Medusa (Trapeze album)

Medusa is the second studio album by English hard rock band Trapeze. Recorded in 1970 at Morgan Studios, it was produced by The Moody Blues bassist John Lodge and released in November 1970 by Threshold Records. The album was preceded by the release of the single "Black Cloud" in 1970.

Medusa
Studio album by Trapeze
Released	November 1970
Recorded	1970 at Morgan Studios, London
Genre	Hard rock blues rock funk rock
Length	40:18
Label	Threshold
Producer	John Lodge
Trapeze chronology
Trapeze (1970) Medusa (1970) You Are the Music...We're Just the Band (1972)
Singles from Medusa
"Black Cloud" Released: 1970

Background

Following the release of Trapeze's self-titled debut album Trapeze in early 1970, lead vocalist John Jones and keyboardist Terry Rowley left the band, leaving guitarist Mel Galley, bassist Glenn Hughes and drummer Dave Holland to continue as a trio.[1][2] Four of the seven songs on Medusa were written by Galley and his brother Tom, two were written by Hughes, and one was written by the trio.[3]

Re-recording

The album's title track was re-recorded by Glenn Hughes in 2010 with Black Country Communion on their self-titled debut album.

Reception

Professional ratings

Review scores
Source	Rating
AllMusic	[2]

Critical reception for Medusa was generally positive. A review published on AllMusic awarded the album four and a half out of five stars, with writer Jason Anderson describing the album as "the finest offering from '70s outfit Trapeze" and "one of the decade's most underappreciated hard rock recordings".[2] Anderson praised Hughes's "soulful vocal delivery" and Galley's "catchy and affective" guitar performance, concluding that "it's a wonder that the record isn't mentioned more when influential albums of this era are discussed".[2]

Track listing

No.	Title	Writer(s)	Length
1.	"Black Cloud"	Mel Galley, Tom Galley	6:13
2.	"Jury"	M. Galley, T. Galley	8:10
3.	"Your Love Is Alright"	M. Galley, Glenn Hughes, Dave Holland	4:54
4.	"Touch My Life"	M. Galley, T. Galley	4:06
5.	"Seafull"	Hughes	6:34
6.	"Makes You Wanna Cry"	M. Galley, T. Galley	4:41
7.	"Medusa"	Hughes	5:40

Personnel

Primary personnel Mel Galley – guitar, vocals Glenn Hughes – bass, piano, vocals Dave Holland – drums John Lodge – production

Additional personnel Roger Quested – engineering Pat Travers – illustration David Rohl – photography

References

1. "Trapeze - A Brief History (1969–1994)". Glenn Hughes. Retrieved January 22, 2015.
2. Anderson, Jason. "Medusa - Trapeze". AllMusic. Retrieved January 22, 2015.
3. Medusa (Media notes). Trapeze. Threshold Records. 1970.CS1 maint: others (link)