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Skin Alley came together in London in the autumn of 1968. The progressive Anglo-American group consisted of Krzysztof-Henryk Juskiewicz (keyb, p, mellotron, voc), Bob James (g, sax, fl, voc), Thomas Crimble (b, mellotron, voc) and Alvin Pope (dr, perc). Under contract to Clearwater Productions, they played numerous free gigs in the London underground music scene to gain exposure and build a fan base. One fan was John Peel, who invited them to record a session for his Top Gear programme on Radio One. All these activities quickly led to a recording contract with the major label CBS. Under the aegis of producer Dick Taylor of The Pretty Things, the quartet recorded their debut album in November 1969. Their captivating and complex blend of jazz, blues, folk and rock, enriched with 60s psychedelia and occasional classical influences, was released in March 1970.
Their first album with the unmistakable image of a rude American cop on the cover, which was probably intended to be humorous, was praised by the critics. However, its success was very limited due to a lack of publicity from the record company. Today it is one of the great lost gems of British prog rock and is incredibly hard to find as a UK original.
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