| Under a Mediterranean Sky | ||||
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| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | 22 January 2021 | |||
| Genre | Instrumental contemporary classical, Instrumental new flamenco | |||
| Length | 51:15 | |||
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| Steve Hackett chronology | ||||
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Under a Mediterranean Sky is the 26th studio album by English guitarist and songwriter Steve Hackett. It was released on 22 January 2021 on Inside Out Music and is his first acoustic and entirely instrumental album since Tribute (2008).
Under a Mediterranean Sky is Hackett's first acoustic album since Tribute (2008), which saw him pay homage to various composers. The album originated in March 2020, when his North American tour was cut short due to the COVID-19 pandemic, which saw him return to England without his electric guitars. The situation left Hackett at home with just his acoustic instruments, including his nylon guitar, and the opportunity to work on a new acoustic project. [1] Hackett had discussions with his label, Inside Out Music, regarding if his next studio album can be acoustic or rock-oriented, and both ideas were green-lit, so he thought the time was right to do an acoustic album. [2] Around this time, Hackett and his longtime producer and keyboardist Roger King decided to upgrade their software and purchase new orchestral samples. [3] A series of videos were shot while Hackett and his wife Jo were visiting the places depicted on the album, including footage from Jo herself and from Paul Gosling. [1]
The album was released on 22 January 2021. [3] It is available in a limited edition CD digipak, a 2 LP and single CD set with a booklet, and on digital platforms. [1]
| Review scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| Prog Radio |   [4] |
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Mdina (The Walled City)" |
| 8:45 |
| 2. | "Adriatic Blue" | S. Hackett | 4:51 |
| 3. | "Sirocco" |
| 5:13 |
| 4. | "Joie de Vivre" |
| 3:42 |
| 5. | "The Memory of Myth" |
| 3:29 |
| 6. | "Scarlatti Sonata" | Domenico Scarlatti | 3:40 |
| 7. | "Casa del Fauno" |
| 3:51 |
| 8. | "The Dervish and The Djin" |
| 4:57 |
| 9. | "Lorato" | S. Hackett | 2:29 |
| 10. | "Andalusian Heart" |
| 5:34 |
| 11. | "The Call of the Sea" | S. Hackett | 4:44 |
| Total length: | 51:15 | ||
Music
Production
| Chart (2021) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| German Albums (Offizielle Top 100) [5] | 14 |
| Scottish Albums (OCC) [6] | 9 |
| Swiss Albums (Schweizer Hitparade) [7] | 20 |
| UK Albums (OCC) [8] | 52 |
Stephen Richard Hackett is an English guitarist, songwriter and record producer who gained prominence as the lead guitarist of the progressive rock band Genesis from 1971 to 1977. Hackett contributed to six Genesis studio albums, three live albums, seven singles and one EP before he left to pursue a solo career. He was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as a member of Genesis in 2010.
Selling England by the Pound is the fifth studio album by the English progressive rock band Genesis, released in September 1973 on Charisma Records. It reached No. 3 in the United Kingdom and No. 70 in the United States. A single from the album, "I Know What I Like ", was released in February 1974 and became the band's first top 30 hit in the UK.
Ian Richard McDonald was an English multi-instrumentalist, best known as a founder member of the progressive rock band King Crimson in 1968, as well as the hard rock band Foreigner in 1976.
This article is a discography of albums and singles released by the guitarist-songwriter Steve Hackett.
To Watch the Storms is the 16th studio album by Steve Hackett. It was recorded with his then touring band including his brother John and producer and keyboardist Roger King. The album was released in three formats including a standard and special editions. Cover artwork was by Kim Poor. There was also a Japanese edition with an extra track not included on the UK releases and alternate cover art, also by Kim Poor.
Metamorpheus is Steve Hackett's 17th studio album. This classical album is the successor to A Midsummer Nights Dream. Metamorpheus is an expression on Orpheus and his passage through the Underworld.
Sky Islands is the second album by Jazz fusion group Caldera released in 1977 on Capitol Records. The album rose to No. 18 on the Cashbox Top 40 Jazz Albums chart.
Out of the Tunnel's Mouth is the 20th studio album by English guitarist and songwriter Steve Hackett, released in October 2009 by Wolfwork and EAR Music. Hackett started recording the album in 2008 while he was involved in a legal case against his ex-wife Kim Poor, which created problems regarding its release. As a result, recording took place in his living room with his touring keyboardist Roger King serving as co-producer. The album includes performances by founding Genesis guitarist Anthony Phillips and Yes bassist Chris Squire.
