"Sense of the Absurd"

Released 1995

Vertigo Records
Vertigo 528 696-2 (UK, CD only)

Produced by Muff Winwood
Researched and compiled by Richard Lane
        
Disc One  - "Patto", Vertigo 1970 Disc Two "Hold Your Fire", Vertigo 1971
1. THE MAN (6:14) 1. HOLD YOUR FIRE (8:04)
2. HOLD ME BACK (4:41) 2. YOU, YOU POINT YOUR FINGER (4:33)
3. TIME TO DIE (2:55) 3. HOW'S YOUR FATHER  (4:43) 
4. RED GLOW (5:17) 4. SEE YOU AT THE DANCE 
TONIGHT (4:56) 
 5. SAN ANTONE (3:10) 5. GIVE IT ALL AWAY (4:09)
6. GOVERNMENT MAN (4:21) 6. AIR-RAID SHELTER (7:04) 
7. MONEY BAG (10:06) 7. TELL ME WHERE YOU'VE BEEN (3:47)
8. SITTIN' BACK EASY (3:44) 8. MAGIC DOOR (4:22)
Bonus Track Bonus Tracks
9. HANGING ROPE (14:46) 9. BEAT THE DRUM (5:06)
10. BAD NEWS (4:36)
11. AIR-RAID SHELTER (Alt. Version) (7:02)
   
Tracks 1-4, 9 (Halsey/Griffiths/Patto/Halsall) Tracks 1-2, 5, 7-8 (Patto/Halsall)
Tracks 5-8 (Halsall/Patto) Tracks 3-4, 6, 11 (Halsall)
Tracks 9-10 (Halsey/Griffiths/Patto/Halsall)
All titles published by Blue Mountain Music (ASCAP)
          

"Sense of the Absurd" is a repackaging of Patto's first two albums, "Patto" (1970) and "Hold Your Fire" (1971), and more than 30 minutes of previously unreleased bonus tracks were issued for the first time.  The original master tapes were used, so these CDs offered the best quality available at the time, though some of us agree that the "Patto" album suffers from some heavy-handed equalization, particularly in the mid-range frequencies.
    

No explanation or credit is given for the new cover artwork pictured at the top of this page.
    
The booklet folds out into a nice 6-panel sheet with photos of Patto/Timebox and liner notes from Richard Lane.  Regarding the original album artwork, only the front covers of the two original albums are reproduced.  The CDs themselves have the Vertigo swirl artwork.
   
Back insert.

One of the pictures from John Halsey's archives that was included in the booklet.  The photo was taken on the roof of Club Noreik, Tottenham, London, circa 1970.

  

Check out the pages for "Patto" and "Hold Your Fire" for details about the original albums.  As far as describing the bonus tracks, Richard Lane does that himself in his liner notes.  
  
Read  more information in this press release for "Sense of the Absurd" and the Facelift Record Review from September 1996.
   

 

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