Eddie Jobson - Beginnings, and the Story of the First UK Album

I do wish I had received more recognition and appreciation for my work on this iconic U.K. album. It was 'self produced' by the band which puts a massive demand on the recording and mixing engineer - and we used a lot of fascinating and experimental recording techniques to create the unique sound of this album. So delighted to have been an important part of it. SWT

RIP John wetton 😢 RIP Allan Holdsworth 😢 Great musicians !

I knew Eddie when we were both young children, I am pretty sure we played in the same orchestra. My mother was his accompanist for ABRSM violin exams - from memory he completed them all up to Grade 8. He kept in touch with my mother until she died last year; a genuine man who never forgot his roots.

In 1978, after disappointing and tired releases from my favourite bands: Love Beach, And Then There Were Three, Tormato....the UK debut album came as a breath of fresh air.

UK was a much-needed breath of fresh air at the end of the 70’s, and that first album was a magnificent coming together of four complete brilliant musicians who clearly sparked off each other and produced one of the best progressive albums ever … like Focus shortly before them, it’s a shame the band didn’t last long, but that 2013 concert was a very satisfying tribute to the music, and the players … Wetton’s voice remained so powerful through the decades.

The UK album was a revelation to me......I heard Allan Holdsworth come in on guitar after Eddie's amazing Alaska into and Boom I was hooked ...an engineering masterpiece. I saw Allan perform 14 times , and met him once for a 10 minute private conversation. I explained to him how much I enjoyed ALL of the 1978 recordings and how each night was so different where his solo runs changed...like bruford said .....pure bliss ....

One of the greatest debut albums of all time. As a massive ELP fan, this was the route I wish they had taken. Both U.K. studio records and the live Night After Night are magnificent . What a band !

30 years and Nevermore are 2 of the best ever written songs by ANY band.

There's a wonderful Bruford continuity between King Crimson's "Red," UK's first album and Bruford "One of A Kind." Bill is the Flux Capacitor in those collaborations with Wetton and Holdsworth. It's incredible how these and other greats fraternized, how projects happened or didn't happen and what these connections eventually produced. There are some amazing results in the prog archive.

An hour and 16 minutes of info about Eddie Jobson? With musical performances? Wow! Phenomenal! I'm ecstatic.

GREAT, very detailed! I was an all-night FM radio DJj for much of the ‘70s…as well as journalist and Prog musician, playing with an electric violinist. Met many of these guys over the years. Bruford met my female drummer at a drum clinic, as our first LO had come out and he was impressed enough to invite us both to Yes’ NYC area gig a few days later. I was flattered to have Billboard Magazine mention my songs and “Zappa-inspired” in the same sentence. Our later female guitarist and :wife” was a world-class Holdsworth/Morse-inspired player. I got to see U.K. Live in Rochester, NY. Also met Fripp there, where he did a live “Frippertronics” concert from our radio station’s downstairs station. Ironically, by showtime, after dealing with everything, the only spot to sit was inches from Fripp at his feet. He spotted I was holding a KC 7” promo EP and a 12” “Exposure” EP and reached out for them, saying “Oh my, you’ve got the good stuff…I’ve never even seen either if these before!” He then signed both without my even asking. As a bassist, Wetton was always a favorite if mine. Met him in NYC on his solo acoustic gig and he came over to sit and chat. Just wonderful memories of talented players.

I was in the 4th row at the Long Beach arena waiting for Jethro Tull to hit the stage on their Stormwatch tour . UK came out to open the show and blew my mind. I was 13 years old. I had no clue what was happening.A guy playing a stack of keyboards and then playing solos on a plexy glass violin going through a space echo into some Marshall’s. A bass player who also played through Marshall’s like nothing of ever heard before. The drummer was placed where the singer normally would be placed .I would never witness such wizardry and unfortunately I think it was their very last gig. Eddie Jobson joined Tull on their next tour as keyboardist and violin. The 80s came and pop was king and progressive rock and 8 minute songs were no longer a thing

Excellent job on putting this together. Jobson has always been a massive talent but teaming him up with Allan Holdsworth was next-level brilliant.

When a record is “self produced by the band”, everyone in the booth is in the band! Great work! UK fan since 1980.

The debut album by UK has to be one of the greatest prog rock records of all time. Although their second album also featured some excellent tracks, it suffered from the lack of input of both Bruford and Holdsworth, who had departed for pastures new.

Very well researched and produced. Thank you for covering this great music. These guys were world class artists.

UK was a much loved band, I listened and played to this so much in the early 80’s. Alex and Marco served this music so much. ❤

I've admired Eddie for many years but didn't know much about him. So this video is very welcome. Thanks!

This album is modern equivalent of "Kind of Blue" ... True creative classics !!

On my first hearing I thought that “Nevermore” and “Mental Medication“ were the weakest tracks, compared to the rest. However, after continuous plays I grew to love these two wonderful pieces of music, haunting vocals and beautiful, atmospheric keyboard work from Eddie Jobson.