Author: Peter Podbrežnik
Artist: Intergalactic Touring Band
Label: Voiceprint
Release: 1977
Rating: 4.5/5
Long before the notorious Dutch progressive metal multi-instrumentalist Arjen A. Lucassen (Ayreon, Star One) first came up with the idea of a space rock opera featuring an international all-star cast of singers and instrumentalists, there was a musical formation with the telling name Intergalactic Touring Band that had taken on exactly that kind of feat. They weren’t a band in the true sense of the word, but an international progressive rock project that created a self-titled sci-fi concept album.
The album featured a slew of star names such as Meat Loaf, Dave Cousins (Strawbs), Francis Rossi (Status Quo), Annie Haslam (Renaissance), Arthur Brown (ex-Crazy World of Arthur Brown, Kingdom Come, Hawkwind), Rod Argent (Argent), Anthony Phillips (ex-Genesis), Percy Jones (ex-Brand X, Soft Machine), Larry Fast (ex-Peter Gabriel, Nektar, Synergy) and Ben E. King (ex-The Drifters). The majestic orchestral arrangements were mostly directed by David Bedford, Stephan Galfas and Will Malone (the latter probably best known to music lovers for working with Black Sabbath and as the producer of Iron Maiden’s debut album).
The individual compositions were built around a relatively simple but still epic concept of multi-generational space voyages and the human colonization of alien planets. At its core the concept is dead simple: the band spent ten years traveling through various galaxies, promoting mutual understanding and peace through music. After a long time away, they finally return to Earth to play their first gig in the newly opened Orbital Concert Hall. The naivety and sacred simplicity of this concept is really the only true flaw on an album that’s brilliant in every other respect.
The album is still a joy to listen to from start to finish, since thanks to the host of different singers and instrumentalists, each bringing their own signature touches, it’s positively bursting with variety, and most of the songs have held up surprisingly well over time. Even though this is a progressive rock project, every single track runs under five minutes. The style of the album is probably best described as a cross between symphonic rock, melodic rock and even disco (on two tracks).
From the orchestral-flavored opening instrumental “Approach” on, it’s clear this is a wonderful musical journey through symphonic-melodic rock galaxies, soaked in an more-than-convincing atmosphere that keeps you hooked right to the end of the album. The energetic “Silver Lady” immediately serves up an exceptionally tasty helping of melodic rock and symphonics, while Rod Argent’s phenomenal singing easily ranks among the album’s highlights. The chorus is deliberately run through a vocoder to give it a futuristic flavor, while in the background it’s easy to pick out Fast’s trademark layering of symphonic textures on the mellotron (which plays an important role on most of the tracks) and synthesizers. This is a composition that will easily charm most fans of bands like Camel, Electric Light Orchestra, Renaissance, Nektar, Styx and Yes.
“Universal Zoo-Why” boasts the eccentric but always in-great-spirits Arthur Brown on lead vocals. The theatrical intro, with some “spacey” effects on synthesizers, turns into an almost solemn, symphonic-balladesque section with layered harmonies and Joel Krantz on lead vocals, which makes for a wonderful contrast. “Starship Jingle” is another phenomenal creation, built on an energetic hard rock guitar riff and gorgeous Beatles-style vocal harmonies, while Peppi Marchello’s (The Good Rats) vocal approach undoubtedly belongs among the elite of the then-nascent AOR scene. With the epic “Heartbreaker”, ruled by the distinctive voice of prog folk rock legend Dave Cousins, the album once again hits one of its peaks. Ethereal orchestral arrangements blend harmoniously into a mighty chorus enriched with romantic harmonies. A breath of folk comes courtesy of a flute solo by John Zangrand.
The orchestral ballad “Reaching Out” is a chance for Annie Haslam, one of the best singers in the history of (progressive) rock, to once again show off her incredible vocal chops, while the London symphony orchestra accompanies her in the background with magnificent symphonic arrangements. “First Landing” is a fine example of pompous arena rock with a bunch of acoustic arrangements and excellent singing from Steve Barth, while in the background you can hear a synthesizer-made chorus of the thrilled “populace” welcoming the band’s touchdown and return to Earth with rapture. “Space Commando” even has a slight psychedelic pulse, while Mr. Snips’ vocals bring in a breath of soul. “Robot Salesmen” is crowned with lush symphonic arrangements and vocal theatricality. Jim Cuomo’s vocal approach is a bit reminiscent of the legendary Gordon Haskell (ex-King Crimson).
“Love Station” is a fun blend of soul and disco with Ben E. King on lead vocals and female harmonies, and you can even sense some hit potential in it. “A Planet Called Monday -Epilogue” is another composition split into two parts. In the first part, Francis Rossi of Status Quo shines with his vocal turn, pulling off the unusual role of guest singer with ease, and the boogie-driven rhythm suits him just fine. The second part is completely balladesque and orchestral in color. The closing epic “Keeper Keep Us” is the album’s last peak, with superb singing from Meat Loaf, mighty vocal multi-harmonies and regal symphonic arrangements. The big guy pours his whole heart and a heap of convincing emotion into his singing this time too, which is good news for the legions of his fans who may never have heard of this album before.
An ambitious project with orchestral arrangements and a space rock opera crowned with a sci-fi concept, in the hands of an international all-star lineup, was an incredibly bold move in 1977, when punk was trying to smear everything that so much as smelled of progressive rock. Despite the cold shoulder from critics at the time, this superstar crew of musicians nailed the job and made a classic that has become a real rarity over the years, a lost gem for fans of the musicians involved and their bands. It’s not every day that musicians from such wildly different genres, like Arthur Brown, Francis Rossi, Dave Cousins and Meat Loaf, work together on a progressive rock concept project. So all you fans of the rock legends listed above, and of symphonic rock, space rock and sci-fi (especially The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy), who are only now hearing about this project for the first time, get yourselves a copy as soon as you can and get ready for an unforgettable musical lift-off!
Lineup
Rod Argent – vocals
Arthur Brown – vocals
Annie Haslam – vocals
Steve Barth – vocals
Dave Cousins – vocals
Meat Loaf – vocals
Francis Rossi – vocals
Ben E. King – vocals
Mr. Snips – vocals
Peppi Marchello – vocals
Jim Cuomo – vocals
Joel Krantz – vocals
Jeffrey Leynor – vocals
David Scance – electric and acoustic guitar
Anthony Phillips – acoustic guitar
John Tropea – electric guitar
Peter Sobel – bass guitar
Percy Jones – bass guitar
Frank Prescod – bass guitar
Larry Fast – keyboards
Brian Cuomo – keyboards
Paul Marchetti – drums and percussion
John Zagrando – flute
David Bedford- orchestral arrangements
Will Malone – orchestral arrangements
Stephan Galfas – orchestral arrangements
Danny Beckerman – orchestral arrangements
Production
Intergalactic Touring Band
Track list
1. Approach
2. Silver Lady
3. Universal Zoo – Why
4. Starship Jingle
5. Heartbreaker
6. Reaching Out
7. First Landing
8. Space Commando
9. Robot Salesmen
10. Love Station
11. A Planet Called Monday – Epilogue
12. Keeper Keep Us
