Babe Ruth - First Base / Amar Caballero (1972-73 uk, stunning hard prog rock with brass parts)

Babe Ruth was formed in 1970 and went on to make three impressive albums and several singles, for the Harvest record label. Their musical style was an engaging blend of hard rock, soul, and progressive and jazz rock, marked out by Alan Shacklock’s flammable guitar work, and arranging skills, and Janita ‘Jenny’ Haan’s powerful soaring vocals. They were a remarkable band in many ways, that deserved considerably more recognition, for what was a unique and expansive musical style.

First Base was their stunning 1972 debut album. Opening track Wells Fargo, is a stomping rock song, with some splendid soul aspects, supplied by Brent Carter’s saxes. The rhythm section of Dick Powell on drums and bassist Dave Hewitt adds some thumping propulsion to the song, while Gaspar Lawal adds some subtle rhythmic accents on the congas. Add into the mix, Alan Shacklock’s staccato guitar riff and Janita Haan’s superb soulful vocal, and you have the complete rock classic. The liquid guitar solo is the icing on the cake of this striking album opener. 

The following track, The Runaways, begins with Dave Punshon’s gentle piano chords and Harry Mier’s undulating oboe. Janita Haan’s jazz like vocal phrases float over a haunting and elegiac cello quartet. The instrumental section melds the cello’s, with cymbal driven percussion, and Dave Punshon’s quite beautiful piano refrain, which he later punctuates with some sparkling solo playing. This is seven minutes plus of gorgeous music, with the oboe and string arrangements put together by the very talented Alan Shacklock.

Then we move onto Babe Ruth’s dazzling interpretation of the Frank Zappa classic King Kong, originally to be heard in multiple versions on The Mothers of Invention, Uncle Meat album. While respectfully retaining many of the elements in Zappa’s original, it adds in a jazz rock sheen, with the guitar and electric piano to the fore, and a driving blues backbeat. The piano and guitar solos are fast and inventive. It is a very good interpretation indeed. Black Dog is another inventive cover, this time of a Jesse Winchester song, where Janita Haan’s vocal becomes like another solo instrument in the band, spiralling upwards and driving the song forward.  Dave Punshon delivers another stunning piano solo, that is full of syncopated lush melodies. 

The Mexican, tells the story of The Alamo, from the Mexican soldier’s perspective, and includes an excerpt from Ennio Morricone’s For A Few Dollar’s More. It has a cool dance beat and was re-recorded in 1984 by John “Jellybean’ Benitez, with Janita Haan providing new vocals, and becoming a dancefloor hit in the process. The final track on the album, Joker, has the band returning to the hard rocking style of Wells Fargo, accompanied by Alan Shacklock’s most stinging guitar workout. 

Across the tracks on this debut album, Babe Ruth demonstrated a wide range of musical reference points, strong songwriting and interpretive musical skills, aligned with great musicianship, and Janita Haan’s incredible vocal range. It is a rock classic that deserves to be heard and appreciated much more than it was on its release in 1972, and hence the space given to reflecting on its merits in this review.  

The sophomore follow-up album, Amar Caballero, is of similar musical range and richness. By this time the line-up had changed a little, with Ed Spevock coming in on drums, and Chris Holmes playing keyboards on part of the album.  At the core of the album is the three-part title track. The first section, El Caballero de la Reina Isabella, was written by Janita Haan and Alan Shacklock, and has a very evocative lyric by Janita Haan, which is sung with a wonderfully poetical and storytelling voice. Alan Shacklock’s Hombre de la Guitarra section, includes some very fast-paced classical guitar playing, underpinned by Ed Spevock and Gaspar Lawal’s, inspirational drums and conga shuffle.  The final section, El Testament De ‘Amelia, is based on Miguel Llobet’s arrangement of this traditional song. Alan Shacklock’s playing has a gentle rising and falling, creating a meditative and open soundstage. 

Other key album highlights include Broken Cloud, cowritten by Alan Shacklock and Janita Haan. It is a quite beautiful ballad, orchestrated with horns and strings by Alan Shacklock. Janita Haan’s voice here is it at its very best, sometimes whispered, and understated, and at other times ascending with incredible power. A raucous cover of the Capitols classic rhythm and blues track, Cool Jerk, is led by Ed Spevock’s meticulous funk-driven drumming. Janita Haan’s delivery of the lead and backing vocals, aligned with the rolling piano accompaniment of Dave Punshon, creates a fantastic soulful performance. 

