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From: ed@ISM780.UUCP
Newsgroups: net.music
Subject: Re: Sky, Sky3, sheet music
Message-ID: <163@ISM780.UUCP>
Date: Thu, 14-Mar-85 00:20:45 EST
Article-I.D.: ISM780.163
Posted: Thu Mar 14 00:20:45 1985
Date-Received: Sat, 16-Mar-85 03:41:18 EST
Lines: 52
Nf-ID: #R:wucs:-81900:ISM780:31700012:000:2393
Nf-From: ISM780!ed    Mar 13 09:37:00 1985

/* Written  3:45 am  Mar 13, 1985 by sherm@wucs in ISM780:net.music */
/* ---------- "Sky, Sky3, sheet music" ---------- */

> Has anyone out in netland heard of the fusion group "Sky"?
>
> This group includes such people as John Williams, Kevin Peek,
> and Herbie Flowers, and others whose names escape me at the
> moment.
>
> They have produced two albums, the first being a two-record LP,
> hence the name "Sky3" for the second album.

Two corrections: Sky has produced at least five albums, and
the double-album set was not the first album - there is an album simply
called "Sky" (I know, original titles %-) which is available only as
an import - a German pressing.  It is a very good album, and I like it
better than any of the other 3 that I have.  The second side
is one complete song done by Francis Monkman called "Where Opposites Meet"
that is an interesting work with two themes which merge by songs end.
Sky's albums are completely instrumental, no vocals.

On first two albums, Sky was:

	John Williams   -  well known classical guitarist
	Kevin Peek      -  lead guitar
	Herbie Flowers  -  bass Guitar
	Tristan Fry     -  percussion
	Francis Monkman -  keyboards, etc. - formerly of Curved Air

The second album, "Sky/Sky" is the best known of all their albums, and sold
well for quite some time.  Monkman's playing of the harpsichord is
electrifying, and stands out on track such as Vivaldi, a remake of Curved
Air's old hit.

After the second album, Monkman left, to be replaced by Steve Gray; with
him, Sky produced Sky3 and Sky4.  Sky3 contains rock/jazz fusion tunes, while
Sky4 is mostly reworkings of classical tunes, such as Berlioz' "March to
the Gallows" from Symphonie Fantastique.  There is also a Sky5, a double album
with some live tracks and some new tracks, but I've only seen it once as an
import.  Sky holds the distintion of being the first "rock" band to play
in Westminster Abbey, as a benefit for Amnesty International.  It was on
PBS a few years back - somehow it just seemed incongruent for guitars,
drums, coloured lights etc. to be in the same arena as the gothic architecture
of the Abbey.

Anyway, I find of the four albums I own, I favour them pretty well in
chronological order.  Personally, I think they have gone downhill ever
since Monkman's departure - the style persists but the punch and flair are
gone.

Ed Lycklama
decvax!cca!ima!ism780!ed