The Plot Thins - A History Of Brand X and similar items

Brand X were a British jazz-rock fusion outfit formed by Genesis drummer Phil Collins and Atomic Rooster guitarist John Goodsall as a side project from their regular groups. Their initial lineup also included keyboardist Robin Lumley and bassist Percy Jones (the Liverpool Scene, the Scaffold). They were active until 1980, followed by a reformation between 1992 and 1999, and were later active following a 2016 reunion until 2021. This compilation is a pretty good overview of Brand X's original run (1974-80). Brand X's debut album, Unorthodox Behaviour, was released in 1976; a live album, Livestock, and the studio effort Moroccan Roll followed in 1977. Collins left the group to concentrate on Genesis, and for 1978's Masques, he was replaced by Al Di Meola drummer Chuck Burgi, as well as additional keyboardist Peter Robinson, who had played with Stanley Clarke. Three further albums -- 1979's Product, 1980's Do They Hurt?, and 1982's Is There Anything About? -- followed before the group disbanded. In the mid-'90s, Lumley, Goodsall, and Jones reunited, issuing several live collections in the years to follow. All these tracks can be found on official Brand X albums with the exception of the song Algon which I believe was recorded live at the Roxy, Los Angeles, on September 23rd,1979. This is the British release, but there is a US release that contains two extra tracks. Both versions are very hard to find. This is a good introduction to a very fine group that has been very much ignored by the mainstream. Get it, and you won?t be sorry.