Scented Gardens for the Blind

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]

Scented Gardens for the Blind
Studio album by
Dragon
ReleasedFebruary 1975
RecordedDecember 1974
StudioStebbings Studio Auckland
GenreRock, progressive 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

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

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).

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

Grey Lynn is a suburb of Auckland.

Personnel
  • Ray Goodwin – Lead Guitar, Vocals
  • Marc Hunter – Lead Vocals, Saxophone, Percussion
  • Todd Hunter – Bass, Vocals
  • Neil Storey – Drums
  • Ivan Thompson – keyboards
  • "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
  1. 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. "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. "Dragon". Bruce Sergent. Archived from the original on 4 October 2009. Retrieved 27 September 2009.
  4. 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. "Amazon Online Reader: Scented Gardens for the Blind". Amazon.com. Retrieved 20 November 2007.
  6. Nimmervoll, Ed. "Dragon". Howlspace – The Living History of Our Music (Ed Nimmervoll). Archived from the original on 27 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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