The Spill Magazine The Spill Magazine
The Spill Magazine The Spill Magazine
The Spill Magazine The Spill Magazine
  • Reviews
    • Album Reviews
    • Features
    • Live Reviews
    • Festivals
  • Portraits
  • Headlines
    • News
    • Contests
    • Events
    • Entertainment Headlines
    • Concert Listings
    • Toronto Concert Venues
  • New Music
    • Premieres
    • Track Of The Day
  • Track Of The Week
  • Books + Movies
  • About
16
new
SPILL NEW MUSIC: REUBEN AND THE DARK REVEAL SINGLE “TIMELAPSE CLOUDS” | NEW EP ‘COMING LIKE A STORM’ OUT JUNE 10 VIA ARTS & CRAFTS
SPILL MUSIC PREMIERE: DAMION – “COMPANY MAN”
SPILL VIDEO PREMIERE: VOODOO BLOO – “WE’RE HERE, LOVE IS SOMEWHERE ELSE”
SPILL NEWS: SKID ROW RELEASE NEW OFFICIAL FAN VIDEO FOR “THE GANG’S ALL HERE” | 2022 TOUR DATES
SPILL NEW MUSIC: LOWELL REVEALS NEW SINGLE “GUESS I’M GOING TO HELL”
SPILL NEWS: SECOND OFFICIAL IRON MAIDEN COLOURING BOOK: THE SINGLES – AVAILABLE NOW FROM ROCK N’ ROLL COLOURING
SPILL NEWS: LIMITED EDITION REISSUE OF BEASTIE BOYS’ LONG OUT-OF-PRINT 4LP DELUXE EDITION OF THE MULTI-PLATINUM ALBUM ‘CHECK YOUR HEAD’ TO BE RELEASED JULY 15
SPILL VIDEO PREMIERE: THE CAUGHTERY – “FRAGILE”
SPILL MUSIC PREMIERE: THE MARCH DIVIDE – “KING OF THE LOST CAUSE”
SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: THOMAS DOLLBAUM – WELLSWOOD
SPILL NEW MUSIC: DIANA ROSS FT. TAME IMPALA RELEASE HIGHLY ANTICIPATED NEW SINGLE “TURN UP THE SUNSHINE”
SPILL NEW MUSIC: HOUSEWIFE SHARE BRAND NEW TRACK “PATRICK BATEMAN”
SPILL VIDEO PREMIERE: STILL EIGHTEEN – “KEEP ROCKING”
SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: AVI KAPLAN – FLOATING ON A DREAM
SPILL VIDEO PREMIERE: COMING UP ROSES – “WOULD YOU EVER”
SPILL FEATURE: SONGS FROM PEOPLE ARE ALSO SONGS ABOUT PEOPLE – A CONVERSATION WITH DARI MAKSYMOVA OF 6TH CROWD
  • Reviews
    • Album Reviews
    • Features
    • Live Reviews
    • Festivals
  • Portraits
  • Headlines
    • News
    • Contests
    • Events
    • Entertainment Headlines
    • Concert Listings
    • Toronto Concert Venues
  • New Music
    • Premieres
    • Track Of The Day
  • Track Of The Week
  • Books + Movies
  • About
  • Spill Menu
    • Reviews
      • Album Reviews
      • Features
      • Live Reviews
      • Festivals
    • Portraits
    • Headlines
      • News
      • Contests
      • Events
      • Entertainment Headlines
      • Concert Listings
      • Toronto Concert Venues
    • New Music
      • Premieres
      • Track Of The Day
    • Track Of The Week
    • Books + Movies
    • About
Album Reviews
350
previous article
SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: XIU XIU / (r) - XIU XIU / (r)
next article
SPILL TRACK OF THE DAY: RUE BELLA - "BURN MY HOME"

SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: MABEL GREER’S TOYSHOP – THE SECRET

Mabel Greer's Toyshop

Mabel Greer’s Toyshop
The Secret
Hagger Bailey Music

Before there was Yes, there was Mabel Greer’s Toyshop, a band that formed in London in 1966. The band was formed by Clive Bailey (guitar), Robert (Bob) Hagger (drums) and Paul Rutledge (bass). Chris Squire and Peter Banks made their way into the band, and eventually Jon Anderson joined to complete an early line-up. Although they recorded many demos and songs, and played a lot of gigs in and around London, the band evolved into Yes; Mabel Greer’s Toyshop faded into rock history without releasing a single record.

