Warm Dust -

Warm Dust was an English post-psych, jazz-rock band that released the 1970 double-album And It Came to Pass on the Philips-subsidiary Trend, followed by 1971’s Peace for Our Time. Their self-titled third album appeared in 1972 on the German jazz label BASF.

Despite the presence of future serial singer Paul Carrack, harpist–guitarist Les Walker (aka Dransfield Walker) was the principle Warm Dust vocalist. In 1976, Walker appeared on back-to-back albums by Big Jim Sullivan’s Tiger. Over the next two decades, Carrack enjoyed a sequence of high-profile roles in Ace, Squeeze, and Mike & the Mechanics.

Members: Les Walker (lead vocals, guitar, harmonica, vibraphone, shakers), Paul Carrack (organ, piano, guitar, timpani, vocals), John Surguy (saxophone, flute, oboe, clarinet, vibraphone, guitar, vocals), Alan Solomon (saxophone, flute, oboe, piano, clarinet), Terry “Tex” Comer (bass, guitar, recorder), Dave Pepper (drums, percussion), Keith Bailey (drums, percussion, vocals), John Bedson (drums, percussion)

Background

Warm Dust formed in 1969 in Sheffield. Bassist Terry Comer and drummer Dave Pepper came from So On And So Forth, a Burnley teenage mod quintet that covered songs by Cream (“Sweet Wine”) and The Monkees (“(I’m Not Your) Steppin’ Stone”). They employed singer/harpist Dransfield Walker, teenage multi-instrumentalist Paul Carrack (b. April 22, 1951), and two multi-reedists: Alan Solomon (ex-Gideon’s Few) and John Surguy.

And It Came to Pass

Warm Dust released their debut album, And It Came to Pass, in November 1970 on Trend. The album contains eight originals spread across four sides, plus the Ritchie Havens standard “Indian Rope Man.”

And It Came to Pass features singer/guitarist Les Walker and guitarist/keyboardist Paul Carrack with the Terry Comer/Dave Pepper rhythm section. John Surguy and Alan Solomon share flute, oboe, and dual saxophone (alto, tenor) with separate contributions by Surguy (clarinet, vibraphone) and Solomon (baritone, piano).

A1. “Turbulance” (11:06)
A2. “Achromasia” (7:30)

B1. “Circus” (5:37)
B2. “Keep On Trucking” (4:13)
B3. “And It Came to Pass” (10:50)

C1. “Loosing Touch” (8:50)
C2. “Blues for Pete” (7:25)
C3. “Man Without a Straw” (5:10)

D1. “Wash My Eyes” (14:15)
D2. “Indian Rope Man” (7:10)

Fortunes soundman John Worsley produced And It Came to Pass, which Tony Rockliffe engineered amid work on titles by Head Machine, Samurai, and Swegas.

“Keep On Trucking” backs the 1971 non-album a-side “Mr. Media,” released on Trend France.

A: “Mr. Media”

Peace for Our Time

Warm Dust released their second album, Peace for Our Time, in August 1971 on Trend. Due to the cover text, the album sometimes appears listed as Peace for Our Time, Neville Chamberlain, 30th September 1938.

The album contains six originals group-written originals and “Very Small Child,” a song by David Kubinec.

Peace for Our Time features five-sixths of the prior lineup plus Keith Bailey, who replaced Dave Pepper on drums, congas, maracas, and vocals. Singer Les Walker plays vibraphone in addition to shaker and harmonica.

A1. “Blood of My Fathers” (5:07)
A2. “Winds of Change” (5:16)
A3. “Justify the Things Your Hands Have Done” (8:53)

B1. “Rejection” (4:43)
B2. “Very Small Child” (4:14)
B3. “Song For a Star” (4:53)
B4. “Peace of Mind” (3:34)

Sessions occurred with producer John Worsley and director Barry Class. Studio staffer Tony Rockliffe engineered Peace for Our Time.

Peace for Our Time features gatefold battlefield imagery of the Pye art department.

Also in 1971, Warm Dust released the non-album single “It’s a Beautiful Day” backed with “Worm Dance.”

A. “It’s a Beautiful Day”
B. “Worm Dance”

Trend issued “It’s a Beautiful Day” with pictures sleeves in Germany and the Netherlands.

Warm Dust

Warm Dust released their self-titled third album in 1972 on the German label BASF.

The album contains four Warm Dust originals (“Lead Me to the Light,” “Long Road,” “Mister Media,” and “The Blind Boy” suit). “Hole In the Future” is a Richie Havens cover, and “A Night on the Bare Mountain” is by Modest Mussorgsky.

Warm Dust retains the Peace for Our Time lineup. Alan Solomon adds keyboards and synthesizers to his arsenal. He and John Surguy play saxophones specified as electric and acoustic. Musical guests include guitarist John Knightsbridge (“Long Road”) and percussionists Eddy & Casper.

A1. “Lead Me to the Light” (5:17)
A2. “Long Road” (4:47)
A3. “Mister Media” (3:07)
A4. “Hole In the Future” (8:37)

B1. “A Night on the Bare Mountain” (1:05)
B2. “The Blind Boy” (18:56)
— Pt 1. Trouble in T Mill – 5:20
— Pt 2. Clogs and Shawls – 3:20
— Pt 3. Blind Boy – 4:05
— Pt 4. Slibe – 5:05
— Pt 5. Dustbust – 1:06

Sessions occurred with producer Derek Lawrence and engineer Martin Birch, the soundman team behind Deep Purple and Wishbone Ash.

Discography: