Long Way From Home: Esoteric Expands, Remasters Anthony Phillips' "Sail the World" and "Radio Clyde"

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Cherry Red's Esoteric Recordings imprint has continued its ongoing refresh of founding Genesis guitarist Anthony Phillips' solo catalogue, an endeavor which has taken 15 years (and counting). A deluxe 2CD reissue of 1994's Sail the World has been joined by an expanded edition of 2003's Radio Clyde, with both titles available now.

Phillips composed the music heard on Sail the World for ITV's coverage of the Whitbread Round the World Yacht Race. The race was first held in 1973 and repeated every three or four years thereafter, with yachts from various countries competing to circumnavigate the globe in a route modeled after that of cargo ships in the 19th century. (British brewer Whitbread sponsored the race until 2001 when automotive manufacturer Volvo took over; today, Volvo retains its sponsorship but the competition was renamed The Ocean Race in 2019.) Phillips was no stranger to composing music used for television sports coverage; in spring 1991, he'd teamed with Genesis' Mike Rutherford for the first time in 15 years to collaborate on theme music for Horse Trials, an equestrian-themed show on ITV.

The race was originally broadcast in the U.K. between September 1993 and June 1994, and Sail the World was scheduled to coincide with the race's conclusion. Viewers first got a preview of his stirring instrumental music on a documentary called The Whitbread Round the World Yacht Race: The First Twenty Years; he then received the assignment for the ongoing coverage. The composition process proved to be a unique one, as typically he would compose a television score to visuals; however, the race (obviously) hadn't taken place when Phillips had to write the themes. As a result, he was assigned a number of "moods" which his music would bring to life. Contemporary, vibrant, and often exciting, Phillips' varied themes gave plenty for the television producers with which to work. The themes were inspiring and melodic enough to warrant release on their own, and Sail the World became the first CD from the Voiceprint label's Resurgence imprint. Phillips would later remix some of the atmospheric pieces as library music, ensuring that his melodies would continue to be heard for various sport and leisure event broadcasts.

Sail the World has received numerous reissues, including a 2007 Japanese release with new artwork and a 2010 edition which added three bonus tracks from the KPM library music album and replaced some of the original album mixes with subsequent ones. CD 1 reprises that 2010 presentation (in remastered form) while the second disc here adds 15 bonus tracks, many of which are seeing commercial release for the first time. Among the offerings on this disc are the original 1994 mix of "Opening Theme," rare compositions for television and library music (including the theme to Midweek Sport) and various alternative mixes and previously unheard compositions. It all adds up to a vivid portrait of this period in Phillips' compositional career. James Collins has mastered both discs of this set, which are housed in a six-panel digipak also including a 24-page booklet with a detailed essay by Phillips archivist Jonathan Dann and track-by-track annotations for the bonus material.

It's joined by an expanded and remastered reissue of 2003's Radio Clyde, which is a slimmer but no less interesting package. When Phillips was on the interview circuit to promote his 1978 album Wise After the Event (itself revisited by Esoteric back in 2016), he would typically bring his guitar along to perform a song or two for willing DJs and their listeners. Glasgow's Radio Clyde offered him the opportunity to do a full set live in the studio which would be broadcast at a later date. The intimate show circulated for years from off-air recordings, and in 2003, it was finally given an official release. Phillips performed "Moonshooter" and "Now What (Are They Doing to My Little Friends") from Wise After the Event as well as in-progress compositions which would turn up on his next album, 1978's Private Parts and Pieces ("Reaper," "Flamingo," "Field of Eternity") and rarities such as "Conversation Piece," the first movement of an extended guitar, strings, and wind quintet he'd compose over a period of years. Esoteric's new edition, again remastered by James Collins, adds two bonus tracks from a July 1978 interview for West Yorkshire's Pennine Radio ("Reaper," "Which Way the Wind Blows"). Jonathan Dann again provides an essay to put this release in perspective of Phillips' long career.

Both titles are available now from Cherry Red's Esoteric Recordings imprint and can be ordered at the links below. As an Amazon affiliate, we earn from qualifying purchases.

Anthony Phillips, Sail the World (Resurgence RES 102CD, 1994 - reissued Esoteric ECLEC22906, 2025) (Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada)

CD 1