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The ’70s folk-rock group Unicorn released three albums for EMI during the decade. The recordings were produced by Pink Floyd’s David Gilmour and highlighted the band’s talent for laid-back folk-rock. Their smooth, Eagles-like sound, Crosby & Nash-esque harmonies, and slick, professional production value could have won them critical acclaim, but history has largely forgotten their lush original material. (Cherry Red’s Esoteric imprint has recently taken a look at their core discography.) These days, the group is mostly known for backing up Kate Bush on her first demos and having one of their songs covered on David Gilmour’s first solo album. It’s a wonder how the band never found the fame they deserved and it’s high time that the work of the elusive Unicorn be re-evaluated.

Omnivore Recordings’ new Unicorn compilation, Laughing Up Your Sleeve, does just that. The album features twenty previously unreleased demos, on which their blend of rustic Americana, folk-rock harmonies, and English whimsy is on full display throughout. All the tracks were recorded in David Gilmour’s home studio in 1973-74, with Gilmour playing his trademark pedal steel guitar on “Sleep Song.” The demos have been restored, mixed, and mastered by Scott Anthony at Storybook Sound in New Jersey with input from Pat Martin from Unicorn for optimum sound quality. Meanwhile, the set also includes rare photographs and extensive liner notes featuring new interviews with David Gilmour and members of Unicorn that detail the band’s history and how the demos were finally unearthed.

The collection was released on digital services and LP on October 5. The LP included an abridged selection of 11 tracks as well as a download code for the entire program. Tomorrow, December 14, all 20 of the tracks will be available on CD. You can find preorder links for the CD, order links for the LP, and a full track listing below.

Unicorn, Laughing Up Your Sleeve (Omnivore CD OV-302, 2018)

CD: Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada
LP: Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada

* denotes bonus track available on CD and digital configurations

1. Sleep Song
2. I Saw You
3. Ooh! Mother
4. The Farmer
5. Autumn Wine
6. Take It Easy
7. Electric Night
8. All Night Long
9. Just Wanna Hold You
10. The Ballad of John and Julie
11. Disco Dancer
12. Weekend *
13. Blue Pine Trees *
14. Bogtrotter *
15. Ferry Boat *
16. Kevin Barry *
17. Holland *
18. Nightingale Crescent *
19. Drinking All Night *
20. So Far Away *