Cherry Red's Esoteric Recordings imprint has recently unearthed another rock cult classic.  Battersea Power Station, from Junior's Eyes, was produced by Tony Visconti (David Bowie, T Rex) and appeared in June 1969 on EMI's Regal Zonophone label.  Alas, it was to be the band's only original album release.  Esoteric has dusted off Battersea Power Station and reinvigorated the album as a 2-CD set with a bonus disc of singles, demos and sessions, some previously unreleased.

Junior's Eyes was led by Mick Wayne, lead guitarist of David Bowie's original hit recording of "Space Oddity."  Wayne's career launched when he played alongside Jimmy Page on a Decca single in 1965 credited to The Outsiders.  But The Outsiders didn't stay together for long, and in 1966, Wayne briefly joined The Hullaballoos.  His tenure in that group was followed by a stint in The Bunch of Fives alongside Pretty Things drummer Viv Prince, vocalist Mick Docker, keyboardist Dave Williams and bassist Richard Dowling.  Wayne's association with The Bunch of Fives led him to producer Denny Cordell.  Well known at the time for his work with Procol Harum and The Move, Cordell signed The Bunch of Fives to his Straight Ahead production company, and soon the group was renamed in psychedelic fashion as The Tickle.  Only one single was released by The Tickle - "Subway (Smokey Pokey World)" b/w "Good Evening."  Both sides are included on this release.

Like Wayne's previous bands, however, The Tickle didn't last long.  The guitarist-songwriter formed the first line-up of Junior's Eyes with Donovan collaborator John "Candy" Carr on drums, then a subsequent iteration with John "Honk" Lodge on bass (not the Moody Blues member) and Steve Chapman of Pandemonium on drums.  This trio released the single "Mr. Golden Trumpet Player" b/w "Black Snake," joined by session pianist and future Yes legend Rick Wakeman and producer Tony Visconti who knew Wayne from their work on David Bowie's sessions.  Both sides of this single are presented here, too.

Lead vocalist Graham "Gram" Kelly bolstered Junior's Eyes to a quartet, and organist John Redfern also was a member for a spell.  One more single arrived on Regal Zonophone before Battersea Power Station was released.  The LP's first side was dedicated to the titular suite penned by Wayne, while the second side consisted of unconnected songs.  Though psychedelia wasn't totally abandoned, the album fit more comfortably into a progressive-rock niche.  Junior's Eyes continued to develop after the release of the LP, however.  Guitarist Tim Renwick and drummer John Cambridge joined the band, also busy doubling as David Bowie's backing group.  (Wayne, Renwick and Rick Wakeman all played on Bowie's 1969 self-titled Philips LP as well as on sundry BBC performances with the future Ziggy Stardust.)  One more single, "Star Child" b/w "Sink or Swim," was released with the revised line-up in August 1969, but by February 1970, Junior's Eyes was no more.  Mick Wayne moved to Los Angeles to work with Denny Cordell's client Joe Cocker; John Cambridge found his way into Bowie's next group, The Hype.  Other members went on to form Quiver, and Steve Chapman went on to play with American country-rock band Poco.

Battersea Power Station, also released on A&M Records in the U.S., went on to gain cult status.  Esoteric's reissue adds 14 bonus tracks.  In addition to all of the singles mentioned above, you'll find four demos of album tracks, and two previously unreleased BBC recordings from October 1968.  Paschal Byrne has remastered, while liner notes have been provided by David Wells and Mick Wayne's daughter Sarah.  This expanded edition is available now at the links below!

Junior's Eyes, Battersea Power Station (Regal Zonophone SLRZ 1008, 1969 - reissued Esoteric ECLEC 22502, 2015) (Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K.)

CD 1: The Original Album

1. Total War
2. Circus Days
3. Imagination
4. My Ship
5. Miss Lizzie
6. So Embarrassed
7. Freak In
8. Playtime
9. I'm Drowning
10. White Light
11. By the Tree

CD 2: Singles, Demos and Sessions

1. Subway (Smokey Pokey World) - The Tickle (Regal Zonophone RZ 3004-A, 1967)
2. Good Evening - The Tickle (Regal Zonophone RZ 3004-B, 1967)
3. Golden Trumpet Player (Regal Zonophone RZ 3009-A, 1968)
4. Black Snake (Regal Zonophone RZ 3009-B, 1968)
5. Woman Love (Regal Zonophone RZ 3018-A, 1969)
6. Circus Days (Single Version) (Regal Zonophone RZ 3018-B, 1969)
7. Star Child (Regal Zonophone RZ 3023-A, 1969)
8. Sink or Swim (Regal Zonophone RZ 3023-B, 1969)
9. White Light (Demo)
10. By the Tree (Demo)
11. Imagination (Demo)
12. Playtime (Demo)
13. Hang Loose (Live on BBC Radio 1 Top Gear, 28 October 1968) (previously unreleased)
14. By the Tree (Live on BBC Radio 1 Top Gear, 28 October 1968) (previously unreleased)