Light In The Attic have reissued Michael Chapman’s 1970 LP Fully Qualified Survivor.

Originally released through EMI’s legendary Harvest imprint and championed by a young John Peel, Fully Qualified Survivor is criminally little-known today. It’s a psychedelic yet gritty folk-rock opus that stands comparison with the best of John Martyn and Roy Harper: Chapman’s lyrical, tough-fingered strumming and gruff, bluesy vocals are delightful in themselves, but on FQS they’re augmented by electric axe-work from future Spider From Mars Mick Ronson, bass from Rick Kemp (Steeleye Span) and stirring strings from Paul Buckmaster.

Ranging from world-weary, chamber-orchestrated songs of nostalgia and regret, via dazzingly complex and impressionistic guitar instrumentals a la Bert Jansch, to proto-glam rock ‘n roll and conga-assisted stoner jams, it’s one of those records that both demands and abundantly rewards deep immersion. At times it’s reminiscent of nothing so much as early Bowie, and tellingly it was produced by Gus Dudgeon soon after he’d worked on ‘Space Oddity’.

LITA’s reissue represents the first time Fully Qualified Survivor has ever been released on CD in the States, and the first vinyl reissue anywhere in over 20 years. More information and audio clips here.



Tracklist:
1. Aviator
2. Naked Ladies & Electric Ragtime
3. Stranger In The Room
4. Postcards of Scarborough
5. Fishbeard Sunset
6. Soulful Lady
7. Rabbit Hills
8. March Rain
9. Kodak Ghosts
10. Andru’s Easy Rider
11. Trinkets & Rings