Brand X – Product(1979)

Biography
Brand X is a jazz fusion band, originally active between 1975–1980 and 1992–1999. Noted members included John Goodsall (guitar), Percy Jones (bass), Robin Lumley (keyboards), Kenwood Dennard (drums) and Phil Collins (drums). Goodsall and Jones were the sole constant members throughout the band’s existence. In 2016, Goodsall, Jones and Dennard reunited with new musicians Chris Clark on keyboards and Scott Weinberger on percussion. Genesis drummer Phil Collins replaced Spinelli and in early 1976 Unorthodox Behaviour was released to coincide with an extensive UK tour. Collins had previously taken over lead vocals from Peter Gabriel in Genesis starting with the 1976 album A Trick of the Tail. Due to Genesis schedules conflicting with those of Brand X, Collins would depart the band on several occasions, before departing permanently in 1979. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brand_X

Album & Cover
Product is the fourth studio album by Brand X. According to Dave Connelly’s review at AllMusic.com, this was Brand X’s most eclectic album to date, Product is perhaps most notable for its attempts at a pop crossover in the Phil Collins-sung “Don’t Make Waves” and “Soho.” The range of styles presented here — hard and soft fusion, pop, progressive rock — results from the now-interchangeable nature of the Brand X lineup, which, in addition to the returning Collins and Robin Lumley, is expanded to include bassist John Giblin and drummer Mike Clarke (Chuck Burgi having left after Masques). While the pop songs have a tart, new wave sound to them that is oddly ingratiating, they’re likely to leave longtime fans scratching their heads. (Genesis fans may hear in “Soho” the musical inspiration for “Illegal Alien,” and in Percy Jones’ “Dance of the Illegal Aliens” its titular inspiration.) https://www.allmusic.com/album/product-mw0000201130

Aubrey Powell explains the front cover photograph as a person or thing that is the result of an action or process from a Product. In this case a scientist in a lab makes a fizzy drink, the dinks vending machine fails and the purchaser takes revenge on the vending machine. In other words the outcome is not always positive for the Product.

Cover Location: Hipgnosis studio, London, UK.
Who Did What: Photography – A. Powell/P. Christopherson. Graphics – C. Elgie.
Label: Passport PB9840(US). Charisma CAS 1147(UK)
Source: Vinyl. Album. Cover. Art, The Complete Hipgnosis Catalogue: Aubrey Powell

Tracklist

Credits
Bass – John Giblin, Percy Jones
Drums – Mike Clark, Phil Collins
Guitar – John Goodsall
Keyboards – Peter Robinson, Robin Lumley
Percussion – Morris Pert. Phil Collins.
Vocals – Phil Collins
Producer – Brand X , Colin Green, Neil Kernon