Fish Out of Water (Chris Squire album)

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Fish Out of Water is the first studio album from the English musician Chris Squire, released in November 1975 on Atlantic Records. The album was recorded in 1975 during a period of inactivity from his progressive rock band Yes following the band's agreement to have each member produce a solo album. A number of musicians play on the album, including Bill Bruford, Patrick Moraz, Mel Collins, and Squire's childhood friend Andrew Pryce Jackman as well as an entire orchestra.

Fish Out of Water was a moderate commercial success upon its release, reaching number 25 in the UK and number 69 in the U.S. The album was well received by music critics. Squire would not release another solo album until Chris Squire's Swiss Choir (2007).

Background and recording

Andrew Jackman, Squire's former bandmate in The Syn, partnered with Squire in arranging and conceptualizing the album. Over the course of sketching out the album, he ended up making some compositional contributions. Because of this, Squire offered to give him some co-writing credits, but Jackman declined.

The title refers to his nickname "Fish", and being "...Out of Water" due to being away from the Yes context. The title of "Lucky Seven" refers to the song being in 7/8 time signature. Musically, a melodic passage from Yes' song "Close to the Edge" re-appears in the finale of "Safe (Canon Song)".

The first track begins with a short fanfare style introduction played on the organ at St Paul's Cathedral, London by the cathedral organist Barry Rose. The organ continues throughout the song creating an original sound and revealing Squire and Jackman's experience together, as church choristers, in their boyhood.

The closing passage on "Safe (Canon Song)" was played on the 4-string bass section of a double-neck guitar using only the pickups of the 6-string section.

Release

Although out-of-print outside Japan and Europe, it was reissued in the U.S. by Wounded Bird Records on 28 February 2006. Subsequently a deluxe edition of the album was released on 25 June 2007 on Squire's own label, Stone Ghost Records, distributed by Castle/Sanctuary Records. The album was remastered and featured, as bonus material, the single edit version of "Lucky Seven", the promo video for "Hold Out Your Hand" and "You by My Side", audio commentary, and a 40-minute interview with Squire.

Samples

Samples from "Silently Falling" were used in P-Money's "Falling Down" on his 2010 album Everything.

Track listing

All songs written by Chris Squire.

Side one

1. "Hold Out Your Hand" – 4:13
2. "You by My Side" – 5:00
3. "Silently Falling" – 11:27

Side two

1. "Lucky Seven" – 6:54
2. "Safe (Canon Song)" – 14:56

Personnel

Musicians

• Chris Squire – lead and backing vocals, bass guitar, twelve-string guitar (tracks 3 and 5).
• Andrew Jackman – acoustic and electric pianos, conductor, orchestration
• Bill Bruford – drums, percussion
• Patrick Moraz – bass synthesizer and organ (track 3)
• Jimmy Hastings – flute (track 3)
• Mel Collins – tenor saxophone (track 3), alto saxophone (track 4)
• Barry Rose – pipe organ (track 1)
• Adrian Bett – woodwinds leader
• Jim Buck – horns leader
• Julian Gaillard – strings leader
• John Wilbraham – brass leader
• Nikki Squire – backing vocals (track 1)

Production

• Chris Squire – producer
• Greg Jackman – engineer
• Nigel Luby – assistant engineer
• Phil Carson – overdubs, mastering
• Trevor Spencer – mastering
• Graham Preskett – mastering
• Laurence Bernes – cover design and photography
• Brian Lane – front cover photograph

Charts

Album

Year	Chart	Position
1976	Billboard Pop Albums	69
1976	UK Albums Chart	25