The band reformed in 2014, featuring Bailey, Hagger, Tony Kaye (on keyboards), Hugo Barre (bass), and Billy Sherwood (bass). The band recorded what would be their debut album called New Way Of Life (2015). Now in 2017, Bailey, Hagger and Barre are joined by Max Hunt (keyboards) and the late Peter Banks on one track, “The Secret” (the title track, which is achingly beautiful), thanks to technology. The music world lost Banks in 2013 and he was not able to return to Mabel Greer’s Toyshop, but through the miracle of music and technology he plays guitar on this one song.

This is an incredible album. The Secret is not a throwback to a prog rock era of long ago, or a trip down memory lane. The Secret is a contemporary album, with some prog rock leanings, with new and incredible sounds. This is strong playing and a tight band that has both written and performed. Their debut album was a strong release featuring some re-recorded older songs. This album features all new songs, and it is clear that Bailey and company have built on their artistry and Mabel Greer’s Toyshop has a distinct sound. They do not sound like Yes or anyone else, they sound like Mabel Greer’s Toyshop.

Some of the songs are long, harkening back to their prog rock days, but this band is more than prog rock, they are a true band in a collaborative sense. Listen to “More and More”; it starts with atmospheric keyboards and lapses into an almost bluesy song. It sounds incredible. “You” (not the George Harrison song of the same name) is a beautiful piano based love song. There are different sounds throughout the album, yet it forms a cohesive work.

Lyrically the songs deal with love (“Turning To The Light”, one of the many highlights) to isolation (“Angel Sent”) to loss (“Big Brother, Little Brother” which brilliantly opens the album). There is a great deal to explore, including a poem by Dr. David Nurbakhsh (“Image of Existence”). Bailey has written a moving piece of music to accompany the rather heavy poem, but it works. This is not typical rock fare these days, but I am glad a band such as Mabel Greer’s Toyshop is willing to expand the idea of a rock album.

This is a welcome return to form for this band. It is encouraging to hear an album from Mabel Greer’s Toyshop comprised of all new material. This band has a history, one that is well known, but forget all that, and focus on this music, as it is a work of art. The Secret is well done, and I am hoping for more to come. It is also nice to hear Banks again, as he is greatly missed. All in all, The Secret is a remarkable album, with an awesome album sleeve. Highly recommended.



Artist Links

website_flat_2016 facebook_flat_2016 twitter_flat_2016 youtube_flat_2016

Item Reviewed

SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: MABEL GREER’S TOYSHOP – THE SECRET

Author

Aaron Badgley

Here's what we think...
Spill Rating
Fan Rating
Rate Here
New Criteria
10
9.9
8.0
Total Spill Rating
9.9
Total Fan Rating
4 ratings
You have rated this
Album Reviews
album reviewshagger bailey musicmabel greer's toyshopoceansthe secretyes
album reviews, hagger bailey music, mabel greer's toyshop, oceans, the secret, yes
About the Author
Aaron Badgley
Born and raised in Whitby, Aaron discovered music through his love of The Beatles. This led to a career in radio, writing for various publications, and ultimately a radio show about The Beatles (Beatles Universe), which ran for over four years. When not immersed in music, Aaron enjoys spending time with the loves of his life -- his wife Andrea, and daughters Emily and Linda (all of whom have an intense love of music too).
RELATED ARTICLES
album reviewsmabel greer's toyshopoceans
 
8.0
Thomas Dollbaum

SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: THOMAS DOLLBAUM – WELLSWOOD

by Ljubinko Zivkovic on May 20, 2022
Thomas Dollbaum Wellswood Big Legal Mess “I grew up in a small town between nowhere and nothing. By reputation, people move to Florida to run away from their problems, but instead of [...]
 
