Tranquility (S/T)
If you ever wondered what the love child of the Bee Gees and Crosby, Stills and Nash would sound like, wonder no more – the pointy-headed creature would sound like Tranquility.
The story of short-lived career of Tranquility is a difficult one to track; now largely forgotten, the band has neither a biography at AllMusic or a Wikipedia page. A fairly short history of the band’s 1971-1974 duration can be found on a page dedicated to Vanity Fare, but aside from that, little exists on the Internet about Tranquility.
The dichotomy of a band that references the Bee Gees and CSN in equal measure is not surprising, considering the band’s origins. According to the Vanity Fare page:
“The band was formed in 1971 by Ashley Kozak, formerly Donovan’s manager, and built around the song writing abilities of Terry Shaddick. Kozak had long wished for a “…gentle tranquil band that could create it own hybrid of pop, rock and English folk music” (CBS Inner Sleeve Issue III, 1973), and in Shaddick, he saw the focal point for creation of just such a band.”
From the meager info provided by AllMusic, it appears that Shaddick had a hand in all of the songs featured on Tranquility, and satisfied the intent of Kozak’s wishes, if not the spirit; Shaddick and company rarely hybridize pop, rock and English folk, but hit each of the points individually, song-by-song.
The best songs on Tranquility lean more toward folk; album opener “Try Again” is all innocuous confessional lyrics married to acoustic guitars and tight harmonies. Likewise, “Look at the Time, It’s Late” mimics the best of the Bee Gees’ late-60s-early 70s pop. Just as many times, the album aims for CSN or the Bee Gees and misses; “Lady of the Lake,” “Ride Upon the Sun,” and “Walk Along the Road” are pleasant but forgettable.
“Oyster Catcher” and “Black Current Betty” are almost jarringly out-of-place on an album full of CSN-lite offerings. Both songs recall 1967-68, when, inspired by Sgt. Pepper, every British album had to include a few music hall-type numbers full of twee Angliophilia. Of the two songs, “Black Current Betty” (which I’m almost certain should be “Black Currant Betty,” and the writer on the Vanity Fare page agrees) is the most listenable, even if “Penny Lane,” “Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band” or even “Hello Hello” by Sopwith Camel got there first and more memorably.
Tranquility is hardly a buried classic, even if the Vanity Fare page claims that the band “blew more than one big-name U.S. band off the stage.” All this begs the question: are some bands/albums better lost to history?
In the case of Tranquility’s 1972 self-titled debut, that depends on your tolerance for an album that veers wildly between introspective singer-songwriter offerings featuring CSN-type harmonies and English pop that would have sounded at home on Chad & Jeremy’s Of Cabbages and Kings.
“Try Again”
Original | 1972 | Epic | search ebay ]
Reissue | 2004 | Rock & Groove | buy here ]
Spotify link | listen ]
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I have long wondered what the love child of the Bee Gees and Crosby, Stills and Nash would sound like.
Like, specifically what it would be if those 7 or 8 mostly related men all had intercourse.
Now that’s an album I’d like to hear!
I think what you’re describing is Firefall, Matt.
I saw these guys as the warm up group for Yes when they started their Close to the Edge tour. It was at a college near Lancaster, PA. Yes was using a local sound company for their tour. They needed to test out the equipment. It cost a couple of dollars to see them. Was blown away by Tranquility and bought their album the next week.
My band supported Tranquility in 1971 or 2 (long time ago…) in Yorkshire, England. We were blown away by their powerful sound and tight harmonies and bought the album the next day. I always wonder what happened to the band members…
I’ve listened to this album at least 10 times since I first discovered it recently. Although the album reaches across several different styles, for the most part the songs, vocals and musicianship are quite excellent.
This album is completely sensational, I stumbled across it the other day and couldn’t believe how beautiful and enjoyable it was. Oyster Catcher and Lady Of The Lake are brilliant ! Reminds me of Ithaca and Neil Young at his most mellow, the quality of the songwriting and performances are superb. I’d say it’s a lost classic myself, thanks a lot for the article, very informative !
saw them @ the Acacademy of Music in NYC in the early 70’s in Dec as opening band for Jay Geils Band. . Blew the place away!!!!
