Fludd - Great Expectations

Tracks

Side 1

		Track Name	Length
	1	What An Animal	02:54
	2	How's Life Breaking?	03:30
	3	The Way You Get Around Me	02:42
	4	My Old Man	03:12
	5	I Held Out	04:23

Side 2

		Track Name	Length
	1	Boarding School	03:40
	2	Dance Gypsy Dance	02:41
	3	Brother & Me	02:19
	4	Too Good Tonite	02:51
	5	Smile On!	03:33
	6	Great Expectations	04:23

Photos

Videos

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Information/Write-up

Released in 1975, Great Expectations is Fludd’s most ambitious and polished album, blending melodic rock with orchestral flourishes and lush harmonies. The album captures the band at a creative high point, featuring their highest-charting single, "What An Animal," which broke into the Top 10 on Toronto’s charts. The song’s darkly philosophical take on human nature stood out against the lighter fare on AM radio, offering a more serious and reflective tone without sacrificing catchiness.

The album’s production, handled by Adam Mitchell and Lee DeCarlo, strikes a balance between radio-friendly hooks and sophisticated arrangements. Tracks like "Dance Gypsy Dance" and "Brother and Me" showcase Fludd’s knack for blending rock grooves with anthemic choruses, while "Too Good Tonite" and "The Way You Get Around Me" highlight the band’s melodic instincts and tight musicianship. The addition of Milan Kymlicka’s string and horn arrangements adds depth to several tracks, pushing the album into more adventurous territory.

Unfortunately, Great Expectations marked the end of Fludd’s mainstream success. While the album solidified the band’s place in Canadian rock history, it was bittersweet—recorded during a period when Brian Pilling was battling leukemia. Despite his declining health, Brian’s performances are heartfelt and energetic, giving the album a lasting emotional resonance.

With standout contributions from new members Doni Underhill (bass, backing vocals) and Gord Waszek (guitar, percussion), Great Expectations serves as a bridge between classic rock and the more progressive sounds that would define some of its members’ future endeavors, notably in Saga and Trooper. Today, it’s a hidden gem of Canadian rock, reflecting the band’s resilience, creativity, and enduring charm.
-Robert Williston

Edmund Pilling: lead vocals, backing vocals, percussion
Brian Pilling: guitar, lead vocals, backing vocals, piano
Gord Waszek: guitar, backing vocals, percussion
Doni Underhill: bass, backing vocals
Jørn (J.J.) Andersen: drums, percussion

Strings and Horns arranged by Milan Kymlicka
Produced by Adam Mitchell and Lee DeCarlo
Engineered by Alan Thorne, Brian Pilling, and Lee DeCarlo

Design Concept by Dawn Cooper Tennant
Photography by Rudi Christl

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