Tracklist:

1. But Not For Me
2. Exactly Like You
3. A Night In Tunisia
4. Pendulum
5. To Segovia
6. Leeway

Decca Records officially reissue two albums by British jazz composer, pianist, and band leader Mike Taylor, on vinyl for the very first time since their original release: ‘Pendulum’ (1966) and ‘Trio’ (1967). Part of Decca’s British Jazz Explosion series, these significant recordings have long been sought after on vinyl by collectors and connoisseurs, with original copies of both titles now selling for upwards of 1,000.

These new editions have been remastered at Gearbox Studios, London, using the original tapes (or high-resolution digital source files, taken from the original tapes), which were transferred to a Studer reel-to-reel tape machine, then mastered using an all-valve analogue mastering desk. The 180gm LPs are housed in 350gsm brown craft board sleeves. They are accompanied by extensive new liner notes (a 12×12 four-page insert) from British jazz expert Tony Higgins, with detailed insight into the extraordinary life of Taylor, who, with every passing year, becomes more of a fascinating character in the development of British jazz and whose story reads like that of a grand opera, embracing exceptional music, high drama, mental illness, drugs and an untimely early death.

Much like folk songwriter Nick Drake, Taylors demise went largely unremarked in the music press at the time. In the years following his death, Taylors name slipped from memory of all but his closest friends. It was not until his three penned tracks for Creams 1968 album, Wheels Of Fire, that the wider public started to take note of his genius.