Don't Stop the Show (1981)
Closing out the 5xCD set. Their last album was the plodding A Whale of a Time, which arrived with a thud. Once Don't Stop the Show started, I knew it was going to be better than its predecessor. Welcome to the 80s, Satin Whale! Here they provide a more energetic and punchy sound - not too far from a Saga or any number of thoughtful well known 80s AOR bands. Unfortunately this only lasted through the second song. A3 to A5 are turkeys, sloppy tries for stardom. Guess Satin Whale used all of their melodic songwriting skills on their first two prog albums. B1 shows promise that maybe they'll finish out on a high note. B2 wears out its whalecome (OK, I'll stop) after the first couple of minutes. And then down the tubes they go again. Still a much better try than A Whale of a Time, and I found it good overall, but nothing more. Well... poo. This set ends up being a disappointment for me on a number of levels. Just having Desert Places on CD is enough excuse to keep, and I certainly don't mind having Lost Mankind as a supplement. As a Keepsake has some very fine moments, but the last two I don't even consider part of the collection even if I own them via this package.
4/8/24 (review)
A Whale of a Time (1978)
A Whale of a Time (1978)
Ugh. My dream that Satin Whale had great potential to put out a proggy AOR masterpiece certainly did not come to fruition on their 4th album A Whale of a Time. The fact is I did not have a whale of a time listening to this. While As a Keepsake had plenty to praise, there's nothing here I liked other than maybe the instrumental opener with its disco like strings, minus the beats. I think I would have liked the album more were it disco instead. A very disappointing try for FM radio exposure. I still have high hopes for their final album (in this series) that came around three years later.
Ownership: 2023 Made in Germany (5xCD). Details on the Desert Places review below.
4/2/24 (review)
As a Keepsake (1977)
Now that I've relistened to the first two Satin Whale albums on CD, I was curious how the next three would go since I've never heard them prior. I was told they were more commercial and not so interesting, which is why I never bothered prior. As noted many times, my interest in proggy AOR has gone up considerably so I figure I might be a good candidate to really enjoy this album. Especially when you consider that Satin Whale displayed a strong knack for melody even on their two acclaimed prog albums. So was I pleased? Yes and no. There are some great moments here, especially on the instrumental 'Maree' which would have fit perfectly on Lost Mankind. Flute remains a key part of their sound palette, and adds more contrast to their overall sound. The opening couple of songs are off putting at first, as the sound is too foreign for Satin Whale. Like they're trying too hard to be commercial when they don't need to. I listened to the album three times straight and the familiarity helped me appreciate more what they were trying to accomplish. There's plenty of progressive rock sequences mixed in with what appears to be straightforward compositions. At least on As a Keepsake, Satin Whale didn't convince me they were a top tier AOR candidate, but I wasn't disappointed either.
Desert Places (1974)
Though I've owned Desert Places for 35 years, have rated it 5 stars, and the album was a charter member of the CDRWL, I never penned any notes about it. Desert Places is one of those rare albums that ticks all the prog rock boxes, and yet doesn't really sound like anyone else. The melodic quotient is higher than most, and their compositional approach is different, but not radical. The key ingredient here is that Satin Whale has an uncanny ability to groove, most evident on songs such as 'Seasons of Life' and 'Remember'. This is head bobbin' music. The band manages to go from one idea to another seamlessly, while never losing sight of the song or the rhythm. It's an agreeable sound, the type that makes it an ideal place to teach others about the beauty of progressive rock. In this way, they remind me of early Caravan, though this isn't Canterbury styled music. Other guideposts from Germany would be Eiliff and Twenty Sixty Six and Then. Not a minute wasted here. A gem of an album.Ownership: 1974 Brain (LP). Green label original; 2023 Made in Germany (5xCD)
5/22/89 (acquired); 1995; 3/11/24 (review)
Lost Mankind (1975)
