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
Moroccan Roll is the second studio album by British jazz fusion group Brand X. The title is a pun referring to this being their second album: “more rock and roll”, however, Moroccan Roll is not a step toward the rock & roll side of the fusion equation, but rather an experiment with Eastern sounds and softer textures. The album is mostly instrumental. “Sun in the Night” is the only track with vocals, containing lyrics sung in Sanskrit by Phil Collins. However, “Disco Suicide” also contains vocals, albeit wordless and syllabic. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Moroccan_Roll
Storm Thorgerson in ‘For The Love Of Vinyl’ says the design for this came from the title of the album an of the word ‘Roll’ as in being rolled over or robbed. In this case the robbery takes place in a Moroccan village. The man in the Panama hat and sweating is Peter Christopherson. The lines are hidden clues to the answer to the ‘ meaning of existence’ such as The Philosopher’s Stone or the Secret of the Universe…
Cover Location: Tunisia
Who Did What: Cover Design – Hipgnosis/George Hardie. Photography – P. Christopherson/A. Powell. Group Photography – Rob Brimson.
Label: Passport PB9822(US), Charisma CAS1126(UK)
Source: Vinyl. Album. Cover. Art, The Complete Hipgnosis Catalogue: Aubrey Powell
For The Love Of Vinyl – The Album Art Of Hipgnosis, Storm Thorgerson and Aubrey Powell
Tracklist
| Side One Sun In The Night Why Should I Lend You Mine (When You’ve Broken Yours Off Already) Into Maybe I’ll Lend You Mine After All Hate Zone Collapsar |
Side Two Disco Suicide Orbits Malaga Virgen Macrocosm |
Credits
Bass, Percussion – Percy Jones
Engineer – Perdurabo Stephen W. Tayler
Engineer [Tape Op] – Chris Tsangarides, Geoff Leach, John Brand, Neil Ross, Steve Short
Mastered By – Ray Staff
Percussion – Morris Pert
Producer – Dennis Mackay
Producer [Associate] – Brand X
Vocals, Drums, Piano – Philip Collins
Vocals, Guitar, Percussion – John Goodsall
Vocals, Keyboards – Robin Lumley
Written-By – Goodsall (tracks: A1, A4, B4), Jones (tracks: B2, B3), Collins (tracks: A2, A3), Lumley (tracks: A5, B1)
