Scented Gardens for the Blind
Encyclopedia
Scented Gardens for the Blind is the second album by New Zealand
group Dragon
released in March 1975 on Vertigo Records
before they relocated to Australia in May. Scented Gardens for the Blind, along with their first album Universal Radio
, is in the progressive rock
genre—all subsequent albums are hard rock
/pop rock
. "Vermillion Cellars" was released as a single in March and was followed by non-album singles, "Education" in May and "Star Kissed" in August but neither albums nor singles had any local chart success.
The title of New Zealand author Janet Frame's
fourth novel was Scented Gardens for the Blind (1963). In 1994 the album was re-released as a CD. It was re-packaged as a double CD (with first album Universal Radio) in 2004.
, New Zealand, in January 1972 with a line-up that featured Todd Hunter
on bass guitar
, guitar
ist Ray Goodwin, drummer
Neil Reynolds and singer/pianist
Graeme Collins. All had been in various short-lived bands in Auckland, Collins is credited with using I Ching
to provide the name Dragon. Their first major gig was an appearance at The Great Ngaruawahia Music Festival
in early January 1973. By 1974 several personnel changes had occurred including Collins leaving, with Todd Hunter's younger brother Marc Hunter
joining on vocals and Neil Storey on drums. The band recorded two progressive rock
albums in their native New Zealand, Universal Radio
in June 1974 and Scented Gardens for the Blind in March 1975 both on Vertigo Records
. "Vermillion Cellars" was released as a single in March and was followed by a non-album single, "Education" in May. Despite being New Zealand's top live attraction by late 1974, neither albums nor singles had any local chart success, and they recruited Robert Taylor (ex-Mammal
) on guitar as they searched for a raunchier pop sound
. By early 1975, manager Graeme Nesbitt (ex-Mammal), who had obtained regular gigs and organized their first New Zealand tours, felt they should tackle the larger Australian market. Nesbitt was unable to travel with them to Australia—he had been arrested for selling drugs—before they relocated in May. In Australia, they released another non-album single, "Star Kissed" in August.
The title of New Zealand author Janet Frame's
fourth novel was Scented Gardens for the Blind (1963). In 1994 the album was re-released as a CD. It was re-packaged as a double CD (with first album Universal Radio) in 2004.
Additional musicians
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
group Dragon
Dragon (band)
Dragon is a popular New Zealand rock band, they were formed in Auckland, New Zealand in January 1972 and relocated to Sydney, Australia in May 1975. They were previously led by singer Marc Hunter and are currently led by his brother bass player Todd Hunter...
released in March 1975 on Vertigo Records
Vertigo Records
Vertigo Records today is a UK-based record label operated by Universal Music UK.-History:Vertigo Records was the name Philips Records chose in the late 1960s for its record sub-label to counter the progressive labels of its rivals EMI with Harvest Records and Decca Records with Deram...
before they relocated to Australia in May. Scented Gardens for the Blind, along with their first album Universal Radio
Universal Radio
Universal Radio is the debut album by New Zealand group Dragon released in June 1974 on Vertigo Records and produced by Rick Shadwell. Universal Radio, along with their second album Scented Gardens for the Blind are in the progressive rock genre—all subsequent albums are hard rock/pop rock.On...
, is in the progressive rock
Progressive rock
Progressive rock is a subgenre of rock music that developed in the late 1960s and early 1970s as part of a "mostly British attempt to elevate rock music to new levels of artistic credibility." John Covach, in Contemporary Music Review, says that many thought it would not just "succeed the pop of...
genre—all subsequent albums are hard rock
Hard rock
Hard rock is a loosely defined genre of rock music which has its earliest roots in mid-1960s garage rock, blues rock and psychedelic rock...
/pop rock
Pop rock
Pop rock is a music genre which mixes a catchy pop style and light lyrics in its guitar-based rock songs. There are varying definitions of the term, ranging from a slower and mellower form of rock music to a subgenre of pop music...
. "Vermillion Cellars" was released as a single in March and was followed by non-album singles, "Education" in May and "Star Kissed" in August but neither albums nor singles had any local chart success.