High Notes is the thirty-fourth studio album by American musician Hank Williams Jr. It was released by Elektra/Curb Records in April 1982, making it Williams' eighth studio album for Elektra/Curb and his ninth overall for the label. While not as successful or acclaimed as some of Williams' more recent recordings, High Notes was still a commercial success. It peaked at number 3 on the Billboard Top Country Albums chart and was certified Gold by the RIAA, becoming Williams' seventh album to do so. The album also generated two hit singles, "If Heaven Ain't a Lot Like Dixie" and "Honky Tonkin'". "If Heaven Ain't a Lot Like Dixie" peaked at number 5 on the Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks chart while "Honky Tonkin'", a song that was originally a number 14 hit written and performed by his father, Hank, Sr., became Hank, Jr.'s sixth Number One hit on the Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks chart.
Beyond the Shrouded Horizon is the twenty-first studio album by English guitarist and songwriter Steve Hackett.
A Life Within a Day is the only studio album by the musical project Squackett, featuring English musicians Chris Squire (Yes) and Steve Hackett (ex-Genesis). It was released on 28 May 2012, although it had been written and recorded a few years earlier. The title track, "A Life Within a Day" won the 'Anthem' award at the 2012 Progressive Music Awards. The song "Aliens" was first written as a Yes song titled "Aliens " which was performed during the first leg of Yes's In the Present world tour, but had never been released on an album.
Genesis Revisited II is the 22nd studio album by musician Steve Hackett, released on 22 October 2012 by Inside Out Music label. It is a sequel to his 1996 album Genesis Revisited and largely consists of reworked versions of songs originally by Genesis with a variety of guest vocalists.
Lifesigns are an English progressive rock band, first conceived by lead singer and keys player John Young in 2008. By 2014, the band's lineup included Steve Rispin as their sound engineer, Jon Poole on bass and vocals, Martin "Frosty" Beedle on drums, percussion and vocals, and formerly Niko Tsonev on guitars and vocals. After Tsonev departed the band in 2016, Dave Bainbridge joined on guitar and additional keys. Beedle left the band in 2020 and was replaced by Zoltán Csörsz.
Wolflight is the 23rd studio album by musician Steve Hackett. The album debuted at no. 31 in the UK album chart.
David Longdon was a British multi-instrumentalist and singer, who was best known as the lead vocalist and co-songwriter of the progressive rock band Big Big Train. Besides singing, Longdon played flute, keyboards, acoustic and electric 6 & 12 string guitars, bass, mandolin, lute, banjo, accordion, percussion, dulcimer, psaltry, vibraphone, theremin and glockenspiel.
The Night Siren is the twenty-fourth studio album from English guitarist and singer-songwriter Steve Hackett, released on 24 March 2017 by Inside Out Music.
At the Edge of Light is the twenty-fifth studio album by English guitarist and songwriter Steve Hackett, released on 25 January 2019 by InsideOut Records.
From a Page is a mini-album by the English progressive rock band Yes, released on 25 October 2019 by Yes Records. It contains four previously unreleased tracks originally recorded by the 2008–2011 line-up of the group and intended for release on an album, but ultimately weren't included on Fly from Here. During this time, the lineup included bassist Chris Squire, guitarist Steve Howe, drummer Alan White, singer Benoît David, and keyboardist Oliver Wakeman. Wakeman, who wrote most of the material on From a Page, was inspired to release it following Squire's death in 2015.
The Quest is the twenty-second studio album by English progressive rock band Yes, released on 1 October 2021 by InsideOut Music and Sony Music. It is their first studio album featuring Billy Sherwood since The Ladder (1999), replacing bassist Chris Squire following his death in 2015, and their first album without any original members. It is also their first album since Talk (1994) to be produced by only one member, namely guitarist Steve Howe, and their last studio album to be released before the death of drummer Alan White in 2022.
Mirror to the Sky is the twenty-third studio album by English progressive rock band Yes, released on 19 May 2023 by InsideOut Music and Sony Music. It is their first studio album with American drummer Jay Schellen as a full-time member following the death of long-time Yes drummer Alan White in 2022, and to whom the album is dedicated.