Lost Mankind is Satin Whale's sophomore effort, but it's quite a bit different from its predecessor, the brilliant Desert Places. The album is more in line with what other groups in Germany were doing during this time. Bands such as Missus Beastly, Altona, Birth Control, Ramses, and Sahara. There's more of a woodwinds presence, and the lengthy guitar and organ solos are mostly absent (but not entirely). Still the organ presence is strong, and there's plenty of wonderful flute. Despite lineup changes, no one can still sing, a common problem with German bands in those days. Fortunately Satin Whale isn't afraid to break into instrumental bits, and they have more edge than their contemporaries. Lengthy closer 'Beyond the Horizon' is the closest they get to Desert Places. All in all, an excellent album, though still a distant second to their debut.Ownership: 1975 Nova (LP); 2023 Made in Germany (CD). Details on the Desert Places entry above
2000 (acquired); 4/19/10; 1/1/22 (review); 3/21/24
Now that I've relistened to the first two Satin Whale albums on CD, I was curious how the next three would go since I've never heard them prior. I was told they were more commercial and not so interesting, which is why I never bothered prior. As noted many times, my interest in proggy AOR has gone up considerably so I figure I might be a good candidate to really enjoy this album. Especially when you consider that Satin Whale displayed a strong knack for melody even on their two acclaimed prog albums. So was I pleased? Yes and no. There are some great moments here, especially on the instrumental 'Maree' which would have fit perfectly on Lost Mankind. Flute remains a key part of their sound palette, and adds more contrast to their overall sound. The opening couple of songs are off putting at first, as the sound is too foreign for Satin Whale. Like they're trying too hard to be commercial when they don't need to. I listened to the album three times straight and the familiarity helped me appreciate more what they were trying to accomplish. There's plenty of progressive rock sequences mixed in with what appears to be straightforward compositions. At least on As a Keepsake, Satin Whale didn't convince me they were a top tier AOR candidate, but I wasn't disappointed either.
Ownership: 2023 Made in Germany (5xCD). Details on the Desert Places review below.
3/28/24 (review)
Though I've owned Desert Places for 35 years, have rated it 5 stars, and the album was a charter member of the CDRWL, I never penned any notes about it. Desert Places is one of those rare albums that ticks all the prog rock boxes, and yet doesn't really sound like anyone else. The melodic quotient is higher than most, and their compositional approach is different, but not radical. The key ingredient here is that Satin Whale has an uncanny ability to groove, most evident on songs such as 'Seasons of Life' and 'Remember'. This is head bobbin' music. The band manages to go from one idea to another seamlessly, while never losing sight of the song or the rhythm. It's an agreeable sound, the type that makes it an ideal place to teach others about the beauty of progressive rock. In this way, they remind me of early Caravan, though this isn't Canterbury styled music. Other guideposts from Germany would be Eiliff and Twenty Sixty Six and Then. Not a minute wasted here. A gem of an album.Ownership: 1974 Brain (LP). Green label original; 2023 Made in Germany (5xCD)
Regarding the CD set titled The Studio Albums 1974-1981. Contains their first five albums in full with liner notes in German. Pity about this latter fact, as I'm sure many around the world would like to know their history.
5/22/89 (acquired); 1995; 3/11/24 (review)
Lost Mankind is Satin Whale's sophomore effort, but it's quite a bit different from its predecessor, the brilliant Desert Places. The album is more in line with what other groups in Germany were doing during this time. Bands such as Missus Beastly, Altona, Birth Control, Ramses, and Sahara. There's more of a woodwinds presence, and the lengthy guitar and organ solos are mostly absent (but not entirely). Still the organ presence is strong, and there's plenty of wonderful flute. Despite lineup changes, no one can still sing, a common problem with German bands in those days. Fortunately Satin Whale isn't afraid to break into instrumental bits, and they have more edge than their contemporaries. Lengthy closer 'Beyond the Horizon' is the closest they get to Desert Places. All in all, an excellent album, though still a distant second to their debut.Ownership: 1975 Nova (LP); 2023 Made in Germany (CD). Details on the Desert Places entry above
2000 (acquired); 4/19/10; 1/1/22 (review); 3/21/24
1/1/22 (new entry)
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