I love this band and have since seeing them open for Yes.I was blown away, as was YEs.I wish they would release something other than the two albums and CDS.The very surprising thing is that many have never heard of them which is sad.If anyone knows of any bonus tracks, or live recordings or video please let me know.
Saw them in ’72,in Utica, NY. NRBQ opened!
Talk about a diverse show.
A band that should have gotten huge, as big as Queen! Still have my “Silver” album and my band covered “Couldn’t Possibly Be “….tragic dissolve.
I saw Tranquility live in London round about the time the album came out. Listening to it this morning it sounds to me more CNS and less Bee Gees.
I saw the best show I ever saw way back when! tranquility opened at new yorks
accademy of music.they where fantastic.they where followed by framptons camel
peters new group and at 2 in the morning the j geills band played.
each group topped the other.I went to see guills but the next day I started looking for an abmum by tranquilty and framptons camel.found them all
I just heard these guys on deep tra ks Earl Bailey positively extolled their talent. Thank you Mr
Bsiley
Is SILVER available on audio cd?
I have both their Lp’s and play SILVER TWICE TODAY
saw them once at STONY BROOK UNIVERSITY with about 40 people in the audience and they were FANTASTIC never knew why they did not become huge
the song SILVER IS A CLASSIC
there is always someone to make smart comments on peoples efforts and usually they are passing comment on something they know nothing about, if you can’t sing, play an instrument or write songs shut the fuck up….I saw this band put together and know their considerable pedigree..I also know why they didn’t become much bigger..that was along time ago so best left
Joe A., I have pre-ordered the upcoming CD release (Japanese import) of Silver which most fans agree (myself included) is much more consistent. It’s scheduled to be released in several days in fact. I’m probably preaching to the choir here, but there are some absolutely gorgeous harmonies on most of the songs. Fortunately I had the pleasure of seeing Tranquility open up for Yes on the latter’s Close to the Edge tour.
Been waiting for both albums to be to be released on cd(specially SILVER). I too have pre-ordered. Can’t wait!
Tranquility’s Silver is now out on CD! Thanks to Sony Japan the many fans of this neglected 70’s group can now enjoy this first ever official release on CD. I haven’t listened to all of it yet (just received it today), but I have no complaints considering when it was recorded especially. I confess that this was a “holy grail” release for me and I for one am very happy to have a copy. I hope that surviving band members are happy knowing that their hard work many years ago is being made available to an even wider audience. Enjoy!
Saw them on the Close to the Edge tour also…we even got to meet two of them at a pizza place after the show and talked to them for a while…the harmonies were every bit as good live….it was a really good show….
Another band with a similar bent though a bit rockier was Glencoe. The only CD releases so far are poor sounding and are not taken from the UK masters. Would love to see them get an official release.
I absolutely love these guys…..was advised to give them a listen by an odd proggy friend of mine; does not disappoint! I have their Silver on CD and listen to Tranquility on YouTube music all the time.
Saw them for my first concert at the Academy of Music IN NYC in 1972 opening for Frampton’s Camel and J Giels.
I saw them twice in 1972 or 1973 at the University of North Carolina at Wilmington. The first show was during the school’s homecoming as a middle act and the second time was later in that same school year as the headliners. They were fantastic to say the least. Back then, listeners controlled the music on the radio and various songs of theirs were quickly rated as #1 in the local countdowns. Their shows were tight and very dynamic. We all waited for a hoped for third album which never happened. No internet in those days so we were at a lost as to what happened to the band in New York City when their equipment was stolen. Otherwise, we may have had more of this great music.
I saw them as well in the 70’s opening for Yes. Fabulous band, got their album for birthday and it was just great. I wonder what ever happened to them.
saw this band in 1972, warmed up for Humble Pie in louisville ky.
SAW THIS BAND IN 1972 , WARMED UP FOR HUMBLE PIE , IN LOUISVILLE KY.
Saw this band opening for The Byrds at The Capital Theater Passaic NJ on 2/24/73. Bought the vinyl at the merch table. Still have it.