Release 2017 - 3CD Jewel Box Set - all late 70s and early 80s recordings of Pete Banks Empire
Peter Banks (1947-2013) and Tony Kaye quit YES after the release of their 2nd album and formed FLASH.
They continued the sound of early YES but never reached success in the UK.
Their first Single SMALL BEGINNINGS reached the US Charts, so they toured in the USA and did some TV appearances
there too..from which a Live album saw a release in the 90s.
After two further albums the Band split in 1973.
Peter Banks recorded one solo album together with Jan Akkerman, and founded new band ESQUIRE -
thought as follow up to FLASH -
ESQUIRE was also at home in progressive fields like FLASH, with a bit more classical influences and female
vocals by his wife SYDNEY - they recorded 3 albums , but got no recording contract in time of growing Punk & Wave.
What a loss for such a great guitar player - in the mid 90s the albums saw a release on US label ONE WAY - which
was open for progressive sounds again.
Style-Genre: Progressive Rock ; Classical ; Rock ;
see:
Syn ; Yes ; Focus - Jan Akkerman ; Flash ; Federals ; Mabel Greers Toyshop ; Syndicats ;
Kate Bush ; Peter Gabriel ; Brand X ; David Dylvian ; Metro ; John Lennon ;
Musicians:
Peter Banks (1947-2013) - lead guitar, guitar, arp-synthy, keyboards, vocals;
Sydney Foxx - lead vocals; Preston Ross-Heyman (1st & 2nd LP), Mark Mudock (3rd LP) - drums;
Jakob Magnusson (1st & 2nd LP) , Robert Orellana (2nd LP), Paul Delph (3rd LP) - keyboards;
John Giblin (1st LP), Chad Perry (2ndLP), Brad Stephenson (3rd LP) - bass;
Guests (1st Album) : Phil Collins - drums, back-vocals; Sam Gopal - tabla ;
Producer: Peter Banks ;
Disc 1
THE BEST OF EMPIRE
Out of our Hands
Destiny
Faraway
Foundation
Sky at Night - feat. Phil Collins
Where Yes means no
Off with the Kings Head
More than Words
Shooting Star
Part 1 - From the Top
Part 2 - Common Ground
Part 3 - Iceland on the Rocks
Part 4 - Shooting Star
For a Lifetime
Do what you want
Disc 2
THE MARS TAPES
Out of our Hands
Foundation/Destiny/Faraway
Somewhere over the Rainbow Bar and Grill
Do what you want
Dancing Man
Somethings coming
The Fall of the Empire
When the Banks overflow
Ascending to the Planet Mars
A Silence Prevails
Disc 3
THE REST OF EMPIRE
Everything Changes
Sky at Night (Mark II Version)
Still out of our Hands
Goodbye
Destiny (Mark II Version)
Someone who cares
Aint that Peculiar
Dancing Man
Hear my Voice on the Radio
Who - featuring Ray Bennett (ex-Flash)