The title of New Zealand author Janet Frame's
Janet Frame
Janet Paterson Frame, ONZ, CBE was a New Zealand author. She wrote eleven novels, four collections of short stories, a book of poetry, an edition of juvenile fiction, and three volumes of autobiography during her lifetime. Since her death, a twelfth novel, a second volume of poetry, and a handful...
fourth novel was Scented Gardens for the Blind (1963). In 1994 the album was re-released as a CD. It was re-packaged as a double CD (with first album Universal Radio) in 2004.
Background
Dragon formed in AucklandAuckland
The Auckland metropolitan area , in the North Island of New Zealand, is the largest and most populous urban area in the country with residents, percent of the country's population. Auckland also has the largest Polynesian population of any city in the world...
, New Zealand, in January 1972 with a line-up that featured Todd Hunter
Todd Hunter
Todd Stuart Hunter is a New Zealand musician and composer known for his involvement in the band Dragon. Their best known songs are "April Sun in Cuba", "Are You Old Enough?", "Still in Love With You", and "Rain"...
on bass guitar
Bass guitar
The bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick....
, guitar
Guitar
The guitar is a plucked string instrument, usually played with fingers or a pick. The guitar consists of a body with a rigid neck to which the strings, generally six in number, are attached. Guitars are traditionally constructed of various woods and strung with animal gut or, more recently, with...
ist Ray Goodwin, drummer
Drum kit
A drum kit is a collection of drums, cymbals and often other percussion instruments, such as cowbells, wood blocks, triangles, chimes, or tambourines, arranged for convenient playing by a single person ....
Neil Reynolds and singer/pianist
Piano
The piano is a musical instrument played by means of a keyboard. It is one of the most popular instruments in the world. Widely used in classical and jazz music for solo performances, ensemble use, chamber music and accompaniment, the piano is also very popular as an aid to composing and rehearsal...
Graeme Collins. All had been in various short-lived bands in Auckland, Collins is credited with using I Ching
I Ching
The I Ching or "Yì Jīng" , also known as the Classic of Changes, Book of Changes and Zhouyi, is one of the oldest of the Chinese classic texts...
to provide the name Dragon. Their first major gig was an appearance at The Great Ngaruawahia Music Festival
The Great Ngaruawahia Music Festival
The Great Ngaruawahia Music Festival was the first large outdoor music festival in New Zealand. It was held on a farm at Ngaruawahia on the Waikato River, 19 kilometres north-west of Hamilton, for three days from 6 to 8 January 1973.- Performers :...
in early January 1973. By 1974 several personnel changes had occurred including Collins leaving, with Todd Hunter's younger brother Marc Hunter
Marc Hunter
Marc Alexander Hunter was a New Zealand rock and pop singer best known as the lead vocalist with Dragon, a band formed by his older brother Todd in Auckland in 1973....
joining on vocals and Neil Storey on drums. The band recorded two progressive rock
Progressive rock
Progressive rock is a subgenre of rock music that developed in the late 1960s and early 1970s as part of a "mostly British attempt to elevate rock music to new levels of artistic credibility." John Covach, in Contemporary Music Review, says that many thought it would not just "succeed the pop of...
albums in their native New Zealand, Universal Radio
Universal Radio
Universal Radio is the debut album by New Zealand group Dragon released in June 1974 on Vertigo Records and produced by Rick Shadwell. Universal Radio, along with their second album Scented Gardens for the Blind are in the progressive rock genre—all subsequent albums are hard rock/pop rock.On...
in June 1974 and Scented Gardens for the Blind in March 1975 both on Vertigo Records
Vertigo Records
Vertigo Records today is a UK-based record label operated by Universal Music UK.-History:Vertigo Records was the name Philips Records chose in the late 1960s for its record sub-label to counter the progressive labels of its rivals EMI with Harvest Records and Decca Records with Deram...
