Graham Reid | | 1 min read
Molly
Actually, not so much a “reissue” as an “issue”, this vinyl-only release of an album that never was by the excellent Fourmyula wasn't even tied-in with the recent New Zealand Music Month.
It is a limited edition labour of love by archivist/collector and Fourmyula fan Colin Linwood who – with permission from the band members and considerable assistance from fellow believers – has had a limited edition of this 13 song record pressed and wrapped in a smart sleeve with an insert essay.
The 2010 four-CD collection Complete Fourmyula notwithstanding (which included this album), here at last on vinyl as nature intended and the time would have dictated is the band's final album from 1970 – recorded in Abbey Road while the Beatles were next door creating their album of that name – which was never released.
Formed in Upper Hutt in the mid Sixties, the Fourmyula cracked numerous hits and memorable singles – not the least Nature which appears here in it more constrained UK version, Come With Me, Alice is There and Otaki among them – and this album is a testament to their musical breadth in that alongside Nature there is tough rock'n'soul (Please Take Me), edgy rock (Up Country City Down) and ballads (the pastoral Wrong or Right?).
The taut Molly seemed to point towards nasty bubblegum/glam pop and title track remains a classic, orchestrated ballad from the pen of Wayne Mason.
It helped they had smart and different songwriters in Mason, Martin Hope and Chris Parry, all of whom – and bassist Ali Richardson -- sang alongside lead vocalist Carl Evensen (who had something of Steve Marriott in his delivery).
Although an album of its period, Turn Your Back on the Wind is an album that deserved release back then and although this is a rather belated vinyl edition it is pleasure to have right now.
Turn Your Back on the Wind is available in limited numbers from JB Hi-Fi stores here.
Nick Bollinger tells the story of the album in this radio programme.
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