Tarot Suite
{{Infobox album
| name = Tarot Suite
| type = studio
| artist = Mike Batt
| cover = Tarot Suite.jpg
| alt =
| released = 1979
| recorded =
| venue =
| studio =
| length =
| label = Epic
| producer = Mike Batt
| prev_title = Schizophonia
| prev_year = 1977
| next_title = Waves
| next_year = 1980
}}
Tarot Suite is the third solo album by English singer-songwriter Mike Batt, credited as "Mike Batt and Friends". It was released in 1979 by Epic Records.
Background and content
Tarot Suite is a concept album, inspired by the 22 Major Arcana trump cards of the tarot deck,{{Cite web|url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/tarot-suite-mw0000836806|title=Tarot Suite - Mike Batt | Album | AllMusic|via=www.allmusic.com}} of which Batt had been fascinated by the artwork and tradition.{{Cite web|url=https://www.mikebatt.com/tarot-suite|title=TAROT SUITE|website=Mike Batt}} The album's liner notes include a description of the various cards and how they individually relate to each track on the album.{{cite AV media notes|title=Tarot Suite|others=Mike Batt|year=1979|publisher=Epic|type=liner notes}}
Like his previous album Schizophonia (1977), Tarot Suite contains what Batt has described as an "experimental combination of rock and symphonic instruments.
Critical reception
{{Album ratings
|rev1 = AllMusic
}}
In a review for AllMusic, Dave Sleger said that the album is "an artfully and literate collection of orchestrated rock & roll", and that it features an "impressive assemblage of musicians". He opined that on the track "Imbecile", guest singer Roger Chapman "has never appeared to have better control of his voice".
Track listing
All tracks written by Mike Batt.
Side one
{{Track listing
| title1 = Introduction (The Journey of a Fool)
| writer1 =
| length1 = 4:26
| title2 = Imbecile
| note2 = vocal: Roger Chapman
| writer2 =
| length2 = 5:05
| title3 = Plainsong
| writer3 =
| length3 = 1:58
| title4 = Lady of the Dawn
| note4 = vocal: Mike Batt
| writer4 =
| length4 = 4:00
| title5 = The Valley of Swords
| writer5 =
| length5 = 5:30
}}
Side two
{{Track listing
| title1 = Losing Your Way in the Rain
| note1 = vocal: Colin Blunstone
| writer1 =
| length1 = 3:33
| title2 = Tarota
| writer2 =
| length2 = 6:13
| title3 = The Night of the Dead
| writer3 =
| length3 = 3:30
| title4 = The Dead of the Night
| writer4 =
| length4 = 1:58
| title5 = Run Like the Wind
| note5 = vocal: Roger Chapman
| writer5 =
| length5 = 4:27
}}
Personnel
Adapted from the album's liner notes.
=Musicians=
{{Div col}}
- Mike Batt – vocals (side one: track 4), arranger, conductor
- Colin Blunstone – vocals (side two: track 1)
- Roger Chapman – vocals (side one: track 2; side two: track 5)
- Tony Carr – percussion
- B. J. Cole – pedal steel guitar
- Mel Collins – saxophone
- Ray Cooper – percussion
- Jim Cregan – lead guitar
- Harold Fisher – drums
- Mike Fry – percussion
- Rory Gallagher – lead guitar
- Ricky Hitchcock – rhythm guitar
- Chris Karan – percussion
- London Symphony Orchestra – orchestra (leader: Irvine Arditti)
- Frank McDonald – bass guitar
- Tony McPhee – lead guitar
- Trevor Morais – drums
- Roy Morgan – percussion
- Alan Parker – rhythm guitar
- Chris Spedding – lead guitar
- Les Thatcher – rhythm guitar
- Martin Kershaw – rhythm guitar
{{Div col end}}
=Technical=
- Mike Batt – producer
- Mike Thompson – principal recording engineer
- Robert Butterworth – engineer
- Gary Langan – engineer
- Dick Lewsey – engineer
- Julian Mendelsohn – engineer
- Vaughan Rogers – engineer
- John Timperley – engineer
- Eric Tomlinson – engineer
- Sleeve design: Mike Batt & Simon Cantwell
- Artwork: Jack Richards
- Photography: Peter Lavery
- Typography: Richard Field
Charts
| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders"
|+ Chart performance for Tarot Suite |
| Chart (1979)
!Peak |
|---|
| {{album chart|Netherlands|32|artist=Mike Batt|album=Tarot Suite|rowheader=true|accessdate=21 May 2025}} |
| {{album chart|Germany|29|artist=Mike Batt|album=Tarot Suite|rowheader=true|accessdate=21 May 2025}} |
| {{album chart|New Zealand|3|artist=Mike Batt|album=Tarot Suite|rowheader=true|accessdate=21 May 2025}} |
| {{album chart|Sweden|47|artist=Mike Batt|album=Tarot Suite|rowheader=true|accessdate=21 May 2025}} |
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- [https://www.discogs.com/release/2666153-Mike-Batt-And-Friends-Tarot-Suite Tarot Suite] at Discogs