Scented Gardens for the Blind

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Scented Gardens for the Blind
Studio album by
Dragon
ReleasedFebruary 1975
RecordedDecember 1974
StudioStebbings Studio Auckland
GenreProgressive rock
Length37:35
LabelVertigo, TRC
ProducerRick Shadwell
Dragon chronology
Universal Radio
(1974) 		Scented Gardens for the Blind
(1975) 		Sunshine
(1977)
Singles from Scented Gardens for the Blind
  1. "Vermillion Cellars"
    Released: March 1975

Scented Gardens for the Blind is the second album by New Zealand group Dragon released in February 1975 on Vertigo Records before they relocated to Australia in May.[1][2][3][4] Scented Gardens for the Blind, along with their first album Universal Radio, is in the progressive rock genre—all subsequent albums are hard rock/pop rock.[1][2][3] "Vermillion [sic] Cellars" was released as a single in March and was followed by non-album singles, "Education" in May and "Star Kissed" in August but neither albums nor singles had any local chart success.[1]

The title of New Zealand author Janet Frame's fourth novel was Scented Gardens for the Blind (1963).[5] In 1994 the album was re-released as a CD. It was re-packaged as a double CD (with first album Universal Radio) in 2004.

Background[edit]

Dragon formed in Auckland, New Zealand, in January 1972 with a line-up that featured Todd Hunter on bass guitar, guitarist Ray Goodwin, drummer Neil Reynolds and singer/pianist Graeme Collins.[1][4] All had been in various short-lived bands in Auckland, Collins is credited with using I Ching to provide the name Dragon. Their first major gig was an appearance at The Great Ngaruawahia Music Festival in early January 1973.[3] By 1974 several personnel changes had occurred including Collins leaving, with Todd Hunter's younger brother Marc Hunter joining on vocals and Neil Storey on drums.[1][4] The band recorded two progressive rock albums in their native New Zealand, Universal Radio in June 1974 and Scented Gardens for the Blind in March 1975 both on Vertigo Records.[1][4][6] "Vermillion Cellars" was released as a single in March and was followed by a non-album single, "Education" in May.[3] Despite being New Zealand's top live attraction by late 1974,[1] neither albums nor singles had any local chart success,[1] and they recruited Robert Taylor (ex-Mammal) on guitar as they searched for a raunchier pop sound.[1] By early 1975, manager Graeme Nesbitt (ex-Mammal), who had obtained regular gigs and organized their first New Zealand tours,[3] felt they should tackle the larger Australian market.[6] Nesbitt was unable to travel with them to Australia—he had been arrested for selling drugs—before they relocated in May.[3][6] In Australia, they released another non-album single, "Star Kissed" in August.[3]

The title of New Zealand author Janet Frame's fourth novel was Scented Gardens for the Blind (1963).[5] In 1994 the album was re-released as a CD. It was re-packaged by the Spanish record company Esterlla Rockera as a double CD (with first album Universal Radio) in 2005 (Catalogue Number: ER 42117). In June 2023 the album is repressed by Replica/MUSEA in LP format

Track listing[edit]

Side A
  1. "Vermillion Cellars" (Marc Hunter, Todd Hunter, Ray Goodwin)[7] – 3:23
  2. "La Gash Lagoon" aka "L'Gash Lagoon" (M. Hunter, T. Hunter, Goodwin)[8] – 8:18
  3. "Sunburst" (Goodwin, T. Hunter, M. Hunter)[9] – 8:33
Side B
  2. "Greylynn Candy" aka "Grey Lynn Candy" (Goodwin, T. Hunter)[10] – 4:57
  3. "Darkness" (M. Hunter, T. Hunter, Goodwin) – 4:44
  4. "Scented Gardens for the Blind" (M. Hunter, T. Hunter, Goodwin)[11] – 7:40

Grey Lynn is a suburb of Auckland.

Personnel[edit]

Dragon
  • Marc Hunter – saxophone, percussion, vocals; lead vocals (tracks 2-4, 6)
  • Ray Goodwin – guitars, vocals; lead vocals (tracks 1, 5)
  • Ivan Thompson – keyboards
  • Todd Hunter – bass, backing vocals
  • Neil Storey – drums
Additional personnel
  • "Josie" – background vocals
  • Recorded at Stebbings Studio Auckland Dec '74
  • Engineer – Tony Moan
  • Produced by Rick Shadwell for Marmalade Productions
  • Cover design and artwork Super Graphics Ltd

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i McFarlane, Ian (1999). "Encyclopedia entry for 'Dragon'". Encyclopedia of Australian Rock and Pop. St Leonards, NSW: Allen & Unwin. ISBN 1-86508-072-1. Archived from the original on 3 August 2004. Retrieved 27 September 2009.
  2. ^ a b "ARIA Hall of Fame – Dragon". Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA). 22 May 2008. Archived from the original on 11 October 2008. Retrieved 27 September 2009.
  3. ^ a b c d e f g "Dragon". Bruce Sergent. Archived from the original on 4 October 2009. Retrieved 27 September 2009.
  4. ^ a b c d Holmgren, Magnus; Miller, Chuck. "Dragon". Passagen.se. Australian Rock Database (Magnus Holmgren). Archived from the original on 22 October 2013. Retrieved 5 May 2014.
  5. ^ a b "Amazon Online Reader: Scented Gardens for the Blind". Amazon.com. Retrieved 20 November 2007.
  6. ^ a b c Nimmervoll, Ed. "Dragon". Howlspace – The Living History of Our Music (Ed Nimmervoll). Archived from the original on 26 July 2012. Retrieved 30 January 2014.
  7. ^ ""Vermillion Cellars" at APRA search engine". Australasian Performing Right Association (APRA). Retrieved 27 September 2009.
  8. ^ ""L'Gash Lagoon" at APRA search engine". Australasian Performing Right Association (APRA). Retrieved 27 September 2009.
  9. ^ ""Sunburst" at APRA search engine". Australasian Performing Right Association (APRA). Retrieved 27 September 2009.
  10. ^ ""Grey Lynn Candy" at APRA search engine". Australasian Performing Right Association (APRA). Retrieved 27 September 2009.
  11. ^ ""Scented Gardens for the Blind" at APRA search engine". Australasian Performing Right Association (APRA). Retrieved 27 September 2009.
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