Flash (Flash album)
1972 studio album by Flash
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Flash is the self-titled debut studio album by British band Flash, released in February 1972 by Sovereign Records, a subsidiary of Capitol Records. It reached the top-40 on the US national album charts.
| Flash | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
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| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | February 1972 | |||
| Recorded | 8–21 November 1971 | |||
| Studios | De Lane Lea Studios, London | |||
| Genre | Progressive rock | |||
| Length | 41:35 | |||
| Label | Sovereign | |||
| Producer | Derek Lawrence[1] | |||
| Flash chronology | ||||
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| Singles from Flash | ||||
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| Review scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| AllMusic |   [1] |
| Christgau's Record Guide | C−[2] |
Background
Guitarist Peter Banks played with several bands before forming Flash, including The Nighthawks in 1963, The Devil's Disciples in 1964, The Syndicats in 1965 and then The Syn with Chris Squire on bass in 1965. He then joined Mabel Greer's Toyshop which would be the basis of Yes in 1966, again with Chris Squire, but briefly left to join a band called Neat Change and recorded a single, "I Lied to Aunty May"/"Sandman", with Peter Frampton playing guitar on side A while Banks played on side B. He then rejoined Mabel Greer's Toyshop, who became Yes. He left them after their second album, Time and a Word in 1970 to form Flash.[1] Their bassist, Ray Bennett played with another band before Flash called The Breed which included Bill Bruford on drums.
Chart performance and singles
Flash successfully reached the US pop album charts. It debuted on Billboard magazine's Top LP's & Tape chart in the issue dated May 20, 1972, peaking at No. 33 during a twenty-nine-week run on the chart.[3] The album entered Cashbox magazine's Top 100 Albums chart in the issue dated May 27, 1972, peaking at No. 39 during a twenty-six-week run on it.[4]
One lead single was taken from Flash. "Small Beginnings" was first released by Capitol Records as a single in early May 1972.[5] It became a top-30 single on America's Billboard Hot 100 pop chart, rising to the number 29 position.[6] Cashbox ranked it similarly at number 30 nationwide.[7]
Reissue
A remastered version was issued in the US in 2003. Curiously, it was coupled with their third album "Out Of Our Hands".
Track listing
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Small Beginnings" | Peter Banks, Colin Carter | 9:23 |
| 2. | "Morning Haze" | Ray Bennett | 4:32 |
| 3. | "Children of the Universe" | Bennett | 8:55 |
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4. | "Dreams of Heaven" | Banks, Carter | 12:57 |
| 5. | "The Time It Takes" | Banks, Carter | 5:48 |
Charts
| Chart (1972) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| US Billboard Top LP's & Tape[3] | 33 |
| US Cashbox Top 100 Albums[4] | 39 |
Personnel
Flash[8]
- Colin Carter – lead vocals, percussion
- Peter Banks – electric, acoustic and Spanish guitars, ARP synthesizer, backing vocals
- Ray Bennett – bass guitar, backing vocals; lead vocals and acoustic guitar on "Morning Haze"
- Mike Hough – drums, percussion, cymbals, voice
Additional personnel
- Tony Kaye – ARP synthesizer, Hammond organ, piano
Production
- Derek Lawrence – producer
- Martin Birch – engineer
- Flash – arrangements
- Maurice Tate – artwork
- Barry Wentzell – photography
- Hipgnosis – design, photography