Hinkley’s finest moment came with the second Jody Grind album Far Canal, launched in June 1970 next to Pete Gavin and future Hummingbird guitarist Bernie Holland who had started out in the early days with Bluesology, Patto and Ferris Wheel.The classical motif intro “We’ve Had It” spirals like a magician into some ejaculated riffs that make you realise this is no ordinary group. You have to hear the live track “Plastic Shit” recorded at the Roundhouse to understand the capabilities of this nuclear force.
The lengthy workout on the instrumental “Red Worms And Lice” with Bernie’s guitar spurting like hot mercury balanced with the jazzy ”Ballad For Bridget” were astounding. Peter Gavin joined Heads, Hands & Feet and Vinegar Joe while Tim played sessions with Al Stewart, Snafu and Alvin Lee. Bernie Holland went on to play with Van Morrison.
by Shiloh Noone
1. We've Had It (Holland) - 5:07
2. Bath Sister (Hinkley) - 3:29
3. Jump Bed Jed (Holland) - 7:14
4. O Paradiso (Hinkley) - 7:32
5. Plastic Shit (Holland, Hinkley) - 7:19
6. Vegetable Oblivion (Holland) - 2:10
7. Red Worms And Lice (Holland, Hinkley) - 7:22
8. Ballad For Bridget (Hinkley) - 3:40
Jody Grind
*Bernie Holland - Acoustic Guitar, Electric Guitar, Bass Guitar, Vocals
*Pete Gavin - Drums, Percussion
*Tim Hinkley - Organ, Piano, Electric Piano, Vibraphone, Vocals
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The group will suffer two major line-up changes and by late 69, only Hinkley was left from the original group. Bernie Holland guitar & Pete Gavin drums asked to join up.
ReplyDeleteSecond album, Far Canal, was originally released in July 1970, on Transatlantic Records, sounded completely unlike its predecessor. Now the body Hinckley relegated to the background, allowing the full beauty manifest itself Holland. It was through his guitar part, each of the songs sound unlike the creations of his contemporaries. Tim's role is to create a different background is not as strong, but suitable vocals (by the way, he finally completely mastered the bass on the pedals of his Hammond). Stylistically, the album can be described as the most powerful hardovy jazz-rock with a touch of heavy blues. But most importantly, more - musicians finally found his face and to determine the direction. Each of the compositions was in place and not contrasted with the rest of the material,is a more orthodox rock direction, the numerous tracks around 7 minutes being more straightforward in structure and devoid of the brass arrangements which distinguished the first album. The music remains well performed and accomplished, but in general it lacks the spark which propelled the magnificent debut.
Far Canal is made out of nine pieces, four reaching the top length of over 7 minutes - and, incidentally, 2 out of the 4 are candidates for the best piece of this record. Regarding this, the lack of an epic, similar to the one on the debut, is another thing that creates the difference between the albums. Yet it shouldn't demoralize fans, because, as it's structured, Far Canal is powerful, durable and diverse enough. The first thing to notice is how one of these pieces is a live recording - and the quality of the recording is overall very nice. The album starts with Rock 'n' Roll, which I think it's close or even the same with Rock 'n' Roll Man from One Step On. It anyway copies its quality: that of an unimpressive, unrepresentative cover from this band. Past We've had it, who's only special thing is also unusual: classic guitars (instead, a beautiful vocals song), and past the jammy Bath Sister, that combines nonetheless organ rhythms in the vein of Focus with heavier guitar kicks, Jump Bed Jed is much in Jody Grind's style, the vocal part having interesting lyrics but tad negligent choruses, while the improvisation in the middle part is more worth listening to. Paradiso is a success, with its psychedelic organ consuming sound, with the usual dynamic and powerful guitar improvisations, all on a cycling rhythm that at one point turns into a very repetitive, but cool percussion intermezzo. The live song, Plastic Sh*t goes even back more in time, being blues with melodies a la Hendrix. Squeezed between this and another 7 minutes track, Vegetable Oblivion is a rock filler, but has its soft progressiveness. Red Worms And Lice is yet another fine and complex moment, the organ-guitar/rock-psych combination standing again inside the beat of such a nice piece. Far Canal's - and with that, Jody Grind's - last word is a jazzy, relaxed, lifted on a piano melody Ballad For Bridget. The sensible, vanishing ending of this and the album itself is unusual yet good.
Lack of commercial success led the musicians to do session work and leave the team without the development, which is a shame, because on the sidelines they no longer have their full potential.
Gavin then played with Al Stewart and Albert Lee. Holland was a member and HUMMINGBIRD STEALER's WHEEL. But the greatest success was the most popular Hinckley. During his more than thirty-year career, he has worked with musicians such as Roger Chapman, David Coverdale, Mike Patten,Chris Farlowe. He had the honor to work with bands such as Dr. FEELGOOD, HUMBLE PIE, WHITESNAKE, THIN LIZZY, STREETWALKERS, SNAFU, and many others. But under his direct supervision, such a great team as JODY GRIND was no more, and, unfortunately, will not.
.....Jody...Grind...Far...Canal...Replaced.....
ReplyDeleteMany thanks for this album too! :D
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