Secret Oyster was actually a continuation from Burnin’ Red Ivanhoe. They split in 1972 after several disagreements over the direction of the band. Vogel was able to use Secret Oyster’s talented musicians, including Bohling of Hurdy Gurdy, and Knudsen, from Coronarias Dans, as a vehicle to explore new avenues in instrumental fusion. He was partly inspired by Weather Report, while also adding Bohling’s amazing lead guitar! Secret Oyster’s debut album was a commercial and artistic success in Denmark. It was also well-received in Scandinavia, and gained recognition in Germany and Great Britain. Vinding, Andersen both left the group despite this. Burnin’ Red Ivanhoe rose again after the appearance of Staehr, with the same lineup as Secret Oyster but with a new musical style. Although “Sea Son”, consolidated their popularity but it was not as good as the first album in terms quality. It was nevertheless quite good jazz-rock. Secret Oyster, a support act for Captain Beefheart in 1975, went on a European tour. However, CBS International decided not to invest in Secret Oyster again that year. “Vidunderlige Kaelling”, a 1975 ballet by Flemming, was the music. Contrary to the other albums, these compositions were much more precise and had almost no improvisation. Secret Oyster did a great job with this task. Their last album, however, was a failed attempt to make music more accessible. Secret Oyster was among the few Danish bands mentioned here that achieved record sales. Their first album is an important record in the history of Danish rock. This is an excerpt from Scented Gardens of the Mind: A guide to the Golden Era of Progressive Rock (1968-1980 in more than 20 European Countries), by Dag Erik Asbjornsen of Borderline Productions ISBN 1-899855-12-2
