01	Prelude To The Arena			The Undertones Of Violence In A Drifting Generation.			05:21
	02	Peace Of Rome			They Manufactured Death To Keep The Peace.			06:58
	03	The Arena			The Fighting, The Killing, The Mother Of Fornicaton.			12:55
	04	Time Shadows			Lay Low The Past, The Future Brings Hope.			11:14
	05	Spring						09:14

Bass Guitar - Ricky Hicks
Drums, Timpani, Percussion - Mike Fouracre
Electric Guitar, Acoustic Guitar, Guitar [Bowed], Percussion, Vocals - Dave Laverock
Engineer - Robin Sylvester
Flute, Vocals - Jessica Stanley-Clarke
Lead Vocals, Percussion, Harmonica - Fred Hasson
Lyrics By, Voice, Performer [Large Mouth-piece] - Bob West (2)
Piano [Organ], Electric Piano, Mellotron, Bells [Tubular], Performer [Fire Extinguisher] - Leary Hasson
Producer [Production] - John Whitehead
Producer, Percussion - Peter Bardens
Saxophone [Tenor & Alto], Flute [(spring)], Percussion - Mandy Riedelbanch


Title: Arena
Company: Transatlantic
Catalog: TRA 230
Year: 1971

Grade (cover/record): VG/VG

Comments: UK pressing, light ring wear

Available: 1

Price: $150.00


A couple of music references erroneously indicate this early-70s' band were Dutch. Drummer Mike Fouracre, singer Fred Hasson, keyboardist Leary Hasson, bassist Ricky Hicks, guitarist Dave Laverock and woodwind player Jessica Stanley-Clarke were all English. The confusion over nationality apparently stems from the fact that in the face of critical and commercial indifference in the UK, the band decamped for the Netherlands, where the achieved considerable early-'70s' popularity.
By the time the band recorded their second LP they'd clearly become a fixture of the Dutch music scene (check out the liner notes), as well as having added sax player Mandy Riedelbanch to their line up. Judging by 1971's Peter Bardens produced "Arena", their musical influences remained varied and difficult to describe. Think Camel, East of Eden and even Nektar and you won't be too far off the mark. Judging by the album cover and extended numbers such as "Peace of Rome" and the title track, the album was written as a concept piece, with a plot line having something to do with the nasty side of life in ancient Rome. Largely written by Leary Hasson and lyricist Bob West, the set offers up a surprisingly intriguing mix of English folk and progressive moves, with an occasional freak out guitar for good measure. That may not sound particularly inviting to some folks (including us), but this is one of those rare exceptions, where the charismatic performances overcome most of the album's pompous leanings.

"Arena' track listing"

1.) Prelude To the Arena (Leary Hasson - Bob West) -
2.) Peace of Rome (Leary Hasson - Bob West) -
3.) The Arena (Leary Hasson - Bob West) -
4.) Time Shadows (Leary Hasson - Fred Hasson - Bob West) -
5.) Spring (Mike Fouracre - Fred Hasson - Leary Hasson - Ricky Hicks - Dave Laverock - Mandy Riedelbanch - Jessica Stanley-Clarke) -




MARSUPILAMI - Arena


1971 - Transatlantic records, TRA 230 (1 lp)


5 titres - 45:51 min
1/ Prelude to the Arena (5:22)
2/ Peace of Rome (7:01)
3/ The Arena (12:54)
4/ Time Shadows (11:15)
5/ Spring (9:15)

line up
Pete Bardens (percussions), Mike Fouracre (batterie), Fred Hasson (harmonica, chant), Leary Hasson (claviers), Richard Lathan Hicks (basse), Dave Laverock (guitare), Mandy Riedelbanch (flute), Jessica Stanley Clarke (flute, chant), Bob West (chant)





ARENA is the 1971 second release from U.K. progressive rock band Marsupilami and features "Prelude In The Arena" and "Peace Of Rome."

Following up their debut, critically acclaimed, eponymous album in 1971, the new look Marsupilami, buttressed ... Full Descriptionby the addition of saxophonist Mandy Riedelbanch, strode into the Arena. "I've come here today to rip the veil from your eyes, and pinch your heads, and pull out your bloody minds," Fred Hasson shouts in the opening "Prelude to the Arena." Be that as it may, Bob West's lyrics -- "crashing venomously through the crimson waters, rivers run free with ancient blood" -- best illustrate his style, yet sound overblown and overwrought today, reminiscent of the apocalyptic imagery so beloved of Christian fundamentalists. And although, Marsupilami certainly wouldn't have considered themselves a Christian rock band, Arena will undoubtedly resonate with that community. A concept album set in an ancient Coliseum and themed around Rome's post-Republic decadence and inherent violence, martyrs go up in flames, gladiators battle it out, and even a stray Greek minstrel is consigned to a brutal death. Russell Crowe drove the point home better on screen, Spartacus (the book) on paper, but it's musically where Marsupilami clean up the arena for good, across five extended pieces that give full rein to the band's eclectic and experimental sound. In "Prelude" they shift smartly from metal to pastoral, hard rock to jazz, never losing touch with the melody along the way. "Peace of Rome" opens with ringing bells and ethereal vocals, and boasts shouting crowds, fiery guitar solos, flute driven passages, and organ led sections. It's "The Arena" itself, however, that is the album's centerpiece, a 12-plus minute epic that begins with ominous organ and flows darkly along a mysterious Tiber that hints at the blues, Arabesque, and even tribal drumming, as keyboardist Leary Hasson and flutist Jessica Stanley Clarke trade off the melody line. And strong melodies were the band's fortй, as were their equitable arrangements, which smoothly slid the melody lines and solos between keyboards, guitar, flute, and, on the jazz fusion "Time Shadows," saxophone. "Spring" even provides space for Fred Hasson's harmonica solo. This final piece moves between pastoral and cacophony before settling into a streaming, pastoral rocker that picks up speed and heft before closing with a crashing flourish like the fall of Rome itself. The curtain closed on Marsupilami soon after this set's release. With only two albums to their name, the band still left their imprimatur on the prog rock scene, their epic numbers, agile shifts of style, potent melodies, and engaging genre hybrids setting the bar for all who came after. ~ Jo-Ann Greene

2007 digitally remastered reissue of this Prog classic, originally released in March 1971. Arena was the second and final album by the group Marsupilami. Initially a Folk-based group the band evolved into one of the most adventurous, if unsung, bands of the early 70's, producing two stunningly original Mellotron soaked albums. Featuring a line-up of brothers Fred and Leary Hasson (lead vocals and harmonica and keyboards respectively), Dave Laverock (guitar), Richard Lathan Hicks (bass), Jessica Stanley Clarke (flute, vocals) and Mike Fouracre (drums), Marsupilami drew early comparisons to such contemporaries as Quintessence and Gryphon, although in truth the group were far more experimental and powerful. Produced by Peter Bardens (soon to form Camel). Five tracks. Esoteric.