Скачать или смотреть Dick Heckstall-Smith – "A Story Ended" (Full album) (1972)

Dick Heckstall-Smith – "A Story Ended" (Full album) (1972)

** The Legacy of "A Story Ended"

When the powerhouse jazz-rock outfit Colosseum called it quits in late 1971, it signaled the beginning of a fertile period of solo experimentation. At the center of that storm was Dick Heckstall-Smith, the man whose dual-saxophone technique—playing tenor and soprano simultaneously—had defined the British blues-jazz-fusion sound.

Released in 1972, "A Story Ended" is far more than a Colosseum-lite project. It is a dense, imaginative, and occasionally wild exploration of where the blues meets the avant-garde.

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*** The Lineup and Lyrics

Though billed as a solo debut, the album is a reunion of sorts. Heckstall-Smith brought in the heavy hitters: Jon Hiseman on drums, Graham Bond on organ and Moog, and vocalists Chris Farlowe and Paul Williams. Lyrically, the album benefits from the eccentric touch of Pete Brown—best known for his work with Cream—giving the songs a surreal, poetic backbone that standard blues-rock lacked.

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*** The Track Breakdown

**Future Song: The album opens with a high-octane burst of energy. This track leans heavily into Eastern-tinged jazz, driven by a relentless riff. It features Mark Clarke on vocals and the sharp, rhythmic guitar work of Caleb Quaye, setting a sophisticated but frantic pace that signals the album's experimental intentions.

**Crabs: A shift in dynamics, Crabs moves from a mellow blues atmosphere into a much heavier, rock-oriented sound. Paul Williams delivers a soulful vocal performance, while Dave Greenslade provides a melodic anchor on the piano, bridging the gap between standard blues and the burgeoning prog scene.

**The Pirate’s Dream: The record’s undisputed magnum opus. Clocking in at over 11 minutes, this is an expansive prog-fusion journey. It serves as a reunion for Colosseum fans, featuring Chris Farlowe’s powerhouse, operatic vocals and Jon Hiseman’s masterclass in technical drumming. It’s dense, atmospheric, and technically daring.

**Same Old Thing: Bringing the album back to its roots, this track is a soulful, swinging blues number. It’s a breather after the complexity of the previous tracks, highlighting the easy chemistry between Caleb Quaye’s guitar and Paul Williams’ vocals.

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*** Key Highlights and Musicality

What The Morning Was After: This is arguably the most sophisticated track on the disc. It begins with a nod to John Coltrane’s A Love Supreme before pivoting into a breezy, acoustic-driven folk-jazz section. It’s unpredictable in the best way possible, showcasing Gordon Beck’s delicate piano work.

The Dual-Sax Technique: Throughout these tracks, Heckstall-Smith’s signature technique of playing the tenor and soprano saxophones simultaneously provides a unique, thick horn texture that you simply won't find on other records from this era.

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*** The Verdict

"A Story Ended" is a masterclass in balance. It has the grit of the British blues scene but the intellectual curiosity of the Canterbury scene. While Heckstall-Smith is the leader, he is a generous one, often stepping back to let his world-class collaborators shine.

For fans of Soft Machine, Nucleus, or Colosseum, this is essential listening. It captures a moment in time when the boundaries between genres were entirely porous, and a saxophone could lead a rock band into the stratosphere.

***** Note: If you are looking for the definitive version, the Esoteric Recordings reissue or the recent Long Hair vinyl includes live tracks that demonstrate just how much power this material had when taken to the stage.

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tracklist
A1 Future Song 00:02
Composed By – Heckstall-Smith*
Words By – Brown*

A2 Crabs 04:11
Composed By – Heckstall-Smith*
Words By – Brown*

A3 Moses In The Bullrushourses 09:24
Composed By – Heckstall-Smith*
Words By – Brown*

A4 What The Morning Was After 13:07
Composed By – Heckstall-Smith*
Words By – Brown*

B1 The Pirate's Dream 18:46
Composed By – Clempson*, Heckstall-Smith*, Hiseman*

B2 Same Old Thing 29:58
Composed By – Clempson*, Heckstall-Smith*, Hiseman*

Bass Guitar, Vocals – Mark Clarke (2)
Drums – Rob Tait
Drums, Congas, Bongos, Maracas – Jon Hiseman
Electric Guitar – Chris Spedding
Electric Guitar, Acoustic Guitar – Caleb Quaye
Piano – Dave Greenslade, Gordon Beck
Piano, Organ, Synthesizer [Moog], Vocals – Graham Bond
Tenor Saxophone, Soprano Saxophone, Soprano Saxophone [electric] – D. Heckstall-Smith*
Vocals – Chris Farlowe, Paul Williams (10)
Programmed By [Moog sounds] – Mike Vickers

Producer – Jon Hiseman

The album's title is taken from the Four Quartets by T.S. Eliot
Recorded at The Manor, Oxfordshire, March / April, 1972
Cut at Apple

Label: Warner Bros. Records – BS 2650, Bronze – BS 2650
Format: Vinyl, LP, Album, Gatefold
Country: US
Released: 1972
Genre: Jazz, Rock
Style: Jazz-Rock, Prog Rock

#dickheckstall-smith #jazzrock #progrock