Empire
Empire had its origins in the demise of the band Flash -- in fact, for a short while its name was simply Flash Mk. II. Guitarist Peter Banks, formerly of Yes, emerged from management disputes of Flash to pull together a band of jam-mates in the loosely structured ZOX and the Radar Boys. These jams had featured Phil Collins behind the drums, though his commitment to Genesis meant that he could only sit in on a few tracks of the 1974 recording sessions for the newly named Empire.
The sound of Empire had distinct progressive elements, as one might expect with both Banks and Collins around. Their recordings, though, were marked by a willingness to dip into a wide variety of musical genres, from blues to country blues. The band was also unusual among progressive bands in being fronted by a woman. Although Renaissance had the ethereal voice of Annie Haslam, Empire's Sydney Foxx provided a notable counterpoint to the band's complexity by with her strong bluesy vocals, not unlike Lydia Pense or even Janis Joplin at times.
Empire's work brought little success, though. Despite some anticipation among the pop music press, Banks and Foxx were unable to land distribution for their work either in Britain or the U.S. Still clinging to hope, the group recorded two more albums in the '70s but to no avail. It was to be two decades before One Way released them on CD; and while not exactly lost classics, the albums are of a high enough quality that it's unfortunate that the band was unable to get any footing before its breakup in 1980.
© Paul Collins /TiVo
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Expensive Sound
Miscellaneous - Released by Munster Records on 24 Jul 2022
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
The Raven Ride
Rock - Released by Pride & Joy Music on 29 May 2006
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Where We Come From, Vol. 01
Miscellaneous - Released by Empire on 29 Nov 2022
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Sky at Night (feat. Peter Banks, Sydney Foxx and Phil Collins)
Progressive Rock - Released by Cherry Red Records on 24 Sep 2021
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Chasing Shadows
Hard Rock - Released by Pride & Joy Music on 26 Nov 2007
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
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The Mars Tapes
Rock - Released by Peter Banks Musical Estate on 8 Feb 2022
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Mark II
Rock - Released by Peter Banks Musical Estate on 31 Dec 1977
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
The Best Of Empire (feat. Peter Banks and Sydney Foxx)
Progressive Rock - Released by Cherry Red Records on 1 Oct 2021
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
HOUSE of EMPIRE
House - Released by House of EMPIRE on 20 Oct 2023
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
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Mark III
Rock - Released by Peter Banks Musical Estate on 31 Dec 1978
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Hypnotica
Hard Rock - Released by Pride & Joy Music on 29 Jan 2002
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Mark I
Rock - Released by The Peter Banks Musical Estate on 31 Dec 1974
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Club Area 51 - Full Spectrum Dominance Alpha
Electronic - Released by Area 51 Records on 6 Oct 2014
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Trading Souls
Hard Rock - Released by Pride & Joy Music on 13 May 2003
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Expansive Sound, Vol.II
Rock - Released by Poorly Packaged Products on 8 Dec 2009
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Mark II
Rock - Released by The Peter Banks Musical Estate on 31 Dec 1977
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
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