Trading Places presents a reissue of Steel Mill’s legendary debut album, Green Eyed God, originally released in 1972.

Formed in Wandsworth, South London in the late 1960s, Steel Mill emerged from the collaboration between singer/keyboardist David Morris and saxophonist/flautist John Challenger (formerly of The Garret Singers). With the addition of Terry Williams (guitar), Derek Chandler (bass), and Colin Short (drums), the band crafted a distinctive sound that stood apart from the prevailing British blues scene — a blend of pastoral prog, haunting melodies, and occasional hard-rock power.

After a year of rehearsals and a handful of gigs, Steel Mill recorded demos in April 1970 before entering Marquee Studios with producer John Schroeder (The Shadows, Status Quo) to cut their debut single “Green Eyed God.” Released on Penny Farthing Records in 1971, the track reached No. 51 in the UK and No. 17 in Germany, hinting at the band’s underground potential.

Recording sessions for a full-length album followed at Delane Lea Studios, featuring a revised rhythm section with Jeff Watts on bass and Chris “The Rat” Martin on drums. However, Penny Farthing declined to issue the LP in Britain, leading to its original release in Germany via Bellaphon Records. It would take another three years before the album finally saw a UK release, by which point Steel Mill had shifted toward a more glam-oriented sound.

Despite its turbulent history, Green Eyed God remains an overlooked gem of early British progressive rock — an atmospheric, imaginative, and powerful statement from one of the era’s most intriguing underground bands.

Essential for fans of: early prog, heavy psych, and the classic British underground sound.

Tracklist:
1. Blood Runs Deep (5:19)
2. Summers Child (4:24)
3. Majo and the Laying of the Witch (7:52)
4. Treadmil (4:00)
5. Green Eyed God (9:51)
6. Turn the Page Over (3:56)
7. Black Jewel of the Forest (6:13)
8. Har Fleur (0:45)