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The second and final LP Heavy Petting by the Irish psychedelic folk band Dr. Strangely Strange was once again recorded at Sound Techniques in London and again produced by Joe Boyd. Alongside the founding trio of Tim Booth, Ivan Pawle and Tim Goulding, the line-up included guitarist Gary Moore, Brendan Shiels (bass) from Skid Row, Andy Irvine (mandolin), Johnny Moynihan (bouzouki) and Dave Mattacks (drums) from Fairport Convention. It was released in September 1970 on the legendary progressive label Vertigo, featuring an elaborate Gimmix-style cover with two die-cut flaps folded over the main sleeve.
It is a very different album from their debut, Kip Of The Serenes, and presents surreal lyrics in a more progressive style. The blend of ragtime, country, acoustic tradition and medieval sounds is accompanied by delicate, flowing blues-rock guitar solos from the then 17-year-old Gary Moore. Although it is still chaotic and folk-heavy, it is nonetheless more psychedelic folk rock. Despite the intricate, fantastical cover art by Roger Dean, featuring a photograph of the band hiding behind some bushes, the record failed to sell and the group were soon dropped by the label. The band subsequently split up. Today, the original UK pressing in a condition anything approaching mint in an undamaged, delicate sleeve is notoriously hard to find and ranks among the most sought-after Vertigo albums.
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