The sessions for Islands resulted in several takes of what would become Formentera Lady. Although the lyrics and title were directly inspired by Peter Sinfield’s holiday in the sunny Balearic Islands, the music was written in London.
In bringing this unique earview of Formentera Lady Alex Mundy has edited together Take Two, the version as released and Take Five as a coda of Formentera Lady.
Recorded at Command Studios it features the gorgeous double bass work of Harry Miller, who had arrived in the UK in 1961 from his native Johannesburg.
By the time Harry was called in for the Island sessions he’d built quite a reputation as one of the creative players on the London jazz scene having worked with so many luminaries including Mike Westbrook, John Surman Chris MacGregor’s Brotherhood Of Breath, and of course, pianist Keith Tippet’s Centipede, who also lends his fluent playing to the piece.
Alongside Mel Collins' agile, melodic flute also heard here in the later sections is violinist Wilf Gibson., Wilf was also part of Keith Tippett’s Centipede. Although his work on the album is uncredited Wilf, who would later become a member of ELO, was the leader for the small string orchestra that appeared on Prelude Of The Gulls. In 1974, Wilf was offered but declined the job as violinist in King Crimson replacing David Cross.
