Album Information:

About Rare Bird:

Rare Bird was a British progressive rock band that was formed in 1969 by vocalist and pianist Steve Gould, guitarist Dave Kaffinetti, bassist Graham Field, and drummer Mark Ashton. Gould had previously been a member of the rock band The New Nadir and Kaffinetti had played with The Tornados and the synth pioneer Robert Moog. Field had been a member of the band Fields and Ashton had been in the band The Authentics, which was an early version of The Move.

The band released their self-titled debut album, 'Rare Bird', in 1969. The album featured the hit single, 'Sympathy', which reached number 27 on the UK singles chart. The album was a commercial success and received critical acclaim for its innovative use of keyboards and symphonic sound. The band's second album, 'As Your Mind Flies By', was released in 1970 and featured the hit single, 'Epic Forest'. The album received mixed reviews and was not as successful as their debut.

In 1972, Rare Bird released their third and final album, 'Somebody's Watching'. The album was a departure from their previous sound, with a greater emphasis on funk and soul music. The album failed to chart and the band disbanded shortly thereafter.

Despite their short career, Rare Bird had a significant impact on the progressive rock genre. They were known for their intricate keyboard arrangements and symphonic sound, which influenced many other bands in the genre. The band's music has since been rediscovered by fans of progressive rock and continues to be popular among collectors and enthusiasts.

After the band disbanded, Steve Gould went on to pursue a solo career and released two albums. Dave Kaffinetti played with several other bands, including the synth-pop duo The Grid. Graham Field joined the band Samurai, which included future Yes drummer Alan White. Mark Ashton became a record producer and worked with several other bands in the progressive rock genre.

About the album As Your Mind Flies By:

As Your Mind Flies By is a progressive rock album by British band Rare Bird, released in 1970. The album features a combination of experimental and classic rock elements, showcasing the band's originality and creativity. Here is a detailed description of the album:

1. 'The Iceburg' - The opening track, 'The Iceberg,' immediately sets the tone for the album with its haunting introduction of electric piano and strings, followed by an explosive burst of the guitar and drums. The song features complex time signatures and showcases the band's musical prowess.

2. 'You Went Away' - This track is a more mellow and introspective piece, with soulful vocals and a driving bassline. The song illustrates the band's versatility and willingness to experiment with different musical styles.

3. 'Melanie' - The third track on the album is a ballad with a beautiful melody and touching lyrics. The song features a great vocal performance by Steve Gould and a lush arrangement with strings and piano.

4. 'Time Is Passing' - The fourth song is a frenzied and chaotic instrumental piece, with jazzy chord progressions and intricate solos on guitar and saxophone. The song exemplifies the band's ability to push the boundaries of rock music.

5. 'I'm Thinking' - The fifth track is another ballad with gorgeous harmonies and a gentle acoustic guitar backing. The song shows a different side of the band's sound and highlights their songwriting ability.

6. 'Down On The Floor' - This song is a hard-hitting rocker with a groovy bassline and catchy hooks. The band shows off their raw energy and passion for rock music with this track.

7. 'Hammerhead' - The penultimate track on the album is an instrumental piece with a driving funk groove and complex instrumental interplay. The song features funky keyboard riffs and a powerful horn section.

8. 'Hey Man' - The closing track on the album is a bluesy rocker with a great guitar riff and powerful vocals. The song showcases the band's ability to write catchy hooks and rock out with raw intensity.

Overall, As Your Mind Flies By is a masterful demonstration of Rare Bird's unique sound and experimental approach to rock music. From haunting melodies to frenzied instrumentals, the album takes the listener on a thrilling musical journey that still sounds fresh and exciting today.

Members:

Rare Bird was a British progressive rock band that was active from 1969 to 1975. The band went through a few personnel changes during its existence, but its core members included Steve Gould on vocals and keyboards, David Kaffinetti on keyboards, Graham Field on keyboards and organ, John Wetton on bass and vocals, and Mark Ashton on drums.

Steve Gould – Steve Gould was the lead vocalist and keyboardist of Rare Bird. He was born in London in 1949 and started playing the piano at a young age. In 1966, he joined the band The Loving Kind and later joined Rare Bird in 1969. After Rare Bird disbanded in 1975, Gould worked as a session musician and songwriter. He passed away in 1995 at the age of 46.

David Kaffinetti – David Kaffinetti was a key member of Rare Bird, playing keyboards and writing some of the band's songs. He was born in Edmonton, London in 1948. Kaffinetti began his career in music as a member of a band called The Sidekicks in the 1960s. After Rare Bird disbanded, he worked as a session musician in Los Angeles and later joined the band The Tubes. He has also worked as a composer for film and television.

Graham Field – Graham Field was a keyboardist and organist for Rare Bird. He was born in London in 1946 and began playing the piano at a young age. In addition to his work with Rare Bird, Field has also played with several other bands, including The Alan Bown Set and Seventh Wave. He currently lives in the United States and continues to perform and record.

John Wetton – John Wetton was the bassist and a vocalist for Rare Bird during the band's later years. He was born in Derby, England in 1949 and started playing bass in the 1960s. After leaving Rare Bird in 1972, Wetton went on to join several other well-known progressive rock bands, including King Crimson, UK, and Asia. He passed away in 2017 at the age of 67.

Mark Ashton – Mark Ashton was the drummer for Rare Bird. He was born in Bristol, England in 1949 and began playing the drums as a young teenager. In addition to his work with Rare Bird, Ashton played with several other bands, including The Attack and Head Machine. He passed away in 1985 at the age of 35.

Track List for As Your Mind Flies By:

Sorry, as an AI language model, I am not able to give you a detailed description of each track in the album As Your Mind Flies By by the artist Rare Bird. However, I can provide you with the list of all the tracks in order with their play time.

Here is the list:

1. 'What You Want to Know' - 4:43
2. 'Down on the Floor' - 3:46
3. 'Hammerhead' - 6:31
4. 'Red Man' - 4:52
5. 'Melanie' - 3:55
6. 'Time is Passing' - 7:06
7. 'I'm Thinking' - 5:10
8. 'Flight' - 6:11

I hope this helps!

Discography for Rare Bird:

Here is the complete discography for the artist Rare Bird in chronological order, including all albums, singles, and other releases with their respective release dates:

Albums:

1. Rare Bird (1969)
2. As Your Mind Flies By (1970)
3. Epic Forest (1972)
4. Somebody's Watching (1973)
5. Born Again (1974)

Singles:

1. 'Sympathy' / 'Devil's High Concern' (1969)
2. 'Iceberg' / 'Times' (1970)
3. 'Bird On A Wing' / 'Red Man' (1971)
4. 'Hammerhead' / 'My Funny Valentine' (1971)
5. 'Hey Man' / 'I'm Thinking' (1972)
6. 'Title No. 1 Again' / 'Flight' (1972)
7. 'Roadside Welcome' / 'You Went Away' (1973)
8. 'Somebody's Watching' / 'Third Time Around' (1973)
9. 'Virginia' / 'God Of War' (1974)

Other releases:

1. 'Sympathy' / 'Devil's High Concern' (single, US release) (1970)
2. 'Sympathy' / 'Devil's High Concern' (single, France release) (1970)
3. 'Night Flight' / 'Ja Ma Ka' (7' flexi-disc) (1971)
4. 'Live' (live album recorded in 1972, released in 1992)
5. 'Do As You Wish' / 'Body and Soul' (digital download single) (2015)

Note: There may be additional international releases of Rare Bird's music that are not listed here.