''Smiling Men with Bad Reputations'' is the 1971 solo debut

album An album is a collection of audio recordings (e.g., music) issued on a medium such as compact disc (CD), Phonograph record, vinyl (record), audio tape (like 8-track cartridge, 8-track or Cassette tape, cassette), or digital distribution, dig ...

by Mike Heron of the Incredible String Band (ISB). Listeners of The Incredible String Band can look here for what would be Heron's influence on future ISB albums. The trademark folk and Celtic style remained intact, but Heron added his own influences of

progressive rock Progressive rock (shortened as prog rock or simply prog) is a broad genre of rock music that primarily developed in the United Kingdom through the mid- to late 1960s, peaking in the early-to-mid-1970s. Initially termed " progressive pop", the ...

to the repertoire. This, more or less, was his attempt at creating a commercialized sound to his music. Tracks like "Feast of Stephen" are clear evidence that Heron desired to create rock-orientated pieces. Still, Heron had folk pieces with tracks like "Flowers of the Forest", with Richard Thompson on lead guitar. Heron's output would continue to show a trend in this direction for much of his solo career, and his remaining time with the ISB. "Warm Heart Pastry" finds Heron backed by

Pete Townshend Peter Dennis Blandford Townshend (; born 19 May 1945) is an English musician. He is the co-founder, guitarist, keyboardist, second lead vocalist, principal songwriter and leader of the Who, one of the most influential rock bands of the 1960s an ...

Keith Moon Keith John Moon (23 August 1946 – 7 September 1978) was an English musician who was the drummer for the rock band the Who. Regarded as one of the greatest drummers in the history of rock music, he was noted for his unique style of playing and ...

The Who The Who are an English Rock music, rock band formed in London in 1964. Their classic lineup (1964–1978) consisted of lead vocalist Roger Daltrey, guitarist Pete Townshend, bassist John Entwistle and drummer Keith Moon. Considered one of th ...

, and

Ronnie Lane Ronald Frederick Lane (1 April 1946 – 4 June 1997) was an English musician and songwriter who was the bassist and co-founder of the rock bands Small Faces (1965–69) and Faces (band), Faces (1969–73). Lane formed Small Faces in 1965 afte ...

Small Faces Small Faces were an English Rock music, rock band from London, founded in 1965. The group originally consisted of Steve Marriott, Ronnie Lane, Kenney Jones and Jimmy Winston, with Ian McLagan replacing Winston as the band's keyboardist in 1966 ...

(as Tommy & The Bijoux). The 1991 reissue features two bonus tracks, with

Jimmy Page James Patrick Page (born 9 January 1944) is an English musician and producer who achieved international success as the guitarist and founder of the Rock music, rock band Led Zeppelin. Page began his career as a studio session musician in Lo ...

guesting on "Lady Wonder" and

Elton John Sir Elton Hercules John (born Reginald Kenneth Dwight; 25 March 1947) is a British singer, songwriter and pianist. His music and showmanship have had a significant, lasting impact on the music industry, and his songwriting partnership with l ...

on "Make No Mistake".Smiling Men with Bad Reputations: Credits

Discogs Discogs ( ; short for " discographies") is a database of information about audio recordings, including commercial releases, promotional releases, and bootleg or off-label releases. Database contents are user-generated, and described in ''T ...

. Retrieved 17 August 2013.

Track listing

All tracks on the original album composed by Mike Heron. #"Call Me Diamond" #"Flowers of the Forest" #"Audrey" #"Brindaban" #"Feast of Stephen" #"Spirit Beautiful" #"Warm Heart Pastry" #"Beautiful Stranger" #"No Turning Back" ''Smiling Men with Bad Reputations'' was remastered and reissued in 2004 with two bonus tracks:

"Make No Mistake" – 3:09
"Lady Wonder" – 4:20

Personnel

*Mike Heron - Lead Vocals, Acoustic Guitar, Harmonica *

John Cale John Davies Cale (born 9 March 1942) is a Welsh musician, composer, and record producer who was a founding member of the American rock band the Velvet Underground. Over his six-decade career, Cale has worked in various styles across rock, dr ...

- Bass (3,5), Guitar (5), Vocals (5), Harmonium (3,8), Piano (5,8), Viola (5,7), Vocal Arrangement (5), Brass Arrangement (8) *

Dave Mattacks David James Mattacks (born 13 March 1948) is an English rock and folk drummer, best known for his work with British folk rock band Fairport Convention. Fairport Convention He replaced Martin Lamble, who had died on 12 May 1969 in a road ac ...

- Drums (2,10,11) * Rose Simpson - Bass (2) * Richard Thompson - Guitar (2) *

Steve Winwood Stephen Lawrence Winwood (born 12 May 1948) is an English musician and songwriter whose genres include blue-eyed soul, rhythm and blues, blues rock, and pop rock. Though primarily a guitarist, keyboard player, and vocalist prominent for his dis ...

- Organ (2) *

- Guitar (7) *

- Drums (7) *

- Bass (7) *

- Piano (10) *

- Guitar & slide guitar (11) * Simon Nicol - Guitar (1,5) *

Dave Pegg Dave Pegg (born 2 November 1947) is an English multi-instrumentalist and record producer, primarily a bass guitarist. He is the longest-serving member of the British folk rock band Fairport Convention and has been bassist with a number of folk ...

- Bass (1,10,11) *

Gerry Conway Gerard Francis Conway Thomas, Roy. "Roy's Rostrum" (" Bullpen Bulletins") in '' Marvel Super-Heroes'' #43 and other Marvel Comics cover-dated May 1974. (born September 10, 1952) is an American comic book writer, comic book editor, science ficti ...

- Drums (5,8) * Tony Cox - VCS3 Synthesizer (8) *

Pat Donaldson Fotheringay was a short-lived British folk rock group, formed in 1970 by singer-songwriter and musician Sandy Denny on her departure from Fairport Convention. The band drew its name from her 1968 composition " Fotheringay" about Fotheringhay C ...

- Bass (8) * Dr. Strangely Strange - Backing Vocals (6) *

Sue Glover Sue and Sunny were a British human voice, vocal duet (music), duo of session singers operating in the 1960s, 1970s and 1980s. Although sisters, their stage names were Sue Glover and Sunny Leslie. For three years (1969–1972), they were members o ...

- Vocals (5) *Mike Kowalski - Drums (1) * Sunny Leslie - Vocals (5) *

Dudu Pukwana Mthutuzeli Dudu Pukwana (18 July 1938 – 30 June 1990) was a South African saxophonist and composer. Early years in South Africa Dudu Pukwana was born in Walmer, Port Elizabeth, Walmer Township, Port Elizabeth, South Africa. He grew up studyin ...

- Saxophone (1), Piano (1), Horn Arrangement (1) *Gerard Dott - Arrangement (4) *Liza Strike - Vocals (5) *Heather Wood - Vocals (6) *Vemu Mukunda - Veena (6) *Mohana Lakshmipathy - Veena (6) *Vshailendra - Tambura (6) *PR Money - Mridangam & Morsing (6) *Gordon Huntley - Steel guitar (10)

References

{{Authority control 1971 debut albums Albums produced by Joe Boyd Elektra Records albums