Magna Carta-Lord Of The Ages (1973)

Magna Carta is one of the most talented bands to emerge in the late 1960s amidst the burgeoning British folk progressive movement. Formed in London in 1969 by Chris Simpson, Glenn Stuart, and Lyell Tranter, they quickly became one of the most promising English folk-rock groups, drawing on influences from the American West Coast style of The Byrds and the British folk of Fairport Convention, all wrapped in orchestral arrangements and rich vocal harmonies. Their first albums, "Magna Carta" (1969), "Seasons" (1970), and "Songs From Wasties Orchard" (1971), were released in this stylistic vein. Two years later, the band underwent its first lineup changes, with guitarist Stan Gordon replacing Tranter, and the addition of Dave Peacock on bass, Gerry Conway on drums, Danny Thompson on double bass, and Jean-Alain Roucel on keyboards. With this lineup, they recorded "Lord of the Ages", the album that would definitively establish Magna Carta's reputation. Beneath its enigmatic cover, designed by Roger Dean, this album is Magna Carta's most progressive production, featuring the epic title track nearly ten minutes of sweeping progressive passages the addictive "Wish It Was", the restrained folk of "Two Old Friends", the medieval-tinged "Falkland Green", and the melancholic "Father John". "Lord of the Ages" is a masterpiece of British progressive folk, an album brimming with refined details and, with certain jazz influences, became Magna Carta's debut work.