- Evolving from the line-up that had recorded the highly-regarded Ora LP in 1969, Byzantium recorded two early Seventies albums – ‘Byzantium’ and ‘Seasons Changing’, both featuring future Ian Dury MD Chaz Jankel – for the A&M label.
- After leaving A&M, the band self-financed the 1974 ‘Live/Studio’ album in an effort to attract new representation before splitting the following year.
- Although they received relatively little attention from the music industry at the time, Byzantium’s progressive rock-based combination of musical eclecticism, strong harmonies and timeless song writing have belatedly attracted an audience, with collectors now paying significant sums to acquire original vinyl pressings of their recordings.
- Assembled with the help and approval of the band, Halfway Dreaming: Anthology 1969-75 is the first-ever Byzantium compilation. It includes all three albums that were released at the time, together with a further set of 1974/75-era live material, various studio out-takes and, as a considerable bonus, an extended version of the Ora album.
- Housed in a stylish clamshell box, this essential 5-CD package features a lavish 32-page booklet containing a new 4000 word essay on the band and numerous previously unpublished photos. It’s the definitive document of a band who fell through the cracks at the time but have subsequently come to be regarded by many as an integral part of the early Seventies British underground scene.
Assembled with the help and approval of the band, Halfway Dreaming: Anthology 1969-75 is the first-ever Byzantium compilation. It includes all three albums that were released at the time, together with a further set of 1974/75-era live material, various studio out-takes and, as a considerable bonus, an extended version of the Ora album.
Track Listing:
DISC ONE
SEASHORE
ABOUT YOU
DEBORAH
WHITCH
VENETIA II
YOU
FLY
LADYFRIEND
ARE YOU SEEING
EMMA’S SAGA
THE MORNING AFTER THE NIGHT BEFORE
THE SEAGULL AND THE SAILOR
BONUS TRACKS
OOO
WHAT IS HAPPENING
I LOVE YOU
DEBORAH (ALT. VERSION)
I AM A STRANGER TO MY LIFE
FLY (ALT. VERSION)
IT WAS AN EASY LEGEND
SEASHORE (ALT. VERSION)
NO MORE LOVE
POMME
1-12-THE ALBUM ORA, TANGERINE DPLP 0025, RELEASED JULY 1969
13-22 -ORA DEMO RECORDINGS, UNISSUED AT THE TIME
DISC TWO
WHAT IS HAPPENING
I AM A STRANGER TO MY LIFE
COME FAIR ONE
BABY I HEAR YOU CALLING ME
TRADE WIND
INTO THE COUNTRY
LADY FRIEND
WHY OR MAYBE IT’S BECAUSE
BONUS TRACKS
MORNING LOVE
THIS TIME I WON’T LET YOU GO
THANK GOD
1-8: THE ALBUM BYZANTIUM, A&M AMLH 68104, RELEASED SEPTEMBER 1972
9-11: JAMIE RUBINSTEIN/MICK BARAKAN DEMOS, RECORDED AUTUMN 1972, PREVIOUSLY ISSUED AS ORA BONUS TRACKS
DISC THREE
WHAT A COINCIDENCE
MY SEASON’S CHANGING WITH THE SUN
SHOW ME THE WAY
I’LL ALWAYS BE YOUR FRIEND
OCTOBER ANDY
SOMETHING YOU SAID:
A TRILOGY
Part One: SOMETHING YOU SAID
Part Two: I CAN SEE YOU
Part Three: MORNING
1-6: THE ALBUM SEASONS CHANGING, A&M AMLH 68163, RELEASED MAY 1973
DISC FOUR:
FLASHING SILVER HOPE
COWBOY SONG
FEEL IT
I’LL JUST TAKE MY TIME
SURELY PEACE WILL COME TO THOSE WHO TRY
IF YOU WANNA BE MY GIRL
OH DARLING
MOVE WITH MY TIME
BONUS TRACKS
ALRIGHT NOW
IT COULD BE BETTER
YOU MADE ME STAND UP STRAIGHTER
I’D STILL LOVE TO HAVE YOU AROUND
1-8 THE ALBUM LIVE/STUDIO, NO LABEL BYZL/S,
RELEASED MARCH 1974 - 9-12 UNRELEASED STUDIO EP, RECORDED JULY 1975
DISC FIVE:
GYPSY MAN
EVERY DAY’S THE SAME
HIGH TIME
OCTOBER ANDY
HALFWAY THERE
IT COULD BE BETTER
SMALL WORLD
FLASHING SILVER HOPE
THIS TIME AROUND
A DAY LIKE THIS
1-10 LIVE RECORDINGS 1974-75,PREVIOUSLY UNRELEASED
