The Story of Grail

One of the most unusual collectors items for the Rod purist is the 1969 album by Grail an original copy will set you back in the region of £350 plus, but you can pick up the re released cd for considerably less.

The band Grail started life in 1968 guitarists by Terry Spencer and Stan Decker who had both been in a Kenny Lynch [ who most will know from his days involved in the Small faces ] managed band called The Game.

Grail the album is one of the most enigmatic underground UK rock albums of its era. It’s ambitious in its use of many different instruments, and it also features a multitude of ethnic influences, such as the Egyptian-tinged flute melodies on Camel Dung, manic Cossack-style riffing on Czechers, and the psychedelic sitar of the title track. with a line up also including Chris Perry, Chris Williams , Dave Blake, and Paul Barrett the band toured Europe and got a following in Germany.

The album is notable due to the mysterious involvement of Rod as producer. Apparently Rod was close friends with Grail manager Bob Pearce, and was thus roped in. but it is strange to think he was a fan of what Grail were doing.

Recorded in 1969, the album didn’t get a release in the UK. It was first issued in France by Barclay in 1970 (with strikingly different artwork), then by Germany’s Metronome in 1971, by which time Grail had split up.

SMILER contacted Stan Decker to get his memories of Rod’s involvement and Stan told us “Here is the story, Grail had a manager called Bob Peirce, who was a high-end car dealer in central London. I believe he met Rod when he sold him a car, or cars. The album was recorded as a demo tape at Orange Studios in North London, Rod never attended any of the studio sessions. And the tracks subsequently were released as an album and one single by Parlaphone ‘Sunday Morning’ (I think!). It has been reissued on CD at least four times. I seriously doubt that Rod had anything to do with post production, the tracks are not properly mixed, what you probably think is bass guitar is pizzicato cello, which should have been way back in the mix for example. I think Rod probably agreed to let Bob use his name as a favour to help flog the tapes to the record company. So, that’s the story, sorry I’m not able to give you any useful info about Rod”.

So there you go, maybe hold on to your £350 but the album is certainly worth checking out on cd if you ever come across a copy!