December 1, 1977 Early Exposure Rehearsals

Some fascinating sketches from Exposure for your delectation and delight.[endtease] Because of the mists of time, there is some debate about the origins of and personnel on these tracks.

The first is titled Disengage and has John Wetton and Phil Collins listed as the players. Mr. Stormy hears the Wetton rumble at work here, where as to my ears it sounds stylistically closer to Tony Levin, whereas RF isn’t sure.

Whilst this may be titled Disengage it’s not Disengage as we know it. In some respects this is actually nearer to Haaden Two but it's not quite that either. The angular ascending motif opening the piece has something in common with both Disengage and Haaden Two but is distinct and different from both of those. Perhaps after recording this RF clarified it to become Disengage, and maybe borrowed the feel of this demo when it came to recording the stomping section of Haaden Two?

What is interesting is the use of the power sections of Neurotica from the Beat album, but here played almost as Red mark II. Could this be Blue? Both RF and JW have mentioned a counterpart to Red with that title and if so then, Mr. Stormy would be right about this being John on bass.

Whilst confusion about this fragment may well be our epitaph, there’s no mistaking North Star. That said, the bass playing here is somewhat reticent and could, I suppose be John or Tony.

Oh well never mind. Let’s just enjoy this blast from the archives and raise a glass to Mr. Stormy for his impeccable sense of selection.

This track is now available for download as part of a bumper collection of Mr Stormy's Monday Selections - his first year of random romps through the murky, cavernous DGM archives, torch in hand, fedora upon his head.