Scope's III by request, unreleased from 1976 [review only]

Somebody requested this some time back and indeed it was a shock to me years ago when I found out the great fusion album released another album.  I posted their masterpieces in lossless a long time ago now and everyone knows them I'm sure.

The database information is all here, with the exception of this unheard-of and poorly publicized cd.
On the other hand, because it's a released from the artist, I can't justify sharing it longer than a day.
So in the cdbaby information you can see that: these are never published recordings - from the zenith of the Fusion period (1976) - of the legendary SCOPE feat. the unforgettable Rob Franken (kb).

Encouraging, right? not so, since rather than a complete cohesive group effort as in the I and II, the guitar is actually the star here, virtuoso to be sure, but it's a lot like when Soft Machine transitioned from being Ratledge-driven to Karl Jenkins-driven with more guitar in the mix.  You can tell it's the same band, but the sounds are altogether different-- a bit more disappointing.


More from the aforementioned page:

Album Notes
These are never before published recordings - from the zenith of the Fusion period (1976) - of the legendary SCOPE feat. the unforgettable Rob Franken (kb)

After two Albums for Warner Brothers (Scope I & Scope II) the record company jumped off from the project and the group didn't succeed to bring out this material. The original tapes got lost, these are remastered copies, far from perfect, but very striking in it's REAL FUSION sound.

Scope I was: Rik Elings (kb, fl, comp), Rens Newland (g, comp), Henk Zomer (d), Eric Raayman (b)

Scope II was: Rik Elings (b, kb, comp), Rens Newland (g, comp), Henk Zomer (d), feat. Rob Franken (Rhodes, Synth)

THIS ONE Scope III was: Rens Newland (g, voc, comp), Bokkie Vink (d), Arthur Clarke (b) also feat. Rob Franken (Rhodes, Synth)

Note that song samples are available there!

Scope 1 and Scope 2 [lossless, from prognotfrog -- many thanks for their work]

from prognotfrog:

Absolutely a masterpiece of fusion-- it just don't get more masterly than this.  A poor mono rip has been circulating for some time that really didn't do it justice, so I had to purchase the record; please upgrade your copies to this new one.  They of course did another album called Scope II but it wasn't quite as good as this powerhouse.  I hope everyone reading knows this band already.  Briefly what we have here is the best ideas from seminal fusionauts Mahavishnu and Soft Machine in a very listenable but inventive and interesting package without silly frills like overlong solos, like the Heavy Joker with Max Leth jun I posted a long time ago but much better.  Of particular interest is the gorgeous Fender Rhodes, minimoog, and organ playing of Rik Elings, who composed most of the music.  However the guitarist, Rens Nieuwland, is not exactly a shabby player in this outfit-- not at all!

For those who haven't heard this yet, hang on to the handrails, because this is some of the most furious fusion those 'tired old Europeans' (to use Dick Cheney's phrase) have ever produced.  (Now the joke's on Dick of course since he can no longer travel to Europe for fear of being arrested for war crimes and put on trial at the Hague, but he can at least listen to this masterpiece from the privacy of his lead-lined basement bunker 50 feet underground....as he remembers 'Yesternight's Dream:' [track A4] the New American Empire, now a matter made merely of memory alone...)

Yes, I know, more US-bashing.  But bear in mind I've also indulged in Euro-bashing:http://prognotfrog.blogspot.ca/2012/06/free-fair-holland-1978.html

and singled out the obsessive-compulsive Germans for particular satire often enough...

from prognotfrog:

As bonus I have a wonderful re-rip of the Scope II album requested at the Scope I post last week, all credit to the magnificent multi-linguist Mr. Morgan for this.  Don't forget to thank him for the efforts of purchasing the record and ripping it for us all.