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GRYPHON is the 12-track eponymous album from British experimental folk band Gryphon.

This limited-edition Japanese release comes in an LP-style slipcase.

CD comes in Jpn LP Sleeve.

Personnel: Graeme Taylor (vocals, guitar, steel guitar, descant, recorder, harpsichord, organ, keyboards); Richard Harvey (vocals, guitar, classical guitar, descant, mandolin, recorder, soprano recorder, tenor recorder, horns, crumhorn, soprano crumhorn, tenor crumhorn, harpsichord, harmonium, organ, keyboards, glockenspiel, wind); Brian Gulland (vocals, recorder, bassoon, horns, crumhorn, tenor crumhorn, harpsichord, organ, keyboards); David Oberle (vocals, glockenspiel, drums, percussion, gong); Graeme Gulland (guitar); Richard Brian, Ernest Hart (keyboards); David Brian (percussion).

Recording information: Livingston Studios; Riverside Recordings.

Illustrator: Dan Pearce.

Photographer: Roger Perry.

Unknown Contributor Roles: David Brian; Larry Marks.

Arrangers: Gryphon; Brian Gulland; Graeme Taylor.

The group's debut album. They were still a quartet at the time, without a full-time keyboard player. The material is essentially progressive folk-rock, elements of jazz and swing ("Over the Rainbow" even turns up interpolated in the arrangement of one number) juxtaposed with traditional folk songs ("The Unquiet Grave," ka "Dives and Lazarus"), works attributed to Henry VIII, and folk-style originals. Brian Gulland's and Richard Harvey's bassoon, krumhorn, and recorders are the dominant instruments. The instrumental tracks tend to overwhelm the tiny handful of vocal numbers, sung by Gulland, guitarist Graeme Taylor, and drummer David Oberle. ~ Bruce Eder

Genre:

• Pop / Rock

Music Categories:

• Rock & Pop: Progressive Rock