Red Queen to Gryphon Three is only available coupled with the Raindance album on the same disc, but it has stood the test of time as an excellent progressive rock piece. The album centers around a game of chess, with each track around ten minutes in length. The symphonic structure of the movements intricately combine rich textured strings with medieval horns, reminiscent of 16th century England. The keyboards bridge together certain passages with just the right intensity so that they keep from modernizing the album's feel. While some progressive rock can seem over the top or contrived, Gryphon mixes subtlety with diversity to formulate beautiful streamline music. The use of the bassoon and krumhorn gives this album depth and a profound musical element not found in other bands of the same nature. The tempos and accents express moods that are structured for each piece precisely, such as the brainstorming arrangements in "Opening Move" and the victorious finale heard throughout "Checkmate," the last song on the album. The absence of vocals lets the music carry extra weight, enhancing the vision of the chessboard in the mind's eye. ~ Mike DeGagne, All Music Guide
Richard Harvey (Wind), Graeme Taylor (Group Member), Roger Perry (Photography), David Oberle (Drums), Richard Harvey (Group Member), Richard Harvey (Crumhorn), Richard Harvey (Keyboards), Richard Harvey (Krummhorn), Pete Redding (Guitar), Brian Gulland (Crumhorn), David Oberle (Percussion), Pete Redding (Bass), Malcolm Bennett (Bass), Richard Harvey (Engineer), Philip Nestor (Bass), Brian Gulland (Krummhorn), Ann Sullivan (Art Direction), David Oberle (Group Member), Pete Redding (Bass (Acoustic)), Graeme Taylor (Guitar), Brian Gulland (Group Member), Ernest Hart (Organ), Brian Gulland (Horn), Brian Gulland (Recorder), Dave Grinsted (Engineer), David Oberle (Tympani [Timpani]), Dan Pearce (Illustrations), Graeme Taylor (Liner Notes), Richard Harvey (Horn), Philip Nestor (Group Member), Gryphon (Producer), Dave Grinsted (Producer), Philip Nestor (Guitar (Bass)), Dan Pearce (Cover Design), Brian Gulland (Bassoon), Gryphon (Arranger), Robert Ellis (Photography), Richard Harvey (Recorder)
Red Queen to Gryphon Three is the third studio album made by the band Gryphon. The album was released on Transatlantic Records in the UK with a blue cover, while Bell Records released the album in Canada with a black cover.
