Universe-Universe (1971)

The story of this band is quite intriguing. Relegated to the sidelines in their native England, they dedicated themselves to playing concerts throughout Northern Europe. During a tour of Norway, they met a strange character who offered to record an album for them in his home studio. This album was released in a very limited edition of just a few hundred copies, and today it is highly sought after by discerning vinyl collectors and fans of blues and rock music. Hailing from Cardiff, this band had formed in late 1968 as a blues group called Spoonful. Several years later, they changed their name to the definitive Universe, and it was in 1971, while touring Norway, that they recorded and released their only album, which was self-titled. Universe consisted of guitarist, vocalist, and harmonica player Steve Finn, guitarist Mike Lloyd, bassist John Healan, drummer Rob Reynolds, and organist Mike Blanche. Universe was made up of guitarist, vocalist, and harmonica player Steve Finn, guitarist Mike Lloyd, bassist John Healan, drummer Rob Reynolds, and organist Mike Blanche. They played progressive heavy rock, as evidenced by their only album, which features standout tracks like the psychedelic blues "Twilight Winter", the heavy blues "Universe", the progressive blues "Spanish Feeling" with its Andalusian flavor imparted by the interplay of Spanish guitar and Creole rhythm and the lilting blues "The Annexe". Back in the UK with the album in hand, they toured with leading bands such as Fleetwood Mac, Rory Gallagher, Jethro Tull, Yes, and Black Sabbath, among many others. The original edition of this record became one of the strangest progressive blues albums in history, firstly due to its limited run and secondly because of the unusual label on which it was released (Experience Records), which was never heard from again. In fact, this was the only album they ever released, and the label offered virtually no information about the musicians or other details of interest on its brief and minimalist cover. Later, in 1972, this band would finally dissolve without leaving any trace of the subsequent fate of all its members.