Tranquility-Silver (1972)

Tranquility was a short-lived band that remains one of the most interesting and yet most unknown acts in the 1970s folk-rock scene. Formed around Ashley Kozak, then manager of British singer-songwriter Donovan, the band had the intriguing idea of ​​creating a group that would play a kind of British folk-rock infused with 1960s pop sounds. To achieve this, he brought together a number of experienced musicians who came from bands with a distinctly progressive and psychedelic style from the late 1960s. Starting with singer-songwriter Terry Shaddick, who established himself as the group's leader and the only constant member in a band that underwent several lineup changes throughout Tranquility's three-year career. Thanks to Kozak, they secured a contract with Epic Records, who financed their first full-length album in 1972, simply titled "Tranquility". In this first release, the band showcases a smooth, hybrid style blending the sounds of West Coast flower power and British folk, with catchy vocal melodies and clear Beatles influences. On this first album, the folk-rock track "Try Again", the pop song "Look at the Time, It's Late", the pleasant melody of "Lady of the Lake", and the Beatles-esque "Oyster Catcher" and "Black Current Oyster" stood out. After this album, the band embarked on a long tour of the United States, supporting The Byrds, where they achieved some success among Americans with their gentle folk-rock sound, which could be vaguely compared to bands like America or Crosby, Stills & Nash. After this tour, the band returned to England and recorded their second album, "Silver", which confirmed their folk-rock and pop leanings, but with a greater emphasis on arrangements, adding instruments like synthesizers and the Mellotron, thus giving greater depth and complexity to their characteristic sound. Tracks like the psychedelic "Can I See You" contrast with others clearly influenced by the Beatles, such as "Dear Oh Dear" or "Nice and Easy", which, along with the melodic pop, The rock track "Eagle Eye" is the standout, followed by other less impactful songs such as the more complex "Whip Wheel", the country-rock "The Driver's Engine", the pure rock "Couldn't Possibly Be", and the vaudeville-style "Nice and Easy". These tracks closed out an album that, despite not achieving the expected success, led them to open for prestigious artists like Yes, Humble Pie, David Bowie, and The Eagles on another extensive tour of the United States. Subsequently, the band attempted to continue making inroads in the US with relative success, until 1974 when Epic Records, due to their limited commercial appeal, decided to terminate their contract. This situation was seized upon by the British record label Island Records, who offered them a new contract and released the promotional single "One Day Lady", a preview of a new LP, which, however, was never recorded. This would be the catalyst for the band's definitive breakup; from this point on, all its members... They will follow different paths, with Shaddick's songwriting work standing out above all, who thanks to his talent would create some later hits for pop singer Olivia Newton-John.