Mabel Greer's Toyshop ‎- New Way Of Life (2015)

The debut album from this UK band.

Mabel Greer's Toyshop was actually Yes before they changed their name to Yes in 1968. Mabel Greer's Toyshop was formed in 1966 and a couple of their songs was released on the Yes debut album. Some time ago, the two non-Yes members reunited and got help from Billy Sherwood, Tony Kaye and Hugo Barre to do this album. Mabel Greer's Toyshop was back in business again.

The result is the album they should have released if not Chris Squire, Jon Anderson, Bill Bruford, Peter Banks and Tony Kaye had not released the Yes debut album and gone with that name.

This one hour album consists of re-recorded versions of their old songs. These almost 50 years old songs.

The music has retained the naivity and beat from those years. The music is pop-rock with a lot of beat and some hints of psychedelia.

It goes without saying that even with the new sound, this album sounds dated. The Yes members did the right thing by writing new songs and go for a new name and a different album. It was probably their first masterstrok/really clever thing they did.

Frankly, the songs are not good at all. This is an album which sounds second rate at best. But as a Yes fan, I am glad it has been recorded and released. It is a part of the Yes story.

As for the music....... It is barely a decent album.

2 points