Monday, March 10, 2025

rep> Crazy Mabel - Crazy Mabel (1971 uk, stunning blues rock with progressive mood)



British sextet released in 1971 their sole album (a live recording) only in Germany and Netherlands. A heavy psych blues rock with jazz and progressive touch, from excellent musicians like Mike Connell on guitar, Allan Spriggs on vocals and Geoff Leigh (form Henry Cow fame) on saxes and flute. A kaleidoscope of emotive vocals and masterful instrumentals, their music paints a vivid tapestry of a bygone era, where innovation meets the raw essence of rock rebellion.
Tracks
1. Intro Talking - Crazy Mabel - 3:20
2. Keep On Rolling - 3:40
3. Driving Song (Ian Anderson) - 3:58
4. Beat Goes On (Sonny Bono) - 6:40
5. Rag And Bone Man - 4:55
6. It´s Alright Ma, It's Only Witchcraft (Tyger Hutchings, Richard Thompson) - 4:51
7. You´ve Never Had It - 4:39
8. Sleepy Feeling - 4:27
9. Tea Time - 3:57
10.Splitting - 4:48 
All compositions by Mick Connell except  where noted.

Crazy Mabel
*Mick Connell - Lead Guitar
*Jim Sullivan - Bass
*Les Cirkle - Drums
*Alan Spriggs - Vocals
*Geoff Leigh - Saxophone, Flute
*Bryn Collinson - Tenor Saxophone
with
*Tom Parker - Piano

rep> Purple Image - Purple Image (1970 us, strong blend of soul funk and psych rock, 2004 edition)



Though African-American and raised in the predominantly Black 105th Superior area of Cleveland, Purple Image played rock -- psychedelic, mind-bending, pass-the-bong, strobe-light, posters-on-the-wall head music. 

This obscure album recorded on Map Records has risen to the status of cult because of its scarcity and the musical orientation of Warren Adams (vocals, piano, organ), Kenneth Roberts (vocals, rhythm), William Adams (vocals, conga), Frank Smith (lead guitar), Del Moran (bass), Richard Payne (drums), and lone female Diane Dunlap (vocals); Edward Snodgrass, a non-member, augmented P.I. on sax. 

Purple Image wrote everything except the LP's masterpiece, the 15-minute, 24-second rendition of Bob Craig's "Marching to a Different Drummer." As with all six selections, Purple Image sounds better when the volume is cranked. "Drummer" is an energetic, powerful blend of acid rock and fusion; Snodgrass blows a frantic Coltrane-ish sax, and Dunlap wails like she slammed her hand in a door. 

"We Got to Pull Together" is an airy, charming, socially significant ballad that urges us to become color-blind, forget the past, and get along. Snodgrass plays a tender horn while a male does a convincing lead wallpapered by some arresting, swooping harmonies. On "Living In the Ghetto," they sing about the woes of poverty; if you like heavy metal, this and "Why" will tickle your fancy. "Lady" features Dunlap and a male on an upbeat rock-blues number. 

The back cover pictures P.I. posing under the now-defunct Liberty Theater marquee in mod-type clothing. The front cover features a slim, pretty, Afro-wearing Black woman with three arms holding three globes surrounded by clouds.
by Andrew Hamilton
Tracks
1. Living In The Ghetto - 6:32
2. Why - 4:37
3. Lady - 3:37
4. We Got To Pull Together (Frank Smith) - 3:35
5. Whey You Do To Me - 3:32
6. Marching To A Different Drummer - 15:24
All songs by Purple Image unless as else written.

Purple Image
*Del Moran - Bass
*Diane Dunlap - Vocals
*Frank Smith - Guitar
*Kenneth Roberts - Vocals
*Richard Payne - Drums
*Warren Adams - Organ, Piano, Vocals
*William Adams - Conga, Vocals