theluxordream3

I've been banging on about Klaatu for decades.

John Woloschuk was the main writer.

He was extraordinarily gifted and very much a hero to me.

Guitarist Dee Long and drummer Terry Draper

completed this Canadian, studio-based trio.

Buoyed by the success from the Carpenter's cover of

'Calling Occupants of Interplanetary Craft'

(orginally from the debut Klaatu LP)

the record company sensed there may be money in this.

So they whisked the band over to the UK,

hired the London Symphony Orchestra (no less)

and let Woloschuk & partners loose to create the second album.

It was a masterpiece which sunk without trace.

Here is a sample from 'Hope'.

Actually two tracks which blend together.

Written by JW, the first is one of his trademark

Beatlesesque songs with luxurious arrangement.

The second part (co-written with Long and Draper)

is instrumental and they make full use of the orchestra.

I've often wondered what the LSO thought when presented with the score.

A lot of an orchestra's income-subsidising foreys into pop/rock

must be fairly tedious for some professional classical musicians.

You could go from a demanding solo in a Wagner opera

to playing three notes on the new Coldplay album.

I would like to think they were impressed by Klaatu's music.

An ad-free version can be heard here

regards

Titus