Magna Carta - Took A Long Time (1976)

Magna Carta are renowned for their gentle ballad style and mythical subject matter. Although never purely a folk band, they managed to successfully bridge the gap between folk and folk-rock. The band was originally formed in London in May 1969.

"Took A Long Time" (appropriately titled "Putting It Back Together") was released in 1976 featuring Simpson, guitarist Tommy Hoy (late of the Natural Acoustic Band), and bassist Nigel Smith, with Chris Karan and Pick Withers on drums the group was on Polydor (the parent label of Vertigo) in Europe and Ariola in the United States. Withers later became an official member of the group for a short time, before joining Mark Knopfler, David Knopfler, and John Illsley in what became Dire Straits, It had been a difficult time for Magna Carta, gone were the ideas of "Seasons" and the theatre of "Lord of the Ages", had gone the seventies to the point of standing at the gates of Punk Rock. Much water had flowed under the bridges of the bands collective connections and all looked to be uncertanty, however, it is at times of change and pressure that a bands true metal begins to show and it is in the reflections of the past that we see the shining future to come. On this album Chris Simpson and the team show that they are going to be survivors and trailblazers of the future of Folk Rock. Songs about "Putting it all back together", "Wild birds", "A princess" and the times things take "Took A Long Time"  show that this band are as eternal as the Yorkshire stone and countryside that shaped its founder.

Track listing

01.  "Putting It Back Together"  (Chris Simpson)  - 3:17     

02.  "Took a Long Time"  (Chris Simpson, Tom Hoy)  - 3:57    

03.  "Oh My Dear Rose"  (Tom Hoy)  - 3:05   

04.  "Sun Ain't Gonna Rise"   (Chris Simpson)  - 5:44    

05.  "Lady Take Me Down"  (Chris Simpson)  - 4:17    

06.  "Wild Bird"   (Chris Simpson)  - 6:03    

07.  "Princess"   (Chris Simpson)  - 3:18    

08.  "Painted Eyes"  (Chris Simpson, Nigel Portman-Smith, Tom Hoy)  - 4:19    

09.  "Tomorrow's a Long Time"   (Bob Dylan)  - 4:46    

10.  "Books About Us"  (Tom Hoy)  - 4:26    

Released:  1976

Recorded at:  Sawmill Studios, Fowey, Cornwall, England

Label:  GTO Records

Genre:  Soft Rock

Length:  43:12

Producer:  Magna Carta

Personnel:

Chris Simpson - vocals, guitar

Tommy Hoy - vocals, guitar, mandolin

Nigel Martin Smith - vocals, piano, bass, harmonium

David Bromberg - guitar

Jerry Fieldmouse - fiddle

Pick Withers - drums

Chris Karan - drums

Tony Carr - percussion