"Second Album" is the second studio album by the English progressive rock band Curved Air, released in 1971. It reached No. 11 on the UK Albums Chart on October 9, 1971. The single "Back Street Luv" achieved significant success, reaching No. 4 on the UK Singles Chart on August 7, 1971.
Both versions of the album cover feature a rainbow, a nod to Terry Riley's album A Rainbow in Curved Air, from which the band derived their name.
The content and arrangement of Second Album reflected a significant division within Curved Air, which would contribute to the band's breakup the following year. Side A of the album features songs composed by Darryl Way, with some assistance from Ian Eyre, and lyrics by Sonja Kristina. In contrast, Side B comprises compositions by Francis Monkman. Monkman noted, "Basically Darryl and I respect each other’s work, but we don't really see eye-to-eye on most things. And we never really got the co-writing thing together. I wanted to get my first 'epic' together, so it looks like a split forming (at the time of the 'Second Album')."
Unlike their debut album, Second Album was recorded with many of the songs being freshly written and not extensively developed through touring. However, there was an exception with "Young Mother," which originated as a song by Way, Monkman, and Pilkington-Miksa's pre-Curved Air band, Sisyphus. Originally titled "Young Mother in Style," it evolved into the version seen on Second Album partly through new lyrics by Sonja Kristina.
The album's electronic elements were provided by E.M.S. London, the same studio that later recorded two tracks for Curved Air's third album, Phantasmagoria.
