(Australian 1969 - Present)
In the period until Voyage of the Beagle, released in 1983, they made an astonishing 9 albums starting with Ebony Quill in 1974-- bear in mind that these are stuffed with cover versions and sometimes jazzed-up of really obnoxious songs like Grazing in the Grass.
By 1983, Tom Hare was the only founding band member from Galapagos Duck's first line-up with Greg Foster the next in line. Other band members were John Conley, Bob Egger, Mal Morgan and Mick Jackman (who does most of the vocals). Irrespective, all band members are accomplished jazz musicians, each skilled in multiple instruments and song writing.
The Voyage Of The Beagle
(Album Liner Notes)
The origin of the species known as the Galapagos Duck has little real relevance to Charles Darwin or his theories but rather is related to the writings of another eminent, more contemporary Englishman, Mr Spike Milligan.
One steamy night many years ago in the heart of deeper Sydney-town the members of a certain jazz band wailed away the hours with Spike, a long-time friend, drinking and joking in the tavern where the band performed. It was this late-night session which prompted the adoption of the band's curious name, now a household word among jazz followers, the Galapagos Duck.
Apart from its name and the fact that it features very significantly in the evolution of the jazz idiom in Australia, the Galapagos Duck has little to do with the life and work of the father of Evolution. However, because of the name the members of the band feel a certain empathy with Darwin and have more particularly developed a fascination with his epic voyage which took him through that part of the world from which the basis of many jazz forms and indeed most of modern popular music finds its roots.
This recording, which is a selection of original compositions by the members of the band, attempts in musical terms to trace the Beagle's voyage.
The origin of the species known as the Galapagos Duck has little real relevance to Charles Darwin or his theories but rather is related to the writings of another eminent, more contemporary Englishman, Mr Spike Milligan.
One steamy night many years ago in the heart of deeper Sydney-town the members of a certain jazz band wailed away the hours with Spike, a long-time friend, drinking and joking in the tavern where the band performed. It was this late-night session which prompted the adoption of the band's curious name, now a household word among jazz followers, the Galapagos Duck.
Apart from its name and the fact that it features very significantly in the evolution of the jazz idiom in Australia, the Galapagos Duck has little to do with the life and work of the father of Evolution. However, because of the name the members of the band feel a certain empathy with Darwin and have more particularly developed a fascination with his epic voyage which took him through that part of the world from which the basis of many jazz forms and indeed most of modern popular music finds its roots.
This recording, which is a selection of original compositions by the members of the band, attempts in musical terms to trace the Beagle's voyage.
After having been twice driven back by heavy south western gales, Her Majesty's ship Beagle, a ten-gun brig, under the command of Captain Fitzroy, RN, sailed from Devonport on the 27th of December, 1831.' And so The Voyage Begins
Its primary mission was to survey the poorly known coastal areas of South America. On board was a young naturalist, Charles Darwin, who undertook the voyage without pay partly to put off his intended vocation. His father felt it was high time his son settled into some suitable career such as the ministry.
The outstanding outcome of this five-year voyage was the most revolutionary change that has ever occurred in man's view of himself . In 1837, Darwin began developing a theory to explain how species evolve and after almost twenty years of thoroughly working through his ideas he produced his masterpiece 'Origin of Species'.
Its primary mission was to survey the poorly known coastal areas of South America. On board was a young naturalist, Charles Darwin, who undertook the voyage without pay partly to put off his intended vocation. His father felt it was high time his son settled into some suitable career such as the ministry.
The outstanding outcome of this five-year voyage was the most revolutionary change that has ever occurred in man's view of himself . In 1837, Darwin began developing a theory to explain how species evolve and after almost twenty years of thoroughly working through his ideas he produced his masterpiece 'Origin of Species'.
It was Darwin's visit to the Galapagos Islands in the Pacific west of Ecuador, and his examinations of gigantic fossil bones at Punta Alta in Argentina, that chiefly stimulated his speculations as to how the diverse species of the earth might have come about.
'The Archipelago is a little world within itself . . . the different islands to a considerable extent are inhabited by a different set of beings.' Life on the Archipelago
At Punta Alta in Argentina Darwin wrote, '...the remains of these nine great quadrupeds and many detached bones were found embedded on the beach, within the space of about 200 yards square. It is a remarkable circumstance that so many different species should be found together.' The Skeletons of Punta Alta
'The Archipelago is a little world within itself . . . the different islands to a considerable extent are inhabited by a different set of beings.' Life on the Archipelago
At Punta Alta in Argentina Darwin wrote, '...the remains of these nine great quadrupeds and many detached bones were found embedded on the beach, within the space of about 200 yards square. It is a remarkable circumstance that so many different species should be found together.' The Skeletons of Punta Alta
In July of 1832 somewhere off the coast of Uruguay, Darwin observed a natural phenomenon which has been experienced by many sea travellers down through the ages. He found it worthy of note in his diary'...we witnessed a splendid scene of natural fireworks; the masthead and yardarm-ends shone with St Elmo's light... St Elmo's Fire
He was fascinated by the life in the lush forests of South America: 'the elegance of the grasses, the novelty of the parasitical plants, the beauty of the flowers, the glossy green of the foliage, but above all the general luxuriance of the vegetation, filled me with admiration.' In a Brazilian Forest
Throughout Darwin's diary during his South American travels there are many references to the splendour of the Cordillera range'... From some high land we hailed with joy the white summits of the Cordillera, as they were seen occasionally peeping through their dusky envelope of clouds'. Cordillera
After leaving the Galapagos Archipelago the Beagle travelled to Tahiti and then on to New Zealand and in his writings Darwin compares two races of Polynesians, the civilized, peaceful Tahitians and the savage, ferocious New Zealanders. The Tattooed Warriors: 'I should think more warlike race of inhabitants could not be found in any part of the world.'
