Ariel was an Australian progressive rock band based around the duo Mike Rudd and Bill Putt, who formed the band in 1973 after the breakup of their previous group Spectrum (which also performed under the alter-ego Indelible Murtceps). The original Ariel line-up was Rudd (guitar, harmonica, vocals), Putt (bass), Tim Gaze (guitar), Nigel Macara (drums) and John Mills (keyboards). Gaze and Macara were recruited from seminal Australian progressive rock band Tamam Shud.The band released three studio albums and two live albums between 1973 and 1977, during which there were several line-up changes, with Rudd and Putt the only permanent members. Other members of Ariel included guitarists Harvey James and Glyn Mason and keyboard player Tony Slavich.Their debut album A Strange Fantastic Dream, produced by Peter Dawkins was released on EMI's progressive label Harvest in December 1973 and reached #12 on the Australian LP charts in February 1974. It included their most successful single "Jamaican Farewell", which peaked at #34, its success hampered by lack of airplay, especially in Sydney, although it impressed the industry enough to win the FACB 'Single Of The Year'. According to the liner notes for the CD release of the album, there were calls to ban the LP because of its psychedelic cover artwork by Stephen Nelson, which included a figure holding a hypodermic syringe. Airplay for the LP was further hindered by the banning of three songs (the darkly satirical "Confessions Of A Psychotic Cowpoke", "Medicine Man" and "Chicken Shit") by the commercial radio industry's self-regulatory body in Australia, the FACB. Critical reception to A Strange Fantastic Dream was glowing.- ALBUM INFORMATION:Tracks:All tracks by Vincent Crane except where noted.01. Time Take My Life - 5:5902. Stand By Me - 3:4603. Little Bit Of Inner Air (Ric Parnell) - 2:3904. Don't Know What Went Wrong - 3:5805. Never To Lose (Steve Bolton) - 3:1506. Introduction/Breathless - 5:1507. Space Cowboy (Steve Bolton) - 3:1808. People You Can't Trust - 3:5109. All In Satan's Name (Ric Parnell) - 4:4310. Close Your Eyes - 3:47Bonuses:11. Stand By Me (BBC Radio Session 1972) - 3:2312. Breakthrough (BBC Radio Session 1972) (Vincnt Crane/Pat Darnell) - 3:0613. Save Me (BBC Radio Session 1972) - 3:4114. Close Your Eyes (BBC Radio Session 1972) - 2:3915. Stand By Me (BBC In Concert Paris Theatre, 1972) - 5:0016. People You Can't Trust (BBC In Concert Paris Theatre, 1972) - 4:3817. All In Satan's Name (BBC In Concert Paris Theatre, 1972) (Ric Parnell) - 4:0418. Devil's Answer (BBC In Concert Paris Theatre, 1972) (John Du Cann) - 7:10Personnel (original album):- Vincent Crane - Hammond organ, piano, ARP synthesizer- Chris Farlowe - vocals- Steve Bolton - guitars- Ric Parnell - drums, percussion, vocals (03)+- Bill Smith - bass (02)- Doris Troy, Liza Strike - backing vocals (02,08)