, Eric Clapton, Gary Brooker, Maggie Bell and John Otway.-Biography:...
- "Changes" - 5:47
- Lead vocals: Phil CollinsPhil CollinsPhilip David Charles "Phil" Collins, LVO is an English singer-songwriter, drummer, pianist and actor best known as a drummer and vocalist for British progressive rock group Genesis and as a solo artist....
& (Flash) Gordon Smith
- Lead vocals: Phil Collins
- "Pulsar" - 3:07
- Lead vocals: Brian Chatton & (Flash) Gordon Smith
- "Space Child" - 5:11
- Lead vocals: Phil CollinsPhil CollinsPhilip David Charles "Phil" Collins, LVO is an English singer-songwriter, drummer, pianist and actor best known as a drummer and vocalist for British progressive rock group Genesis and as a solo artist....
- Lead vocals: Phil Collins
- "In the Light of Love" - 3:27
- Lead vocals: Flaming Youth
- "From Now On (Immortal Invisible)" - 4:21
- Lead vocals: Brian Chatton