"Second Album" is the second studio album by the English progressive rock band Curved Air, released in 1971. It reached No. 11 in the UK Albums Chart on October 9, 1971. The single "Back Street Luv" became a UK Top 10 hit, reaching No. 4 on August 7, 1971.
Both variations of the album cover feature a rainbow, referencing Terry Riley's album A Rainbow in Curved Air, from which the band derived their name.
The content and arrangement of the material on Second Album reflected a significant division within the band, which contributed to their breakup the following year. All the songs on side A were composed by Darryl Way (with some assistance from Ian Eyre) and featured lyrics by Sonja Kristina. In contrast, all the songs on side B were composed by Francis Monkman. Monkman explained that although he and Way respected each other's work, they did not see eye-to-eye on most matters and struggled with co-writing. Monkman aimed to create his first 'epic,' which contributed to the emerging split within the band during the recording of Second Album.
Unlike their first album, Second Album was recorded with most of the songs newly written and not extensively developed through touring. An exception to this is "Young Mother," which originated as a song by Way, Monkman, and Pilkington-Miksa's previous band, Sisyphus. Initially titled "Young Mother in Style," it evolved into its form on Second Album partly through new lyrics by Sonja Kristina.
The electronics used on the album were provided by E.M.S. London, which later became the recording site for two tracks on Curved Air's third album, Phantasmagoria.
