Ark 2

Infobox Album
Name = Ark 2
Type = studio
Artist = Flaming Youth


Released = 1969
Recorded = De Lane Lea Music, London
Genre =
Length = 43:32
Label = Uni Records
Producer = Ken Howard & Alan Blaikley
Reviews =
Last album =
This album =
Next album =

"Ark 2" is a 1969 concept album released by obscure British rock group Flaming Youth. Released in October, the album featured the theme of an evacution from a dying Earth. The main single from the album was "From Now On". The album and its space theme were influenced by the media's attention to the moon landing.

The album received some critical praise in the music press. Melody Maker listed the album as "Pop Album of the Month", calling it "adult music beautifully played with nice tight harmonies". Disc and Music Echo said "there is some splendid music on this very good first album".Coleman, Ray. "Phil Collins: The Definitive Biography". Simon & Schuster, 1997. London, pgs. 55-56.] . The rock press of the time was even more favourable and it was awarded Sunday Times Rock Album of the Year in 1969.

Despite this, the album and single were not commercially successful. The BBC did not know what to make of it: there were no radio or TV slots for an extended rock work at the time. So it remained largely unheard except by those who sought it out. "Ark 2" was the only album released by Flaming Youth.

Although the album today remains difficult to obtain, it has been reprinted in various markets mainly for the novelty of Phil Collins' first major label recording. Collins was the group's drummer, and "Ark 2" was Collins' last recording before auditioning for Genesis the following year.

Tracks

# "Guide Me Orion" - 3:18
#*Lead vocals: (Flash) Gordon Smith
# "Earthglow" - 2:54
#*Lead vocals: Brian Chatton & (Flash) Gordon Smith
# "Weightless" - 2:38
#*Instrumental
# "The Planets" - 12:49
#*1. "Mars - Bringer of War"
#*Lead vocals: Flaming Youth
#*2. "Venus - Bringer of Peace"
#*Lead vocals: Brian Chatton
#*3. "Mercury - The Winged Messenger"
#*Lead vocals: Flaming Youth
#*4. "Jupiter - Bringer of Jollity"
#*Lead vocals: Phil Collins
#*5. "Saturn - Bringer of Old Age"
#*Lead vocals: Phil Collins
#*6. "Uranus - The Magician"
#*Lead vocals: Brian Chatton
#*7. "Neptune - The Mystic"
#*Lead vocals: Ronnie Caryl
# "Changes" - 5:47
#*Lead vocals: Phil Collins & (Flash) Gordon Smith
# "Pulsar" - 3:07
#*Lead vocals: Brian Chatton & (Flash) Gordon Smith
# "Space Child" - 5:11
#*Lead vocals: Phil Collins
# "In the Light of Love" - 3:27
#*Lead vocals: Flaming Youth
# "From Now On (Immortal Invisible)" - 4:21
#*Lead vocals: Brian Chatton

References

External links

• [http://www.ark-2.co.uk The unofficial Flaming Youth - Ark 2 website]