Merlin is the eighth studio album by Dutch band Kayak

Kayak (band)

Kayak are a Dutch progressive rock band formed in 1972 in the city Hilversum by Ton Scherpenzeel and Pim Koopman. In 1973, their debut album "See See The Sun" was released, including 3 hit singles. Their main popularity was in the Netherlands, with their top hit reaching #6 on the Dutch charts in...

. The first half of the original LP is a concept-story about Merlin

Merlin

Merlin is a legendary figure best known as the wizard featured in the Arthurian legend. The standard depiction of the character first appears in Geoffrey of Monmouth's Historia Regum Britanniae, written c. 1136, and is based on an amalgamation of previous historical and legendary figures...

 the magician. The second half of the LP is a collection of individual songs.

In 2003, Kayak released a re-worked and longer version of the Merlin-story, under the title Merlin - Bard Of The Unseen

Merlin - Bard of the Unseen

Merlin - Bard Of The Unseen is a studio album by the Dutch progressive rock band Kayak. This concept-album is a new version of side 1 of their 1981 album Merlin, with nine new songs added....

.

Track listing

1. "Merlin" - 7:23
2. "Tintagel" - 2:41
3. "The Sword In The Stone" - 3:31
4. "The King's Enchanter" - 2:42
5. "Niniane (Lady Of The Lake) - 7:22
6. "Seagull" - 4:10
7. "Boogie Heart" - 4:11
8. "Now That We've Come This Far" - 4:29
9. "Can't Afford To Lose" - 3:19
10. "Love's Aglow" - 6:03

All songs composed by Ton Scherpenzeel, lyrics by Ton Scherpenzeel and Irene Linders

Lineup

Ton Scherpenzeel

Ton Scherpenzeel

Ton Scherpenzeel is a keyboardist and a founding member of the Dutch rock band Kayak, together with Pim Koopman and Max Werner whom he met whilst at the Hilversum Muziek Lyceum ....

 - Keyboards, backing vocals (lead vocals on "Love's Aglow")

Max Werner

Max Werner

Max Werner was lead singer, drummer and percussionist of the Dutch Progressive rock band Kayak. He co-founded the band along with keyboardist Ton Scherpenzeel, guitarist Johan Slager and drummer Pim Koopman in 1972....

 - Drums, percussion, backing vocals

Johan Slager

Johan Slager

Johan Slager is the original guitar player of the Dutch Progressive Rock band Kayak. He co-founded the band along with Ton Scherpenzeel, Pim Koopman and Max Werner in 1972. He left the band in 1982 after 9 albums, and returned briefly for a couple of performances in the 1990s...

 - Electric & acoustic guitars, banjo, flute

Edward Reekers

Edward Reekers

Edward Reekers is a Dutch singer. Most notable is his work as lead singer for Dutch progressive rock band Kayak.Having been a fan of the band for years, Reekers joined Kayak in 1978. He replaced Max Werner, who became the band's drummer. With Reekers as the new lead singer, Kayak immediately...

- Lead and backing vocals

Peter Scherpenzeel - Bass guitar, recorder

Irene Linders - Backing vocals

Katherine Lapthorn - Backing vocals

External links

• Official site