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Of Queues And Cures

Artist: National Health
Label: Charly Records Ltd.
Catalog#: CRL 5010
Format: Vinyl
Country: United States
Released: 1978-12
Tracklist
A1 The Bryden 2-Step (For Amphibians) (Part 1) 8:52
  Notes:

Cello - Georgie Born
Piano, Written-By - Dave Stewart
Trombone - Paul Nieman
Trumpet - Phil Minton

A2 The Collapso 6:22
  Notes:

Piano, Written-By - Dave Stewart
Steel Drums - Selwyn Baptiste

A3 Squarer For Maud 12:05
  Notes:

Cello - Georgie Born
Clarinet [Bass] - Jimmy Hastings
Oboe - Keith Thompson
Percussion [& Hand Claps] - Pip Pyle
Piano [Innards], Written-by - John Greaves
Piano, Synthesizer [Minimoog] - Dave Stewart
Voice - Peter Blegvad

B1 Dreams Wide Awake 8:54
  Notes:

Bass [On 6/4 Organ Solo] - Rick Biddulph
Synthesizer [Minimoog] - Dave Stewart
Written-By - Phil Miller

B2 Binoculars 11:58
  Notes:

Flute, Clarinet - Jimmy Hastings
Oboe - Keith Thompson
Trombone - Paul Nieman
Trumpet - Phil Minton
Vocals [Crooning] - John Greaves
Written-By - Pip Pyle

B3 Phlakaton  
  Notes:

Written-By - Pip Pyle

B4 The Bryden 2-Step (For Amphibians) (Part 2) 5:46
  Notes:

Cello - Georgie Born
Piano, Written-By - Dave Stewart
Trombone - Paul Nieman
Trumpet - Phil Minton

Credits

Bass - John Greaves
Design [Sleeve] - Jill Mumford
Drums - Pip Pyle
Guitar - Phil Miller
Organ, Electric Piano - Dave Stewart
Photography [Front] - Brian Rule
Photography [Group Shot] - Laurie Lewis
Producer - Mike Dunne
Producer - National Health

Strawberry Bricks Entry: 
Following their debut album's release, National Health saw bassist Neil Murray leave for (can you believe it?) Whitesnake, and ex-Henry Cow John Greaves arrive to replace him. The band returned to the road in 1978, which included a supporting slot for old friend Steve Hillage, before entering the studio in July to record Of Queues And Cures. Dave Stewart kicks things off with two compositions: "The Bryden 2-Step (For Amphibians) (Part 1)" and "The Collapso." The first has a considerably lighter melody than anything on the previous album, but is by no means lightweight; while the second pokes fun under a sideways steel drum, though for the most part, it's tried-and-true ensemble playing for the band. "Squarer for Maud" is Greaves's contribution and contains some exciting guitar work from Phil Miller. Ex-Henry Cow cellist Georgie Born and ex-Slappy Happy vocalist Peter Blegvad make appearances as well. Miller's "Dreams Wide Awake" opens side two, and leans more on the heavy jazz quotient. Pip Pyle's "Binoculars" is a surprising and welcome vocal diversion, with Greaves tackling the crooning-possibly the band's greatest moment on record. Stewart left before the album's release, citing "musical anarchy," which caused the band to abort an upcoming Italian tour; but Alan Gowen eventually stepped back in, rejoining Pyle, Greaves and Miller. The quartet spent the next year touring, and even made a jaunt to America in November 1979. Momentum, however, was not on their side; and in early 1980 the band folded before committing any music to tape. Sadly, Gowen would succumb to leukemia in 1981, which prompted Stewart, Miller, Pyle and Greaves to reform the band for one last album of Gowen's compositions as tribute, titled D.S. Al Coda. The album was released on Jean-Pierre Weiller's Europa Records in 1982.
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