Steve Hackett - A Brief History Chapter Three

A Brief History - Chapter Three

by Alan Hewitt

Greeting The Spectral Morning

After the success of the 'Please Don't Touch' tour Steve was soon back in the studio recording new tracks, many of which had already been routined and arranged during that tour. Hilversum Studios in Holland is a venue that holds fond memories for him ...

"Spectral was recorded at the beginning of `79. It was very, very cold, 16 degrees below and very little sleep! I used to come in at 3am and the maids started to make up the rooms ... I swear they used to start at 4! ... It was a very big studio ... the whole experience was absolutely wonderful..."

The album was a massive success both in the UK and Europe where it was ecstatically received by the fans who packed theatres on Steve's first full length tour of the UK and Europe including a headline spot at the Reading Festival in August 1979. The album has it all, from lyrical ballads such as 'The Virgin & The Gypsy' to an anti-drug song in the form of 'Everyday'.

Photo: Armando Gallo

The variety of Steve's influences was already making itself known with the orient making an appearance in the beautifully delicate 'The Red Flower of Ta Chai Blooms Everywhere', contrasting the thunderous rock power of 'Clocks - The Angel of Mons'! Steve also included another one of those anarchic left of centre pieces which had begun with 'Carry on Up The Vicarage' on the previous album - this time in the shape of 'The Ballad of The Decomposing Man', which was often interpreted as an anti-union song based around events in the UK at the time. Steve however, tells it quite differently...

"It was really a straight George Formby parody; probably a very bad impression of George Formby but nonetheless it was meant to be humourous..."

That recurring humorous thread was frequently evident in the stage show with the antics of the band but their sheer talent continued to captivateaudiences. The set once again included unreleased material in the form of 'The Steppes' and 'Hercules Unchained', the former becoming another stage favourite from the as yet unrecorded follow up to Spectral Mornings and the latter being released almost a year later as a B-side.

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