Stu Stevens - Command Performance (1976)

To be honest, I'm not even sure if this record qualifies for inclusion, as Stu had (has?) considerable professional experience, and by the time of this, his third LP he had already released records on EMI, progressive label Youngblood (responsible for the highly collectable Julian's Treatment and Dando Shaft LPs) and French label Barclay. In fact, uniquely among all the artists I have come across, he even has his own, albeit skeletal, allmusic entry. So, quite what he was doing on the apparently private label Major Oak in 1976 before turning up again a few years later with another album on MCA is anybody's guess, but the cover is so spectacular that I had no choice but to include it.

The light country balladeering and (rather cheesy) synthesizer, all played by Stu himself somewhat contradict the Milk Tray machismo of the cover, and with instrumentation that includes a 'pixiphone', this man clearly has a sensitive side. Actually, I suspect I am not really doing Stu and his strong, controlled voice, much justice but for now, here is his command performance.

PLAY IT WITH FEELING

Stu Stevens - Command Performance
Major Oak Recordings STEREO MO 5

Side One
MY ELUSIVE DREAMS
BLUE EYES CRYING IN THE RAIN
*GREEN GREEN GREEN 'Written by my friend Reg'
STAY AWHILE 'I ask you!'
JOLIE GIRL
*HELP ME MAKE IT THROUGH THE NIGHT

Side Two
AMANDA
MY FRIEND 'For someone special'
SIX WHITE HORSES
LAY DOWN BESIDE ME
WOMAN WOMAN
*SUNDAY MORNING COMING DOWN 'The room is empty now but I've seen the stairs that he stumbled down to greet the day'

VOCALS, ACOUSTIC & ELECTRIC GUITARS, PIANO & SYNTHESIZER, PIXIPHONE, BASS ALL PLAYED BY STU STEVENS

DRUMS PLAYED BY JOHN EVANS EXCEPT *STU STEVENS

ARRANGED AND PRODUCED BY STU STEVENS

ENGINEERED BY TERRY BRACEY

RECORDED AT STU STEVENS SOUND STUDIOS, KIRKYBY-IN-ASHFIELD, NOTTS.

FENDER RHODES ELECTRIC PIANO COURETSY OF FARNSWORTH MUSIC, NOTTINGHAM

COVER PHOTOGRAPH BY PHILIP DAWSON

COVER DESIGN AND ARTWORK BY DAVID HOLLIDAY

Recording First Published July 1976

MAJOR OAK RECORDINGS, OCKBROOK, DERBYSHIRE

Sleeve Printed by Senol, England