Morgan (band)
| Company type | Band |
|---|---|
| Industry | Music |
| Founded | 1971 |
| Defunct | 1973 |
| Headquarters | England |
| Products | Progressive rock music |
Morgan was a progressive rock ensemble from England that operated between 1971 and 1973.
History
Established in 1971, Morgan consisted of Tim Staffell, formerly of Smile, handling vocals and guitar, Bob Sapsed on bass guitar, Maurice Bacon on drums, and Morgan Fisher on keyboards. The group originated from the collaboration between Morgan Fisher and Maurice Bacon in the project Love Affair, a soul-pop outfit that achieved a UK number one hit before evolving into L.A., which merged pop sensibilities with progressive rock influences.
Following the dissolution of L.A., Morgan fully embraced a keyboard-centric progressive rock style. Their sessions took place at RCA Studios in Rome, where they utilized cutting-edge 16-track recording technology alongside an array of instruments such as the Neo-Bechstein electric piano, harpsichord, marimba, celeste, timpani, tubular bells, and pioneering synthesizers like the British VCS3. This instrumental variety shaped their unique sonic identity.
Drawing inspiration from bands like Yes, Pink Floyd, The Nice, and King Crimson, Fisher was responsible for composing the music while Staffell penned lyrics that often explored science-fiction motifs and conceptual narratives. Their first album, Nova Solis, comprised four compositions culminating in an extended title track narrating the tale of a cosmic traveler lamenting Earth's demise. Despite its creative ambition, the album did not achieve strong commercial success.
Under an agreement for two albums with RCA, Morgan commenced work on their second record initially named "Brown Out" in 1973. The title was later changed to The Sleeper Wakes after plans to include a provocative insert. RCA found the album overly intricate and chose not to release it in the UK; however, it was eventually issued in the United States in 1976 under its original title by Import Records.
After these challenges, Morgan disbanded. Staffell shifted his focus to model-making for the Thomas the Tank Engine television series before forming the funk group aMIGO. Fisher joined Third Ear Band and Mott the Hoople briefly prior to launching his solo career. Bacon continued performing as a drummer and took on management duties for artists including John Otway. Sapsed tragically passed away in a traffic accident in 1986.
Significantly, Staffell’s previous band Smile replaced him with Freddie Mercury and transformed into Queen, who later supported Mott the Hoople during early tours. Additionally, Fisher contributed keyboard performances for Queen during their 1982 Hot Space Tour.
The Sleeper Wakes saw its first UK release in 1978 via Cherry Red Records as their debut album issue. Fisher went on to produce several influential works for Cherry Red such as Hybrid Kids, Slow Music, and the cult favorite Miniatures. Both Morgan albums were reissued on CD around 1999/2000 by Angel Air Records and in Japan; Nova Solis received another re-release in 2009 through Esoteric Recordings, highlighting its lasting significance.
Discography
- Nova Solis (1972)
- The Sleeper Wakes (1973) (also known as Brown Out, recorded in 1973 and released in 1976)