Description
Colosseum – Those Who Are About To Die, Salute You – Gold Vinyl Record
750 Numbered Copies On Gold Vinyl
A Groundbreaking Fusion of Jazz, Rock, and Classical Influences
Released in March 1969, Those Who Are About to Die Salute You marked the powerful debut of British progressive jazz-rock band Colosseum, one of the most innovative and genre-defying groups to emerge from the late 1960s music scene. Combining the improvisational freedom of jazz with the raw energy of rock, Colosseum crafted a bold, complex sound that pushed the boundaries of what rock music could be. This album is widely recognized as one of the earliest and most influential examples of British jazz fusion, laying the groundwork for the progressive and jazz-rock movements that would follow in the early 1970s.
The album’s title is a reference to the Latin phrase “Ave, Imperator, morituri te salutant,” reportedly used by gladiators before combat in ancient Rome—a fitting metaphor for the musical daring Colosseum brought to the studio. The lineup featured some of the most accomplished players on the British scene: Jon Hiseman (drums), Dave Greenslade (organ), Dick Heckstall-Smith (saxophones), James Litherland (guitar and vocals), and Tony Reeves (bass), with additional trumpet from Henry Lowther. Each member brought deep experience from British blues, R&B, and jazz scenes (many had worked with Graham Bond, John Mayall, and other icons), which contributed to the album’s sophisticated yet visceral sound.
Those Who Are About to Die Salute You is a tightly wound showcase of virtuosity and ensemble precision. It opens with the high-octane “Walking in the Park,” a Graham Bond composition that hits with immediacy—brassy horns, heavy organ, and punchy rhythms—immediately establishing Colosseum’s identity as both technically proficient and emotionally resonant. One of the most intriguing tracks, “Beware the Ides of March,” stands out for its daring blend of classical and jazz elements, incorporating the fugue theme from Johann Sebastian Bach’s Toccata and Fugue in D minor (BWV 565) into a haunting rock-jazz arrangement. This blend of baroque counterpoint and modern instrumentation epitomizes the kind of fearless experimentation that made late-’60s progressive music so compelling.
The title track, “Those About to Die,” is another highlight, featuring intricate time signatures, hard-driving rhythms, and sharp instrumental interplay that never falls into self-indulgence. Each member is given space to shine without derailing the song’s momentum—a rare feat in early fusion. Throughout the album, the chemistry between Greenslade’s swirling Hammond organ, Heckstall-Smith’s gritty saxophones, and Hiseman’s explosive drumming remains palpable.
From a historical standpoint, Those Who Are About to Die Salute You is significant for arriving at a pivotal moment in British music. Just as the psychedelic wave was receding and hard rock was on the rise, Colosseum carved a niche for themselves, blending jazz complexity with the power of rock and the ambition of classical music. While bands like Soft Machine and Nucleus would explore similar terrain in the years that followed, Colosseum’s debut set a high bar in terms of compositional ambition and instrumental execution. The album reached #15 on the UK Albums Chart in May 1969, an impressive feat for such a genre-defying record.
For fans of early progressive rock, jazz fusion, or British psychedelia, Those Who Are About to Die Salute You is essential listening. It captures a moment when rock musicians were unafraid to borrow from jazz, classical, and blues traditions to create something entirely new. If you’re discovering Colosseum for the first time, this debut album is the perfect entry point—and a thrilling ride from beginning to end. Follow it up with their 1969 masterpiece Valentyne Suite, or explore contemporaries like Nucleus’s Elastic Rock (1970) to dive deeper into the rich world of British jazz-rock.
Brand new, never played and still sealed in the factory plastic
Track Listing
Walking In The Park
Plenty Hard Luck
Mandarin
Debut
Beware The Ides Of March
The Road She Walked Before
Backwater Blues
Those About To Die
