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U.K. (album)

U.K. is the self-titled debut album by the progressive rock supergroup U.K., released in 1978 through E.G. Records and Polydor Records. It features John Wetton, Eddie Jobson, Bill Bruford, and Allan Holdsworth. "In the Dead of Night" and "Mental Medication" were both edited for single release.

In 2015 Rolling Stone magazine ranked it as the 30th best progressive rock album of all time.

Track listing

Side one

"In the Dead of Night" (Eddie Jobson, John Wetton) – 5:38

"By the Light of Day" (Jobson, Wetton) – 4:32

"Presto Vivace and Reprise" (Jobson, Wetton) – 2:58

"Thirty Years" (Wetton, Jobson, Bill Bruford) – 8:05

Side two

"Alaska" (Jobson) – 4:45

"Time to Kill" (Jobson, Wetton, Bruford) – 4:55

"Nevermore" (Allan Holdsworth, Jobson, Wetton) – 8:09

"Mental Medication" (Holdsworth, Bruford, Jobson) – 7:26 (duration incorrectly listed as 6:12 on original LP pressings of the album)

All lyrics by John Wetton, except "Mental Medication" by Bill Bruford. Note: The first three tracks belong to a suite entitled "In the Dead of Night."

U.K. (band)

U.K. are a British progressive rock supergroup originally active from 1977 until 1980. The band was composed of singer/bassist John Wetton (formerly of King Crimson, Roxy Music, Bryan Ferry's band and Uriah Heep), keyboardist/electric violinist Eddie Jobson (formerly of Curved Air, Roxy Music and Frank Zappa's band), guitarist Allan Holdsworth (formerly of Tempest, Soft Machine, The New Tony Williams Lifetime and Gong) and drummer Bill Bruford (formerly a full member of Yes and King Crimson, and also a tour drummer for Genesis), later replaced by drummer Terry Bozzio (formerly of Frank Zappa's band). UK reformed with John Wetton, Eddie Jobson and Terry Bozzio for a world tour in 2012.

History

Formation and first album

Singer/bassist John Wetton and drummer Bill Bruford had worked together in King Crimson from 1972-4, when guitarist Robert Fripp disbanded the group. In July 1976, Bruford assisted Wetton on demos for a proposed solo album by the latter (a couple of these demos were later released on Monkey Business). In September 1976, they worked on forming a band with keyboardist Rick Wakeman, who had previously worked with Bruford in Yes. The project was stopped by Wakeman's label. According to Bruford, "A&M Records were unwilling to let their 'star,' Wakeman, walk off with a used, slightly soiled King Crimson rhythm section, and the idea failed."