Rare Bird: British Prog-Rock with a Soulful Edge
Rare Bird was a British progressive rock band formed in 1969, known for their distinctive blend of keyboard-driven progressive rock, soulful vocals, and melancholic atmosphere. While not as widely known today as some of their contemporaries, Rare Bird holds a special place in prog history for being one of the earliest bands to embrace dual keyboard arrangements instead of guitar-led rock. Their music bridges symphonic prog, early art rock, and proto-prog, infused with emotional vocals and a unique sonic palette.
Origins and Formation
- Formed: 1969, London, England
- Key Members:
- Graham Field – Organ, composer
- Dave Kaffinetti – Electric piano
- Steve Gould – Vocals, bass, guitar
- Mark Ashton – Drums
Rare Bird’s founding vision was to craft progressive rock without a lead guitar, relying instead on organ and electric piano to drive the melody and harmonic texture—an unusual and bold move for the time.
Their early lineup featured musicians who were technically skilled and emotionally expressive, combining the symphonic leanings of early prog with bluesy, heartfelt vocals.
Musical Style
Rare Bird’s sound is defined by:
- Dual keyboard focus (organ and electric piano), creating rich, layered textures
- Dark, moody atmospheres paired with philosophical lyrics
- A fusion of progressive structure with soul-influenced vocal delivery
- Minimal use of guitar, especially in early work
- Themes exploring loss, time, spiritual longing, and human emotion
They straddled the line between early symphonic prog (like early Genesis or The Nice) and more emotive, melodic rock with introspective tendencies.
Key Albums
Rare Bird (1969)
Their self-titled debut is often considered their most important work. It features the hit single “Sympathy”, which became a Top 30 hit in the UK and sold over a million copies worldwide. The album showcases their minimal-guitar, organ-driven style with melancholic undertones.
Highlights:
- “Sympathy” – A haunting, piano-led anthem of human compassion
- “Beautiful Scarlet” – Dramatic and emotionally charged
- “Iceberg” – Dense organ work and philosophical lyrics
As Your Mind Flies By (1970)
More ambitious and experimental than their debut, this album includes the epic 20-minute suite “Flight”, a multi-part track that explores different moods and structures. It showed the band expanding their compositional reach.
Highlights:
- “Flight” – A true progressive rock epic in multiple movements
- “What You Want to Know” – Catchy yet intricate
- “Down on the Floor” – Groovy and intense
This album is a cult favorite among progressive rock enthusiasts.
Epic Forest (1972)
A significant shift in sound—Rare Bird incorporated guitars and moved toward a more melodic, West Coast-influenced soft rock style, while still retaining progressive elements. This change divided early fans but gained them a new audience.
Highlights:
- “Epic Forest” – A long-form track blending lush textures with elegant songwriting
- “Birdman” – Breezy and expansive
- “Turning the Lights Out” – Introspective and moody
Somebody’s Watching (1973)
This album continues the more accessible direction, with more conventional rock structures and stronger vocal harmonies. The title track became a minor hit.
Highlights:
- “Somebody’s Watching” – Melodic and haunting
- “Third Time Around” – Funky and upbeat
- “Dollars” – Politically tinged lyrics with soulful energy
Born Again (1974)
Their final album, Born Again, moved even further into mainstream melodic rock, incorporating a more polished and commercial sound. While less progressive, it still showcased the band’s songwriting maturity and emotional range.
Highlights:
- “Live for Each Other”
- “Redman”
- “Lonely Street”
Legacy and Influence
- “Sympathy” remains their most enduring song—a timeless ballad of empathy and humanism. It has been covered by numerous artists and featured in compilations of classic British rock.
- Rare Bird was one of the first prog bands signed to Charisma Records, later home to Genesis and Van der Graaf Generator.
- Their keyboard-based arrangements influenced future bands in the symphonic and art rock space.
- Though they never reached the commercial heights of Yes or Genesis, they are appreciated for their unique instrumentation and melancholic expressiveness.
Related Projects and Trivia
- Dave Kaffinetti, Rare Bird’s keyboardist, later appeared as Viv Savage in the legendary rock parody film This Is Spinal Tap.
- After leaving the band, Graham Field formed Fields, a short-lived prog trio that released one album in 1971, highly regarded among collectors.
Where to Start
| Album | Year | Best For |
|---|---|---|
| Rare Bird | 1969 | The essential introduction with “Sympathy” and their purest early sound |
| As Your Mind Flies By | 1970 | Progressive, complex, and ambitious |
| Epic Forest | 1972 | A shift toward melodic soft-prog with strong arrangements |
Final Thoughts
Rare Bird was a band ahead of its time—quietly influential, artistically bold, and emotionally resonant. Their early albums belong firmly in the canon of progressive rock, not for bombast or technical showmanship, but for their poignant atmosphere, distinctive instrumentation, and soulful introspection.
For those who enjoy the keyboard richness of The Nice, the emotional weight of Procol Harum, or the melodic grace of Barclay James Harvest, Rare Bird offers a unique and rewarding journey into the melancholy side of progressive rock.
Rare Bird – Sympathy
