Tuesday

KALEIDOSCOPE / PETER DALTREY INTERVIEW


TIME AND TIDE: After a series of delays brought about by logistics and the production process, the vinyl edition of the much ballyhooed Running Through Chelsea album is at last available on the Think Like A Key label. Running Through Chelsea is the brainchild of Kaleidoscope founder and front man Peter Daltrey (above left), working in tandem with Mark Mortimer (right) and his vast cadre of musicians who persevere as the Know Escape. Daltrey recalls their fascinating journey below with Blitz Magazine Editor/Publisher Michael McDowell. (Click on above image to enlarge). 
    
RUNNING THROUGH CHELSEA:
KALEIDOSCOPE'S PETER DALTREY
COMES DOWN FROM THE MOUNTAIN
AND INTO THE STUDIO
WITH THE KNOW ESCAPE
By Michael McDowell

For veteran composer, keyboard man and vocalist Peter Daltrey, some crucial elements of the recording industry have not changed over the past half century.

As co-founder (along with guitarist Eddy Pumer, bassist Steve Clark and drummer Danny Bridgman) of the pioneering London psych band, Kaleidoscope, Daltrey and his colleagues learned first hand of the ways and means of the recording industry. Having first performed live in 1963 as the Sidekicks, the band then persevered after November 1965 as the Key before signing with Fontana in January 1967 and changing their name to Kaleidoscope. 

Their ambitious Flight From Ashiya single followed on Fontana in September of that year, along with their debut album, Tangerine Dream two months later. Kaleidoscope ultimately released two albums and six singles for Fontana, before reinventing themselves as Fairfielfd Parlour in 1970. But with all of that came a reality check along the way.

"When our album came out, or our singles, the record company never gave us a copy", said Daltrey. 

"We had to go out and buy our own!"

Throughout the ensuing years, Daltrey released over a number of solo albums with various collaborators. A version of Kaleidoscope also persevered into the twenty-first century. Sadly, bassist Steve Clark passed away in May 1999. In turn, lead guitarist Eddy Pumer succumbed to a brief illness in September 2020.

Despite those setbacks, Daltrey has persevered with a vengeance. He most recently signed with Roger Houdaille's Texas-based Think Like A Key label, which to date has released highly acclaimed projects by Unicorn (a deluxe reissue of the band's David Gilmour-produced Too Many Crooks album), Orange And Blue (a collection of heretofore unavailable 1996 sessions by psych pioneers Nirvana, featuring Patrick Campbell-Lyons and Alex Spyropoulos) and the much anticipated Kitchen Rock by Pretty Things veteran Wally Waller. 

Yet along the way, both Daltrey and Houdaille learned that history often repeats itself. In this case, due largely to circumstances beyond their control.

"The CD has gone out already", Daltrey said.

"But we've had a delay on the vinyl, because the majors have suddenly realized that there's a market out there for vinyl. They were slow to catch up. But now they have. They've swamped the manufacturers with their massive orders. So smaller, independent companies get pushed out, because the majors want their orders first".

According to Houdaille, those delays have availed themselves in terms of logistics, as well.

"Faster to send ourselves", he said.

Thankfully, the vinyl edition of Running Through Chelsea finally saw release in September. Most assuredly, it was worth the wait.

"Here we are fifty-six years later", Daltrey said.

"The thrill of getting your new record out hasn't diminished at all, because of the amount of work that goes into it. When the LP actually comes out, and you get a copy of it in your hands, there's nothing like that feeling in the world".

Indeed, Running Through Chelsea is an extraordinary celebration of sorts of that which put Daltrey on center stage in the first place. Tracks such as Come Down From The Mountain, No Girls On Mars, Time And Tide, Hotel Juliet and Bukowski's Tambourine (the single) reveal a man with a strong mission statement that builds upon the sub-genre he helped pioneer without succumbing to caricature.

"Most of it is down to Mark Mortimer and his army of musicians", said Daltrey.

"I've done my little bit with the lyrics, the melodies and little odds and ends."

While Daltrey's "little bit" most assuredly defines the vision of the album, he is quick to point out the crucial role which Mortimer played in bringing it to fruition.

"I can't tell the difference between CD audio and vinyl audio, because I haven't got a right ear anymore", Daltrey said.

"It's gone years ago. I'm totally deaf in there".

Even so, Daltrey remains keenly aware that the sheer volume of choices are as overwhelming as they were when Kaleidoscope signed with Fontana. 

"There's so much music coming out these days", he said.

"It's difficult to stand out from the crowd. But you guys have stood by us for years".

Buoyed by the initial response, Daltrey remains motivated to persevere. The Leopard  And The Lamb is slated for mid-December release.

"Mark and I are already a couple of tracks into the next album", he said. 

"We did record some tracks down in Glastonbury. It's slower going this time. When we did Running Through Chelsea, it was during lockdown."

Meanwhile, there is plenty in which the faithful can immerse themselves in Running Through Chelsea. Easily one of the best new releases of the year to date.

"All I know is that the album sounds good to me", said Daltrey.

"I'm very proud of this album. I hope you love it!"