Head – Red Dwarf (1975, LP, Scotland)

Side A
A1. Quasar (7:39)
A2. Solaris Dream (3:45)
A3. White Giant (5:13)
A4. Event Horizon (2:28)
Side B
B1. Red Dwarf (8:26)
B2. Earthsong Suite (11:11)
B3. Su Salvavida Esta Debaso De Su Asienton (1:48)

Musicians
Alto Saxophone – Bob Watson (tracks: B2, B3)
Bass Trombone – John Fishwick (tracks: B2, B3)
Double Bass, Bass Guitar, Composed By – Graham Mince
Guitar – Chris Sutton (tracks: B3), Lachlan MacColl
Piano – Dave Saul (tracks: A1)
Drums – Bill Kyle
Tenor Saxophone, Soprano Saxophone, Flute – Gordon Cruikshank
Trombone – Brian Free (tracks: B2, B3)
Trumpet – Don Bateman (tracks: B2, B3)
Trumpet, Electric Piano – John Davies

An excellent jazzy fusion rarity. Head can be considered a kind Scottish Nucleus. This is their second album. The previous album GTF I once had and noted it as too jazz. The third album I more recently got and found that to be a touch too funky. With this one they got the balance just right, with lots of nice grooves, spacey bits and with the winds well-placed and not over-dominating the music. (ultimathulerecords)

Head – Blackpool Cool (1977, LP, Scotland)

Side A
A1. I met a man (6:52)
A2. G.B.H. (8:29)
A3. There's a lot of it around (6:21)
Side B
B1. Blackpool cool (6:11)
B2. Pauline (3:57)
B3. Kick me quick (8:47)

Musicians
Gordon Cruickshank/ Tenor Saxophone, Alto Saxophone, Soprano Saxophone
John Davies/ Trumpet, Flugelhorn, Electric Piano
Lachlan McColl/ Guitar
Graham Mince/ Bass Guitar, Double Bass
John Davies/ Trumpet, Flugelhorn, Electric Piano
Billy Kyle/ Drums

Sometimes known as "the haggis of jazz fusion bands," the small combo Head were active in Glasgow in the '70s. The rhythm section of drummer Billy Kyle and bassist Graham Mince were consistent factors in the three albums released by the group over a five-year period, as was the presence of multi-instrumentalist John Davies, who doubled on keyboards and trumpet. Other members of the group changed from album to album, guitarist Charles Alexander drifting away to be replaced by Lachlan McColl, saxophonist Gordon Cruickshank taking up where previous honker Howard Copland had left off.

Self-determination, an important concept in documenting improvised music during the '70s, was vital to the Head liturgy. The group's debut release -- entitled GTF in reference to a crude Scottish way of suggesting someone should depart quickly -- was released through SRT, basically a vanity consortium. The band started up its own label, Head Records, for its final and most commercial production, Blackpool Cool. This Head should not be confused with other bands that use this name, such as a more recent outfit fronted by Gareth Sager. (Eugene Chadbourne)