by Gareth Allen, 4th July 2022

Tracks

1. Wells Fargo (Alan Shacklock) - 6:16

2. The Runaways (Alan Shacklock, David Whiting) - 7:28

3. King Kong (Frank Zappa) - 6:46

4. Black Dog (Jesse Winchester) - 8:04

5. The Mexican / For A Few Dollars More - 5:48

.a. The Mexican (Alan Shacklock)

.b. For A Few Dollars More (Ennio Morricone)

6. Joker (Alan Shacklock) - 7:43

7. Lady (Alan Shacklock, Janita Haan) - 3:37

8. Broken Cloud (Alan Shacklock) - 3:57

9. Gimme Some Leg (Alan Shacklock, Janita Haan) - 6:01

10.Baby Pride (Alan Shacklock, Janita Haan) - 3:50

11.Cool Jerk (Donald Storball) - 2:27

12.We Are Holding On (Alan Shacklock) - 3:26

13.Doctor Love (Alan Shacklock) - 3:00

14.Amar Caballero (Sin Ton Ni Son) - 9:19

.a. El Caballero De La Reina Isabella (Alan Shacklock, Janita Haan)

.b. Hombre De La Guitarra (Alan Shacklock)

.c. El Testament De N'Amelia (Traditional)

Tracks 1-6 from LP "First Base" 1972

Tracks 7-14 from LP "Amar Caballero" 1973

Babe Ruth

1972 First Base

*Janita "Jennie" Haan - Vocals, Castanets (Track 5)

*Alan Shacklock - Acoustic, Electric Guitars, Hammond Organ, Percussion, Vocals

*Dave Hewitt - Bass Guitar

*Dave Punshon - Electric Piano, Keyboards

*Dick Powell - Drums, Percussion

With

*Gasper Lawal - Conga, Bongo, Cabasa

*Brent Carter - Saxophone

*Harry Mier - Oboe

*Peter Halling - Cello

*Clive Anstee - Cello

*Manny Fox - Cello

*Boris Rickleman - Cello

*Jeff Allen - Drums (Track 2)

1973 Amar Caballero

*Janita Haan - Lead Vocals

*Alan Shacklock - Guitars, Celesta, Electric Piano, Organ, Mellotron, Percussion, Tambourine, Vocals, Orchestration, Strings Conductor

*Chris Holmes - Keyboards, Organ 

*Dave Hewitt - Bass, Fuzz Bass 

*Ed Spevock - Drums, Percusion, Timpani 

With:

*Dave Punshon - Electric Piano (Track 1), Grand Piano (Track 5)

*Dave White - Flute (Track 1)

*Steve Gregory - Flute (Track 1)

*Brian Warren - Flute (Track 2)

*Jack Ellory - Flute (Track 2)

*Duncan Lamont - Flute (Track 6)

*Keith Christie - Trombone (Track 1)

*Ray Premru - Trombone (Track 1)

*Ray Harris - Trumpet (Track 1), Flugelhorn (Track 2)

*Bud Beadle - Baritone Sax (Track 5)

*Steve Gregory - Tenor Sax (Tracks 5,7)

*Ron Carthy - Trumpet (Tracks 5,7)

*John Georgiadis - Violin, String Section Leader (Tracks 1,2)

*Raymond Vincent - Violin (Track 6)

*Gaspar Lawal - Percussion (Tracks 1,3), Congas (Track 7), Vocals (Track 3)

*Nick Mobbs - Tambourine (Track 6)

*Angelito Perez - Congas, Cowbell, Vocals (Track 8)

*Chris Bushen - Backing Vocals (Track 4) 

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A-Austr - Musics From Holyground (1970 uk, delicate multicolored psychedelia, 2005 edition)

With an issue of only 99 copies, this is one of the rarest records to emerge from the UK that contains some interesting music. The elaborate packaging and the general care which went into the record betray, if nothing else, at least a heartfelt love of recorded music as a means of self-expression. Being a low-budget enterprise, a fact which is never really masked throughout the production, A-Austr went for diversity rather than sales figures. The music is strongly eclectic, with more influences than can be listed. No less than 15 tracks within a broad spectrum of styles can hardly be unanimously satisfying. 

