The Graeme Edge Band Featuring Adrian Gurvitz - Kick Off Your Muddy Boots (1975 uk, marvellous soft prog rock with plenty of fluid electric guitar workouts, 2009 remaster)

A solo album from a drummer is rarely cause to celebrate, for invariably it arrives stillborn. But Kick Off Your Muddy Boots is a solo set from Moody Blues' skin basher Graeme Edge in name only, and instead is really a showcase for the Gurvitz brothers, or more precisely singer/guitarist Adrian. Edge contributed only three songs to his set; the dreamy "Lost in Space," the introspective "Have You Ever Wondered," and dramatic "Somethin' We'd Like to Say," providing very tentative links to the Blues' own sound. The rest of the album, composed by Adrian Gurvitz, goes very much its own way. 

The fabulously funky instrumental "The Tunnel" flies furthest from the mothership, while a guesting Ginger Baker edges Edge into the shadows on the Chicago blues spectacular "Gew Janna Woman," the set's apotheosis. "My Life's Not Wasted" is nearly as epic, meandering from funk to blues, soul to orchestral overkill in one fell swoop. 

Swinging from the C&W-tinged rocker "Shotgun" to the sunny California-styled "Bareback Rider," Muddy Boots treads into as many musical pastures as possible, with the bonus "We Like to Do It" (the band's 1974 single) tossing ragtime into the mix. Keyboardist Mickey Gallagher provides excellent work throughout, his lovely soundscapes and delicate melody lines providing a perfect foil to Gurvitz's soaring leads and hefty riffs. The rhythm section is strong of course, but in the end, this is Gurvitz and Gallagher's show from start to finish, and what a show it is. 

by Dave Thompson

Tracks

1. Bareback Rider (Adrian Gurvitz) - 5:15

2. In Dreams (Adrian Gurvitz) - 5:13

3. Lost In Space (Graeme Edge) - 4:28

4. Have You Ever Wondered (Graeme Edge) - 5:10 

5. My Life's Not Wasted (Adrian Gurvitz) - 2:59

6. The Tunnel  (Adrian Gurvitz, Graeme Edge, Paul Gurvitz) - 2:06

7. Gew Janna Woman (Adrian Gurvitz) - 4:15

8. Shotgun (Adrian Gurvitz) - 4:10

9. Somethin' We'd Like To Say (Graeme Edge) -  3:32   

10.We Like To Do It (Adrian Gurvitz, Graeme Edge) - 4:02

Musicians

*Graeme Edge -- Drums, Percussion

*Mickey Gallagher -- Keyboards, Backing Vocals

*Adrian Gurvitz (aka Arian Curtis) -- Vocals, Lead Guitar

*Paul Gurvitz -- Bass, Backing Vocals

*Jorge J. "Jay Jay" Bell - Orchestral Arrangements 

*Martyn Ford - Orchestral Arrangements 

*Ginger Baker - Drums

*Barry St. John - Backing Vocals

*Brian Parrish - Backing Vocals

*Joanne Williams - Backing Vocals

*Lesly Ducan - Backing Vocals

*Ray Thomas - Backing Vocals

*Ruby James - Backing Vocals

*Sunny Leslie - Backing Vocals

*Nicky James - Backing Vocals

Related Acts

1964-66  The Moody Blues - The Magnificent Moodies (2014 anniversary deluxe double disc edition)  

1965-67 The Knack - Time Time Time (2007 release)
1968  Gun - Gun
1969  Gun - Gunsight (Japan 2008 remaster)
1971-72  Parrish And Gurvitz - The Parrish And Gurvitz Band (2006 remaster)
1971  Three Man Army - A Third Of A Lifetime
1974  Three Man Army - Two (Japan SHM remaster)

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