Unreal

"This Thing Is Heavy," "Friendship," "Lady Of The Night" and "Dumb Dude" were previously released on BLOODSTONE, Decca [UK] (110).
Bloodstone: Charles Love, Willis Draffen, Jr. (vocals, guitar); Charles McCormick (vocals, bass); Harry Williams, Roger Durham (vocals, percussion); Harry Wilkins (guitar, bass); Darryl Clifton, Eddie Summers (drums).
Additional personnel includes: Pip Williams (electric sitar, strings, horns, reeds); Geoffrey Browne (oboe, English horn); Mike Vernon (harmonica, claves, guiro, shaker, vibraslap); Laurence Garman (harmonica); Roy Willox (soprano saxophone, clarinet); Chris Mercer (tenor saxophone); John Donnely, Johnny Huckridge, Cecil Moss (trumpet); Tony Hallstead (French horn); Billy Graham (trombone); Pete Wingfield (piano, electric piano).
Producers: Mike Vernon (tracks 1-10); George Braunstein, Ron Hamady, Bloodstone (tracks 11-14).
Engineers: Barry Hammond, Kevin Fuller, Adrian Martins (tracks 1-10).
Principally recorded at The Chipping Norton Recording Studios, Oxfordshire, England between April and May 1973; Decca Studios, Decca No. 2 Studio and Command Studios, London, England. Originally released on London (634). Includes liner notes by Wayne Edwards.
Personnel: Willis Draffen, Charles Love (vocals, guitar); Charles McCormick (vocals, bass guitar); Harold Williams , Harry Williams, Roger Durham (vocals, percussion); Harry Wilkins (guitar, bass guitar); Pip Williams (electric sitar, strings, reeds, horns); David Katz, Laurie Clay, Michael Rennie, M. Taylor, M. Jones (violin); B. Hurst, Ian Jewel, Rusen Gunes, Stephen Shingles (viola); F. Gabbero, Robin Firman, Ben Kennard (cello); Mike Vernon (harmonica, claves, guiro, shaker, vibraslap); Laurence Garman (harmonica); Roy Willox (clarinet, soprano saxophone); Geoffrey Browne (oboe); Chris Mercer (tenor saxophone); John Donnelly , Cecil Moss, John Huckridge (trumpet); Tony Hallstead, Ron Harris (French horn); Peter Smith , Jeff Perkins, Billy Graham (trombone); Pete Wingfield (keyboards); Eddie Summers, Darryl Clifton (drums); Frank Ricotti (congas).
Audio Remasterers: Daniel Hersch; Bill Inglot.
Liner Note Author: Wayne Edwards.
Recording information: Decca No. 2 Studio, West Hampstead, London, England (04/1973-05/1973); Decca Studios, Tollington Park, London, England (04/1973-05/1973); Decca Studios, West Hampstead, London, England (04/1973-05/1973); The Chipping Norton Recording Studios, Oxfordshire, Eng (04/1973-05/1973).
Photographer: Jeffrey Weisel.
Unknown Contributor Role: Popart Strings.
The first ten tracks here came from the second Bloodstone album, Unreal; the last five are from Bloodstone, the 1972 U.K. release that mostly parallels Natural High in the States. "Outside Woman" was the hit but the point is the blend of rock and soul. Wayne Edwards' notes are superb. ~ Dave Marsh