Nektar
is a 1970s English progressive rock band originally based in Germany.
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NEKTAR TICKETS
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History
The band formed in
Hamburg, Germany in 1969, members included
Englishmen Roye Albrighton on guitars and vocals, Allan "Taff" Freeman on keyboards (Allan's son Alain Freeman is still living in Hamburg, Germany and is an owner of a travel-office), Derek "Mo" Moore on bass, Ron Howden on drums, and Mick Brockett on lights, special effects and other miscellanea. Songwriting was always considered a group effort.
The band's early albums such as
Journey to the Centre of the Eye
,
...Sounds Like This
and
A Tab in the Ocean
were obscure
psychedelic rock albums that won the band a small but growing cult following, based largely on word of mouth. The last of those albums was the first Nektar album to be released in the U.S., on the small Passport Records label.
It was Nektar's second U.S. release,
Remember the Future
(1973), that propelled the band briefly into mass popularity. A
concept album about a
blind boy who communicates with an
extraterrestrial being, the music was a big leap forward for the band with a much more melodic sound than on previous albums. It shot into the Top 20 album charts in the U.S. The follow up album,
Down to Earth
(1974), was another concept album with a
circus theme; it also sold well, breaking into the Top 40 album charts and included Nektar's only song to chart on the Billboard singles charts, "Astral Man". The next album,
Recycled
(1975), was stylistically close to bands like
Gentle Giant and is considered by many fans to be Nektar's finest moment. Nektar's first major-label release,
Magic is a Child
(1977) was more eclectic, although with shorter songs and fairly straightforward rhythms-but many fans thought it was too
pop-oriented; lyrically the album covered a wide range of subjects from
Norse mythology and
magic to more down to earth subjects like
railroads and
truck drivers. But there are some fans who considered the album a misfire and it proved to be the end of Nektar's brief popularity, although a few more albums were released, mostly live albums and compilations.
When the Nektar back catalog was first released on
compact disc in the early 1990s, the wrong master(the quad rear channel mix)was used for the Bellaphon CD release of
Remember the Future
, infuriating many fans.
[who?] The mix practically buried Roye Albrighton's lead guitar. Although this was corrected in later CD releases, those looking for Nektar's music on CD should be aware of this if buying used CDs. One way to ensure that the correct master was utilized is to verify that the CD contains "bonus tracks".
Nektar regrouped in 2002 and headlined
NEARfest (opposite
Steve Hackett) with a full line-up including synthesizer wizard
Larry Fast. They also released their first album of new material since the 1970s, "The Prodigal Son". They followed this release up in 2004 with "Evolution". Recent members of Nektar have included Randy Dembo on bass, and Tom Hughes on Hammond organ alongside original members Albrighton and Howden. Dembo and Hughes left in August, 2006 citing communication problems, money issues, personality issues and trust in the management issues. All of Nektar's back catalogue has either been remastered and re-released or is in the process of being so. This includes
A Tab in the Ocean
which now features the original 1972 German mix, as well as an alternate 1976 "American" mix,
Remember the Future
with two bonus tracks in the form of two radio promo singles. The re-issue of
Recycled
features the original album release mix, and an alternate mix by Beatles engineer Geoff Emerick, something many fans found akin to hearing the music for the first time. Nektar's re-issue of
Down to Earth
contains seven bonus tracks, including hilarious out-takes by Robert Calvert. The re-issue of
Magic Is a Child
(an album which did not feature founding member Roye Albrighton) features amazingly clear sound, and four bonus tracks including a live-from-the radio version of "Midnight Light".
In 2006, the band found new management (Roy Clay) to replace The Eclectic Records staff, playing "Prog fests" around the globe on a part-time basis, and occasionally appearing in some of their old haunts in the New Jersey/New York area. Mr Clay was subsequently released from management duties early 2007 after a dispute over financial matters.
The band also embarked on the production of a new album (
Book of Days
) although only currently released on iTunes (March 2007). A new release date of May 16, 2008 has been announced by Bellaphon Records.
In mid-2007 a solo tour was undertaken by lead singer Roye Albrighton to be followed by a full band tour of Europe (primarily Germany), and scheduled by a European-based promoter,but they had to postpone as extra funds were needed to complete the new album.
Discography
Studio Albums
- Journey to the Centre of the Eye
(1971)
- A Tab in the Ocean
(1972)
- ...Sounds Like This
(1973)
- Remember the Future
(1973)
- Down to Earth
(1974)
- Recycled
(1975)
- Magic is a Child
(1977)
- Man in the Moon
(1980)
- The Prodigal Son
(2001)
- Evolution
(2004)
- Book of Days
(2007)
Compilation Albums
- Nektar
(1976)
- Thru the Ears
(1978)
- Highlights - The Best of Nektar
(1994)
- The Dream Nebula: The Best of 1971-1975
(1998)
Live Albums
- Sunday Night At The London Roundhouse
(1974)
- Nektar - Live in New York
(1977)
- More Live Nektar in New York
(1978)
- Unidentified Flying Abstract - Live At Chipping Norton 1974
(2002)
- Nearfest 2002 (Studio M Recording)
(2002)
- Greatest Hits Live
(2004)
- 2004 Tour Live
(2005)
- Door To The Future
(2005)
- Fortyfied
(2009)
DVD Releases
- Live
(2003)
- Pure: Live in Germany 2005
(2005)
Singles
Year
| Title
| Billboard Hot 100
| U.S Mainstream Rock
| UK Top 100
| Album
|
1973
| "Do You Believe in Magic?"
| -
| -
| -
| ...Sounds Like This
|
1974
| "What Ya Gonna Do?"
| -
| -
| -
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"Remember the Future (Edit)"
| -
| -
| -
| Remember the Future
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"Fidgety Queen'"
| -
| -
| -
| Down to Earth
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"Astral Man"
| 91
| -
| -
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1975
| "Flight to Reality"
| -
| -
| -
| Recycled
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2005
| "Always"
| -
| -
| -
| Evolution
|