Universal Radio

Universal Radio
Studio album by
Dragon
ReleasedJune 1974
RecordedFebruary 1974
StudioStebbings Studio, Auckland
GenreProgressive rock
Length48:00
LabelVertigo, TRC, Aztec
ProducerRick Shadwell
Dragon chronology
Universal Radio
(1974) 		Scented Gardens for the Blind
(1975)

Universal Radio is the debut album by New Zealand group Dragon released in June 1974 on Vertigo Records and produced by Rick Shadwell.[1][2][3][4] Universal Radio, along with their second album Scented Gardens for the Blind are in the progressive rock genre—all subsequent albums are hard rock/pop rock.[1][2][3]

On 2 July 2009, Aztec Music reissued Universal Radio with extensive liner notes, rare photos, and three bonus tracks. The first bonus track is a live recording from 1974 of their cover version of Fleetwood Mac's "Black Magic Woman", while the last two, "X-Ray Creature" and "Dinghy Days" are the A-side and B-side of Marc Hunter's first solo single released in 1973.

Track listing

1974 Vertigo

Side 1

  1. "Universal Radio" (Goodwin, M. Hunter, Thompson, Storey, T. Hunter) - 8:33
  2. "Going Slow" (T Hunter) - 6:16
  3. "Patina" (Goodwin, (Break Dragon)) - 11:47

Side 2

  2. "Weetbix" (Goodwin, T Hunter, Bedgegood, Abbot) - 2:55
  3. "Graves" (Goodwin, T Hunter, Reynolds, Thompson) - 6:56
  4. "Avalanche" (Goodwin, T Hunter, Reynolds, Thompson) - 11:08

2009 Aztec Music Reissue

  2. "Black Magic Woman" (Peter Green)[5] - 6:38
  3. "X-Ray Creature" (Graeme Collins, A Baysting)[6] - 3:06
  4. "Dinghy Days" (T Hunter) - 3:33
  • Note: On all releases tracks 4–6 segue to become one long track but are separated into three.

Liner Notes

1974 Vertigo

  • Universal Radio was recorded at Stebbings Studio, Auckland (late February 1974)
  • Produced by Rick Shadwell
  • Engineered by Tony Moan
  • "X-Ray Creature" b/w "Dinghy Days" was recorded at Mascot Recording Studios, Auckland (May 1973)
  • Engineered by Gary Potts

Dragon:

  • Ivan Thompson: Organ, Piano, Moog
  • Ray Goodwin - Guitars, Vocal
  • Marc Hunter - Vocal, Percussion
  • Neil Storey - Drums
  • Todd Hunter - Bass, Vocal

Dragon thanks

  • Paul Crowther for Moog
  • Tony for Fender Rhodes
  • All songs by Dragon
  • Liner and Cover Art by Dick Frizzell

2009 Aztec Music Reissue

Additional musicians

  • Graeme Collins - piano on "X-Ray Creature" (Collins was a founding member of Dragon but had left before Universal Radio was recorded)[1][3]
  • Herb Mann - lead guitar on "Dinghy Days"

References

General
  1. ^ a b c McFarlane, Ian (1999). "Encyclopedia entry for 'Dragon'". Encyclopedia of Australian Rock and Pop. St Leonards, NSW: Allen & Unwin. ISBN 1-86508-072-1. Archived from the original on 3 August 2004. Retrieved 27 September 2009.
  2. ^ a b "ARIA Hall of Fame - Dragon". Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA). 22 May 2008. Archived from the original on 11 October 2008. Retrieved 27 September 2009.
  3. ^ a b c "Dragon". Bruce Sergent. Archived from the original on 4 October 2009. Retrieved 27 September 2009.
  4. ^ Holmgren, Magnus; Miller, Chuck. "Dragon". Australian Rock Database. Passagen.se (Magnus Holmgren). Archived from the original on 22 October 2013. Retrieved 9 March 2014.
  5. ^ ""Black Magic Woman" at APRA search engine". Australasian Performing Right Association (APRA). Retrieved 27 September 2009.
  6. ^ ""X Ray Creature" at APRA search engine". Australasian Performing Right Association (APRA). Retrieved 27 September 2009.
  • Dragon at Bruce Sergent's website: New Zealand Music of the 60's, 70's and a bit of 80's.