I Can See Your House from Here

Recording

Work started on the album in summer 1979, collaborating with producer Rupert Hine, at the Farmyard Studios in Little Chalfont. The process also took place in an Elizabethan country house, a residential recording studio that suited the band well. The orchestral overdubs were added at London's AIR Studios. Mel Collins (who also worked with Caravan) contributed to the band's sound on the saxophone, while Genesis' drummer/vocalist Phil Collins was chosen to play percussion. Andy Latimer was pleased with the end product, saying Hine "was great fun to work with, he was really up and zappy. I enjoyed making that record. We did it rather quickly and it wasn't a lengthy production."

The album was released in mid-October 1979. It spent three weeks in the chart in late October and early November, reaching No. 45. An accompanying single was planned, but shelved. Instead a maxi single containing an edited version of Andy Latimer and Kit Watkins "Remote Romance" was backed with "Rainbow's End" from Breathless (1978) and a Camel / Mick Glossop production of "Tell Me", first released on Rain Dances (1977). It did not reach the charts. The single "Your Love is Stranger than Mine" / "Neon Magic" followed in February 1980.

Cover artwork

At the time of the recording one of the somewhat popular jokes in England concerned crucifixion. Its punchline had Jesus nailed to the cross stating to his beckoned apostle Peter, "I can see your house from here." This made such an impression on the band that they decided to develop an outer space theme adaption based on the joke for the sleeve of the album.

Tour

The world tour began on 8 October at The Dome, Brighton, England, following France, Germany, Sweden, Norway, Belgium, Spain and ended on 29 January 1980 in Koseinenkin Hall of Tokyo, Japan.

Track listing

1. "Wait" (Andrew Latimer, John McBurnie) – 5:02
2. Andrew Latimer – guitar, backing vocals
3. Kit Watkins – Yamaha electric grand and Rhodes electric pianos, Hammond C3 organ, Solina and Moog synthesizers
4. Jan Schelhaas – Yamaha electric grand piano, Yamaha CS-80, Prophet-5 and Moog synthesizers
5. Colin Bass – bass, lead vocals
6. Andy Ward – drums
7. "Your Love Is Stranger Than Mine" (Colin Bass, Latimer, Jan Schelhaas, Andy Ward) – 3:26
8. Andrew Latimer – guitar, backing vocals
9. Kit Watkins – Prophet-5 synthesizer
10. Jan Schelhaas – Yamaha electric grand piano, Minimoog
11. Colin Bass – bass, lead vocals
12. Andy Ward – drums
13. Mel Collins – alto saxophone
14. "Eye of the Storm" (Kit Watkins) – 3:52 – this was an updated version of a track that Watkins had played with his previous band Happy the Man
15. Andrew Latimer – guitar
16. Kit Watkins – Hohner Clavinet, flute, Solina and Moog synthesizers
17. Colin Bass – fretless Wal bass
18. Andy Ward – massed marching military snares
19. "Who We Are" (Latimer) – 7:52
20. Andrew Latimer – guitar, lead vocals, flute, autoharp
21. Kit Watkins – Solina and Moog synthesizers
22. Jan Schelhaas – grand piano
23. Colin Bass – bass, backing vocals
24. Andy Ward – drums
25. Simon Jeffes – orchestral arrangements

5. "Survival" (Latimer) – 1:12
6. Simon Jeffes – orchestral arrangements
7. Gavin Wright – leader of the orchestra
8. "Hymn to Her" (Latimer, Schelhaas) – 5:37
9. Andrew Latimer – guitar, lead vocals, flute, autoharp
10. Kit Watkins – Hohner Clavinet, Hammond C3 organ, Solina and Moog synthesizers
11. Jan Schelhaas – grand piano
12. Colin Bass – bass, backing vocals
13. Andy Ward – drums
14. "Neon Magic" (Latimer, Viv McAuliffe, Schelhaas) – 4:39
15. Andrew Latimer – guitar, lead vocals
16. Kit Watkins – Hammond C3 organ, Yamaha CS-80 and Solina synthesizers
17. Jan Schelhaas – Yamaha electric grand piano, Solina, Yamaha CS-80 and Moog synthesizers
18. Colin Bass – bass
19. Andy Ward – drums
20. "Remote Romance" (Latimer, Watkins) – 4:07
21. Andrew Latimer – guitar
22. Kit Watkins – Hohner Clavinet, Yamaha CS-80 and Moog synthesizers, EMS sequenceer
23. Jan Schelhaas – EMS sequencer
24. Andy Ward – drums, percussion, loops
25. "Ice" (Latimer) – 10:17
26. Andrew Latimer – guitar
27. Kit Watkins – Yamaha electric grand and Rhodes electric pianos, Hammond C3 organ, Solina and Moog synthesizers
28. Jan Schelhaas – grand piano
29. Colin Bass – bass
30. Andy Ward – drums

10. "Remote Romance" (Single version)
11. "Ice" (Live 1981) – 7:15

Personnel