Ramases (prog rock, psych space folk / UK)

Ramases (real name Kimberley Barrington Frost) , born 1 January 1934 (Sheffield, UK) died 2 December 1976, adopted his name after claiming to have been visited by the Egyptian Pharaoh Ramesses sometime during a car journey near his home in Sheffield, England. He began dressing and behaving in an eccentric manner, wearing silk robes and shaving his head, in the style of the Hare Krishna religious sect. He recorded his sublime "Space Hymns" (1971) album at Strawberry Hill Studios at Stockport near Manchester with his wife Dorothy (who he renamed Selket), together with the musicians Eric Stewart, Graham Gouldman, Kevin Godley and Lol Creme, who famously went on to form the Pop/Rock band 10cc, although this religiously-inspired album is far removed from anything 10cc ever recorded. Renowned album cover artist Roger Dean designed the spacey album cover. A second album "Glass Top Coffin" followed in 1975 which failed to achieve commercial success. Tragically, Kimberley Barrington Frost took his own life in 1976 in a fit of depression, aged 42, which makes this marvellous legacy of music he left behind all the more poignant in its appeal. 

Album "Space Hymns" features complete band 10CC , Recorded at Strawberry Studios Manchester, England.

Among the members of the new group he had formed, the nucleus of the future 10CC group (Godley Creme Gouldman & Stewart) played central roles and many superb harmonies and inventive, catchy hooks of this "Space Hymns" album will remind you of the pop-extraordinaire group that later graced the hit charts of the mid and late 70's. An absolutely delightful cult status album every proghead should own, that was a followed a few years later by a much less famous second album "Glass Top Coffin" (but without the 10CC members) which still has moments of brilliance. 

"It was reported by many reviewers and re-issue liner note writers that Ramases' real name was Martin Raphael. However in May 2012, Dorothy, better known to Ramases fans as Sel (or Selket), advised that her late husband, Ramases (real name Barrington Frost) and Martin Raphael were not the same person."

Personnel:

Ramases: Lead vocals 

Sel: Lead vocals 

Eric Stewart: Lead guitar and moog synthesizer

Lol Creme: Lead guitar and moog synthesizer

Kevin Godley: Drums & flutes

Graham Gouldman: Guitar & bass guitar

Martin Raphael: Sitar

Discography: 

- Space Hymns (1971)

- Glass Top Coffin (1975)

Live Child: https://youtu.be/T8HpI4QkaoI : 

Source: ProgArchives