LPCDreissues: Looking forward to the past

Under Open Skies’ is a very strong album by Island recording artist Luther Grosvenor, who left Spooky Tooth and joined Mott The Hoople after that group left Island for CBS. Originally released on the Island and Demon/Edsel labels and now on Gottdiscs with new notes and slipcase for 2004.‘Ride On’ begins the festivities with Grosvenor playing both bass and lead guitar; Spooky Tooth's Mick Kellie provides the drums; John Hawken is on piano; and harmonies are by Jim Capaldi of Traffic and the man Luther Grosvenor replaced in Mott The Hoople, Mick Ralphs.‘Under Open Skies’by Luther Grosvenor is part of a unique trilogy of discs on Island Records by sidemen who crafted records more complete than some of the discs by the groups they played in - Traffic, Free and Spooky Tooth - respectively. Musicians overlap on all three of these recordings as was often the case in the Island Records stable. (Quotes courtesy AMG)TracklistUNDER OPEN SKIES: 1. Ride On 2. Here Comes The Queen 3. When I Met You 4. Waiting 5. Rocket 6. Under Open Skies