From New Zealand the voyage continued on to Australia where Darwin observed some of the traditional dances of the Aborigines. 'The natives . . . were persuaded to hold a 'corroboree' or great dancing party .. .
The dancing consisted in their running either sideways or in Indian file into an open space, and stamping the ground with great force as they marched together . . .
there was one called the Emu dance, in which each man extended his arm in a bent manner, like the neck of that bird . . .' The Emu Dance
The Beagle left Australia for the Keeling Islands, the coral atolls in the Indian Ocean nearly one thousand kilometres from Sumatra. Darwin described the idyllic setting of one of these: 'Excepting near the lagoon, where there is some sand, the land is entirely composed of rounded fragments of coral . . .' Coral Island
On October 2 the voyage came to end upon the Beagle's arrival back in England. '. . . and at Falmouth I left the Beagle, having lived on board the good little vessel nearly five years.' The Voyage Ends
This post consists of FLACs ripped from my newly acquired vinyl. Although the outer cover is ripped the vinyl is in excellent condition and still has its original liner note insert, which outlines the story of the Beagle's Voyage (as above). Label scans and artwork are also included for both vinyl and CD releases.
He was fascinated by the life in the lush forests of South America: 'the elegance of the grasses, the novelty of the parasitical plants, the beauty of the flowers, the glossy green of the foliage, but above all the general luxuriance of the vegetation, filled me with admiration.' In a Brazilian Forest
Throughout Darwin's diary during his South American travels there are many references to the splendour of the Cordillera range'... From some high land we hailed with joy the white summits of the Cordillera, as they were seen occasionally peeping through their dusky envelope of clouds'. Cordillera
After leaving the Galapagos Archipelago the Beagle travelled to Tahiti and then on to New Zealand and in his writings Darwin compares two races of Polynesians, the civilized, peaceful Tahitians and the savage, ferocious New Zealanders. The Tattooed Warriors: 'I should think more warlike race of inhabitants could not be found in any part of the world.'
From New Zealand the voyage continued on to Australia where Darwin observed some of the traditional dances of the Aborigines. 'The natives . . . were persuaded to hold a 'corroboree' or great dancing party .. .
there was one called the Emu dance, in which each man extended his arm in a bent manner, like the neck of that bird . . .' The Emu Dance
The Beagle left Australia for the Keeling Islands, the coral atolls in the Indian Ocean nearly one thousand kilometres from Sumatra. Darwin described the idyllic setting of one of these: 'Excepting near the lagoon, where there is some sand, the land is entirely composed of rounded fragments of coral . . .' Coral Island
On October 2 the voyage came to end upon the Beagle's arrival back in England. '. . . and at Falmouth I left the Beagle, having lived on board the good little vessel nearly five years.' The Voyage Ends
As mentioned above, the CD release comes with a totally different cover (see right) which in my opinion is horrible and I much prefer the more relevant and colourful vinyl cover, but I'll let you be the judge. Anyhow, enjoy this masterpiece folks.
Track Listing:
A1 The Voyage Begins (Leaving England 1831) 4:04
A2 St Elmo's Fire (Uruguay) 3:54
A3 The Skeletons Of Punta Alta 4:15
A4 In A Brazilian Forest (Brazil) 3:55
A5 Cordillera (Chile) 5:27
A6 Life On The Archipelago (Galapagos Islands) 3:36
B1 Latin Doll (Leaving South America) 5:00
B2 Tattooed Warriors (New Zealand) 3:45
B3 The Emu Dance (Australia) 6:23
B4 Coral Island (Keeling Islands) 4:14
B5 The Voyage Ends (Return To England) 4:15
B6 Epilogue 'Origins-The Beginning' 1:50
Members:
Bass Guitar, Guitar, Didgeridoo – John Conley
Flute, Trumpet, Flugelhorn, Saxophone – Tom Hare
Keyboards – Bob Egger
Keyboards, Vibraphone, Marimba – Mick Jackman
Trombone, Harmonica, Didgeridoo – Greg Foster
Drums – Mal Morgan
The Voyage Of The Beagle Link (262Mb)
