This album was just about to be released when it was shelved. However, some copies had already been sold in Italy and are now very rare.
The "Sly Willie" single was released in January 1971.
Vinyl LP reissued November 23, 2010
Is available on CD only inside a 4 disc box set called "Ember Rock" which contains 4 albums on the Ember label enclosed in LP minuture CD sleeves.
From the Ember Rock box set liner notes:
Blue Beard was essentially a studio project involving musicians of Australian, Irish, Indonesian, Dutch and Indian origin. Recorded at Durium Studio, Milan, the album was produced by two Americans. Thurman Binkley and Robert Welch, who co-wrote the majority of the material, and - judging by the sleeve photos - also chipped in on piano and acoustic guitar respectively. Signed to Ember in January 1971, just one single emerged (EMB S 302). Sly Willy is a fine slice of funky rock. Released in different picture sleeves in various European territories, the single is now worth about £20. An Ember catalogue number (NR 5054) was allocated to the album, but it never materialised, only appearing to have been issued in Italy. This is now worth about £300, in the rare event of a mint original surfacing.
Thurman went on to contribute to a 1975 film, while Bob Welch was soon a member of the US-based Fleetwood Mac, proving to be a mainstay of the band through their rocky patch until 1975. Thereafter, Welch enjoyed success both in rock trio Paris and as a solo artist (including the million-selling album French Kiss). This is the first time the Blue Beard album has been released on CD, and we were able to master from tapes.