Septober Energy is the only album of the jazz/progressive rock big band Centipede. Produced by Robert Fripp under the musical direction of Keith Tippett, it was originally released 1971 in the UK as a double LP, and 1974 in the US with a different cover. The album was recorded at Wessex Studios, London during three days in June 1971. The album is a four-part suite consisting of four tracks of about 20 minutes each.
A remastered CD release (from the original master tapes), using the USA cover, was released in 2000 by BGO. All previous authorized CD releases (on the What Next? and Disconforme labels) were mastered from vinyl sources.
Septober Energy - Part 4 is based on the instrumental track Green and Orange Night Park that was part of The Keith Tippett Group's 1970 album Dedicated To You, But You Weren't Listening.
Another version, titled Septober Energy and including vocals, can be found on the album The Bristol Concert by Mujician and The Georgian Ensemble, recorded 1991.
Sleeve notes Writing in the sleeve notes, Robert Wyatt said:
"Of course I can't tell you anything about this music, because that would be silly, and I can't examine publicly Keith's murky motives for dreaming up this insane travelling circus known as 'Centipede'. If I were to talk about how Fripp coped with the unprecedented production problems in such a short space of time, I'd be wasting yours, because the job's done now and I never really understood the technical details anyway. Should I try to explain Julie's lyrics? Of course not! ... I shall, however, leave you with a brief, but important message from Nick Evans: "Wah-Hay"."
Track listing
Disc 1 "Septober Energy - Part 1" – 21:43 "Septober Energy - Part 2" – 23:34
Disc 2 "Septober Energy - Part 3" – 21:21 "Septober Energy - Part 4" – 18:45
Personnel
Violins
Wendy Treacher John Trussler Roddy Skeaping Wilf Gibson (lead) Carol Slater Louise Jopling Garth Morton Channa Salononson Steve Rowlandson Mica Comberti Colin Kitching Philip Saudek Esther Burgi
Cellos
Michael Hurwitz Timothy Kraemer Suki Towb John Rees-Jones Katherine Thulborn Catherine Finnis
Trumpets
Peter Parkes Mick Collins Ian Carr (doubling flugelhorn) Mongezi Feza (pocket cornet) Mark Charig (cornet)
Alto saxes
Elton Dean (doubling saxello) Jan Steele (doubling flute) Ian McDonald Dudu Pukwana
Tenor saxes
Larry Stabbins Gary Windo Brian Smith Alan Skidmore
Baritone saxes
Dave White (doubling clarinet) Karl Jenkins (doubling oboe) John Williams (bass saxophone, doubling soprano)
Trombones
Nick Evans Dave Amis Dave Perrottet Paul Rutherford
Drums
John Marshall (and all percussion) Tony Fennell Robert Wyatt
Vocalists
Maggie Nicols Julie Tippett (née Driscoll) Mike Patto Zoot Money Boz Burrell
Basses
Roy Babbington (doubling bass guitar) Gill Lyons Harry Miller Jeff Clyne Dave Markee Brian Belshaw
Guitars
Brian Godding
Piano
Keith Tippett - musical director
Technical credits
Robert Fripp - producer Mike Thompson - engineer Dick Whitehead - album design (US release) Martin Adelman - cover photograph (US release)
Band members not on the recording: Robert Fripp (guitar) and Paul Nieman (trombone)
References
External links Septober Energy reviews at www.progarchives.com
Septober Energy at discogs.com