To coincide with the Ten Years After’s eponymous debut release in 1967 Chrysalis Records are proud to present a 50th Anniversary 10 CD Box Set. This limited edition set includes a CD of previously unreleased material.
To celebrate this special occasion, in November 2017 Chrysalis Records will release a brand new 10 CD Box Set, gathering for the first time, albums from both the Chrysalis and Deram periods from 1967 to 1974
This set, limited to 1,500 copies worldwide, contains LPs which have been remastered from the original 1/4" production master tapes along with bonus disc entitled ‘The Cap Ferrat Sessions’, which consists of never heard before recordings from 1972, newly mixed by acclaimed record producer Chris Kimsey.
The package comes in a luxury hardback format with slipcase and an accompanying book which includes a newly commissioned, in-depth 10,000 word sleeve notes written by legendary Melody Maker journalist and early champion of the band, Chris Welch. It charts the band’s progress from their early beginnings in Nottingham, through iconic appearances at the Woodstock and the Isle of Wight festivals, right up to their eventual split in 1974. There are extensive interviews with the remaining band members plus members of Alvin Lee’s family, and additional recording notes by Chris Kimsey.
Ten Years After stormed the stages of rock, they created a sensation that stunned audiences and quickly won them a coveted place among the pantheon of great British groups. Alvin Lee – one of the most charismatic and admired guitar players to emerge from the British blues boom of the era and deservedly ranked alongside his contemporaries Eric Clapton, Jeff Beck, Jimmy Page and Jimi Hendrix – headed a powerful team of talented musicians, Leo Lyons, Chick Churchill and Ric Lee
During an intense seven-year period, they embarked on marathon tours, conquering America, enjoying success round the world, whilst also unleashing a succession of ground breaking albums. Their 1967 debut ‘Ten Years After’ was swiftly followed by pioneering live album ‘Undead’ (1968) through the critically acclaimed ‘A Space In Time’ (1971), featuring one of their finest songs ‘I’d Love To Change The World’, which is very apt in today’s world, ending with 1974’s ‘Positive Vibrations’.
‘The Cap Ferrat Sessions’ came as a result of a discovery by Alvin Lee’s wife, who found a box of recordings deep in the vaults of the studio in their house they shared in Spain. They originate from the ‘Rock N Roll Music To The World’ album sessions, which were recorded at a seaside villa in Cap Ferrat, South of France and Olympic Studios in London. Chrysalis Records turned to world renowned producer Chris Kimsey (whose credits include the Rolling Stones, Bad Company, and Peter Frampton), who recorded and engineered the original sessions, to mix these tracks for the first time.
Revisiting the tapes, some 45 years later Kimsey added, ‘Alvin and the band were incredibly creative and abundant during this period. These re-discovered recordings were not rough demos, not rehearsals, but completed masters that did not make the album due to the time limitations of vinyl at the time. So these gems were left off. Mixing this in 2017 I began to study the parts, the playing, the response of each musician. It was amazing! It is what all great recordings are made of.’
For avid collectors and fans of the band, the legendary Cap Ferrat sessions will have a special appeal and will be an essential addition to their collection. This is a big deal for classic rock lovers and aficionados all over the world.