8.0
Avi Caplan
7.9

SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: AVI KAPLAN – FLOATING ON A DREAM

by Ljubinko Zivkovic on May 20, 2022
Avi Kaplan Floating On A Dream Fantasy Records One thing singer-songwriters can impress their potential audience with is their vocals. It can be any specific characteristic, from [...]
 
9.0
On-U Sound
6.3

SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: VARIOUS ARTISTS – PAY IT ALL BACK VOL. 8

by Ljubinko Zivkovic on May 13, 2022
Various Artists Pay It All Back Vol. 8 On-U Sound Master producer/songwriter/artist Adrian Sherwood has been behind all things On-U Sound since 1979, and since then he and [...]
 
8.0
Say Sue Me

SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: SAY SUE ME – THE LAST THING LEFT

by Ljubinko Zivkovic on May 13, 2022
Say Sue Me The Last Thing Left Damnably Sumi Choi (vocalist, guitarist) and her band Say Sue Me are from Busan, Korea. If that tells you that you would be in for some K-pop on their [...]
 
8.0
John Inghram

SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: JOHN INGHRAM – JOHN INGHRAM

by Ljubinko Zivkovic on May 13, 2022
John Inghram John Inghram CD Baby John Inghram built a name for himself as a musician’s musician, particularly among artist that try to get the gist of the music that has anything [...]

Latest Album Reviews
View All
 
SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: THOMAS DOLLBAUM – WELLSWOOD
8.0
 
SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: AVI KAPLAN – FLOATING ON A DREAM
8.0
7.9
 
SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: VARIOUS ARTISTS – PAY IT ALL BACK VOL. 8
9.0
6.3
 
SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: SAY SUE ME – THE LAST THING LEFT
8.0
 
SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: JOHN INGHRAM – JOHN INGHRAM
8.0

Tweets by @spillmagazine

SPILL MAGAZINE MENU
  • Home | The Spill Magazine
  • Premieres
  • Track Of The Week
  • Album Reviews
  • Books + Movies
  • Features
  • Live Reviews
  • Festivals
  • Portraits
  • News
  • Events
  • Entertainment Headlines
  • Concert Listings
  • Toronto Concert Venues
  • About Us
  • Contests
  • New Music
  • Spill Magazine Contributors
  • TOTD
  • Privacy Policy
  • The Scene Unseen
  • Newsletter

Copyright © 2022 | The Spill Magazine
All Rights Reserved.

TRENDING RIGHT NOW
   
 
SPILL FEATURE: CRUISE TO THE EDGE 2022 – THIS YEAR’S PROG CRUISE MAKES A LOT OF NOISE. A WHOLE LOT OF NOISE.
699
 
SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: PRIMUS – CONSPIRANOID
462
 
SPILL FEATURE: DON’T YOU FEEL CLOSER? – A CONVERSATION WITH CY CURNIN OF THE FIXX
410
 
SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: MEN WITHOUT HATS – AGAIN (PART 2)
331
 
SPILL NEWS: BARENAKED LADIES TO RELEASE LIVE TRACKS FROM SOLD-OUT ROYAL ALBERT HALL SHOW | DELUXE EDITION OF ‘DETOUR DE FORCE’ OUT JUNE 3
325
 
SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: RED HOT CHILI PEPPERS – UNLIMITED LOVE
316
 
SPILL LIVE REVIEW: JERRY CANTRELL w/ LOLA COLETTE @ HISTORY, TORONTO
291
 
SPILL VIDEO PREMIERE: LOST CAT – “L.O.S.T.”
280
 
SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: NAZARETH – SURVIVING THE LAW
267
 
SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: VR SEX – ROUGH DIMENSION
262
 
SPILL NEW MUSIC: VENUS BEMUS RELEASES DEBUT SINGLE “STORMS”
251
 
SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: LUCIUS – SECOND NATURE
249
 
SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: CANNONS – FEVER DREAM
236
ENTERTAINMENT HEADLINES