Spectral Mornings is the third release and the second post-Genesis album by guitarist Steve Hackett. This is also the first recording to feature Hackett's first true touring band, consisting of his brother John Hackett on flute, guitar and bass pedals, long-time collaborator keyboardist Nick Magnus, bassist/vocalist Dik Cadbury, drummer John Shearer and vocalist Peter Hicks. Lead vocals are provided by Hicks with harmonies by Hackett & Cadbury. Hackett himself sings lead on "The Ballad of the Decomposing Man".
This is the second album that Hackett used a Roland GR-500 Guitar Synthesizer for. It can be heard on two tracks: "The Virgin and the Gypsy" and "Tigermoth".
In 2005, Spectral Mornings was remastered and re-released on Virgin Records. The new edition features updated liner notes and seven bonus tracks.
Note: "The Janitor" was a hidden joke-track that had appeared on some early CD copies of the album. It features the vocalist Peter Hicks, here as a studio cleaner, being angry with the musicians about the mess that they made working in the studio.
| Track | Duration |
|---|---|
| Every Day | 6:14 |
| The Virgin and the Gypsy | 4:28 |
| The Red Flower of Tachai Blooms Everywhere | 2:06 |
| Clocks - The Angel of Mons | 4:15 |
| The Ballad of the Decomposing Man | 3:49 |
| Lost Time in Cordoba | 4:05 |
| Tigermoth | 7:34 |
| Spectral Mornings | 6:37 |
| Every Day (alternate mix) | 7:08 |
| The Virgin and the Gypsy (alternate mix) | 4:26 |
| Tigermoth (alternate mix) | 3:19 |
| The Ballad of the Decomposing Man (alternate mix) | 4:23 |
| Clocks - The Angel of Mons (single version) | 3:37 |
| Live Acoustic Set: Etude in A minor / Blood on the Rooftops / Horizons / Kim | 5:39 |
| Tigermoth (live) | 3:58 |
| Lost Time in Cordoba | 4:05 |
