Following their spectacular but unsuccessful debut album Sea Shanties from 1969, High Tide – still consisting of Tony Hill (g, voc, org), Simon House (vl, org, p), Peter Pavli (b) and Roger Hadden (dr) – subsequently toured the European continent, where they had a loyal fan base. Before recording their second LP, the British hard rock quartet decided to change musical direction towards a lighter style of prog rock. The raw guitar sound of their debut was toned down somewhat and, in places, replaced by an artful mix of organ, piano and acoustic guitar. However, the interplay of guitar and violin still forms the heart of their distinctive blend of psychedelic, progressive and hard rock, mainly consisting of varied instrumental jams.

They recorded their second album in April 1970, this time at London’s Morgan Studios and Olympic Studios, which contributed to a significantly better production and sound quality. The impressive cover artwork of the LP, released in July 1970, brilliantly illustrates the musical content with a riot of colours and bizarre shapes against a black background. Despite all this, the band failed to achieve a breakthrough this time either, leading to their break-up at the end of 1970. Their second and final album, however, remains a sought-after collector’s item, especially among fans of early English prog-rock.