. "Vermillion Cellars" was released as a single in March and was followed by a non-album single, "Education" in May. Despite being New Zealand's top live attraction by late 1974, neither albums nor singles had any local chart success, and they recruited Robert Taylor (ex-Mammal
Mammal (band)
Mammal were an Australian band that formed in March 2006. Mammal rose up the ranks of the Australian music scene very quickly. Their first self titled EP was recorded soon after the band came together. Their debut live album "Vol:1 The Aural Underground" was recorded just 4 months after the band...
) on guitar as they searched for a raunchier pop sound
Pop music
Pop music is usually understood to be commercially recorded music, often oriented toward a youth market, usually consisting of relatively short, simple songs utilizing technological innovations to produce new variations on existing themes.- Definitions :David Hatch and Stephen Millward define pop...
. By early 1975, manager Graeme Nesbitt (ex-Mammal), who had obtained regular gigs and organized their first New Zealand tours, felt they should tackle the larger Australian market. Nesbitt was unable to travel with them to Australia—he had been arrested for selling drugs—before they relocated in May. In Australia, they released another non-album single, "Star Kissed" in August.
The title of New Zealand author Janet Frame's
Janet Frame
Janet Paterson Frame, ONZ, CBE was a New Zealand author. She wrote eleven novels, four collections of short stories, a book of poetry, an edition of juvenile fiction, and three volumes of autobiography during her lifetime. Since her death, a twelfth novel, a second volume of poetry, and a handful...
fourth novel was Scented Gardens for the Blind (1963). In 1994 the album was re-released as a CD. It was re-packaged as a double CD (with first album Universal Radio) in 2004.
Track listing
- "Vermillion Cellars" (Marc HunterMarc HunterMarc Alexander Hunter was a New Zealand rock and pop singer best known as the lead vocalist with Dragon, a band formed by his older brother Todd in Auckland in 1973....
, Todd HunterTodd HunterTodd Stuart Hunter is a New Zealand musician and composer known for his involvement in the band Dragon. Their best known songs are "April Sun in Cuba", "Are You Old Enough?", "Still in Love With You", and "Rain"...
, Ray Goodwin) - 3:23 - "La Gash Lagoon" aka "L'Gash Lagoon" (M Hunter, T Hunter, Goodwin) - 8:18
- "Sunburst" (Goodwin, T Hunter, M Hunter) - 8:33
- "Greylynn Candy" aka "Grey Lynn Candy" (Goodwin, T Hunter) - 4:57
- "Darkness" (M Hunter, T Hunter, Goodwin) - 4:44
- "Scented Gardens for the Blind" (M Hunter, T Hunter, Goodwin) - 7:40
Personnel
Dragon members- Marc HunterMarc HunterMarc Alexander Hunter was a New Zealand rock and pop singer best known as the lead vocalist with Dragon, a band formed by his older brother Todd in Auckland in 1973....
- lead vocals on tracks 2–4 & 6 - Todd HunterTodd HunterTodd Stuart Hunter is a New Zealand musician and composer known for his involvement in the band Dragon. Their best known songs are "April Sun in Cuba", "Are You Old Enough?", "Still in Love With You", and "Rain"...
- bass guitarBass guitarThe bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick....
, backing vocals - Ray Goodwin - lead guitarLead guitarLead guitar is a guitar part which plays melody lines, instrumental fill passages, guitar solos, and occasionally, some riffs within a song structure...
, lead vocals on tracks 1 & 5 - Neil Storey - drumsDrum kitA drum kit is a collection of drums, cymbals and often other percussion instruments, such as cowbells, wood blocks, triangles, chimes, or tambourines, arranged for convenient playing by a single person ....
- Ivan Thompson - keyboardsKeyboard instrumentA keyboard instrument is a musical instrument which is played using a musical keyboard. The most common of these is the piano. Other widely used keyboard instruments include organs of various types as well as other mechanical, electromechanical and electronic instruments...
Additional musicians
- ??? - saxophoneSaxophoneThe saxophone is a conical-bore transposing musical instrument that is a member of the woodwind family. Saxophones are usually made of brass and played with a single-reed mouthpiece similar to that of the clarinet. The saxophone was invented by the Belgian instrument maker Adolphe Sax in 1846...