In general the music is gentle and even folky, without drawing upon traditional material. At its best it's nothing less than brilliant, though in an unobtrusive sort of way. These highlights include almost all the songs which do not try to be "progressive" or severely emotional, but which instead opt for a simpler approach, thereby succeeding to convey a subtle and almost mythical atmosphere. As soon as the instrumentation gets denser, the sound tends to clog up or even becomes chaotic, being charming still, but nothing more than that. Definitely a very interesting record, though it's near to impossible to dig up an original. A few years ago a limited repro was manufactured, which now sells for a collector's price itself and is worth picking up.

by Marcel Koopman

Tracks

1. Bird (Brian Calvert, Mike Levon) - 2:45

2. Judy (Brian Calvert, Mike Levon) - 2:16

3. Mini (Brian Calvert, Mike Levon) - 2:51

4. Prelude To Change For Arthur (Chris Coombs) - 0:10

5. Thumbquake And Earthscrew (Chris Coombs) - 2:47

6. Change For Arthur (Chris Coombs) - 0:39

7. Between The Road (Chris Coombs) - 2:30

8. Hawaiian War Chant (Brian Calvert) - 1:12

9. It's Alright (Brian Calvert, Mike Levon) - 6:45

10.Reprise Of Bird (Excerpt) (Brian Calvert, Mike Levon) - 0:20

11.Essex Queen (She Dances) (Brian Calvert, Mike Levon) - 3:08

12.D Minor Minuet (Brian Calvert) - 1:00

13.A Curse On You (Brian Calvert) - 3:18

14.What Did You Go? (Chris Coombs) - 7:56

15.Grail Search (Chris Coombs) - 4:36

16.Essex Queen (Brian Calvert, Mike Levon) - 2:48

17.Grail Search (Chris Coombs) - 3:34

18.Judy (Brian Calvert, Mike Levon) - 0:46

19.It's Alright (Brian Calvert, Mike Levon) - 6:46

20.Aren't You Glad You Stayed? (Brian Calvert, Mike Levon) - 4:01

Personnel

*Brian Calvert - Guitar 

*Denise Calvert - Vocals

*Yvonne Carrodus - Vocals

*Chris Coombs - Keyboard, Guitar, Vocals, Harmonium, Tambourine, Clapselectric Guitar

*Ted Hepworth - Drums 

*Mike Levon - Saxophone, Drums

*Brian Wilson - Bass 

Related Acts

1965-73  Various Artists – Loose Routes 1, Music From Holyground (2001 release)  

1970-71  Jumble Lane - Jumble Lane

1970-71  Thundermother / Lightyears Away - Astral Navigations 

1970-71  Thundermother - No Red Rowan  

1971  Chris Coombs And The Lightyears Away / Thundermother - Gagalactyca (2000 reissue)  

1973-74  Gygafo - Legend Of The Kingfisher  

1974-75  Blue Epitaph - Ode By Blue Epitaph (2003 edition)

1975  Chick Shannon And The Last Exit Band - Tears On The Console  

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Wally - Valley Gardens (1975 uk, dreamy cool prog rock, 2015 japan SHM remaster)

For their second album Valley Gardens, Nick Glennie-Smith replaced Paul Gerrett on keyboards. This line-up change led to a far more progressive rock sound, although the country and folk influences are still present. The impact of touring with Yes can be noticed as well on the entire album. The bass sounds a lot like Chris Squire's and Rick Wakeman-like synthesizer parts can often be enjoyed like on the strong title track and the epic piece The Reason Why which filled the entire B-side of the original LP. Due to the strong guitar parts and the female backing vocals the influences of the music of Pink Floyd can be heard as well on many compositions. There's even a link with Kansas caused by the use of an electric violin. All in all Valley Gardens is an enjoyable album for devotees of progressive rock. This remastered version contains two bonus tracks as well: strong live versions of the unknown piece Green Room Smiles and from the album track Nez Perce.

Continuously touring finally took its toll and led eventually to a split after which Atlantic decided to cut their losses and pulled the plug. However, only few people know that they kept playing as the backing band of the popular French singer Michel Polnareff during a tour in Japan in 1975. Maybe it's interesting to know what became of the members after they broke up. Well, Roy Webber set up a graphic design company primarily working for Yorkshire Television, but also with the Royal Armouries Museum. Pete Sage went to Germany to work as a sound engineer for the pop group Boney M. Nick Glennie-Smith was proposed to be the potential replacement for Wakeman in Yes, but he went on to be a leading session musician and soundtrack composer. Guitarist Pete Cosker died in 1990 as a consequence of an overdose of heroin. Drummer Roger Narraway metamorphosed into a talented lead guitarist and Paul Middleton retreated to the North Yorkshire Dales, becoming a carpenter and occasionally venturing out to play with Roy Webber in the country rock band Freddie Alva And The Men From Delmonte. He now gigs on a regular basis with his own band The Angst Band, featuring fellow band member Frank Mizen on pedal steel guitar and banjo. Paul Gerrett died of a heart attack in 2008.

After a thirty year hiatus, the surviving members of the original line-up − complemented by Frank Mizen on pedal steel and Will Jackson on guitar − performed to a full house in April 2009 in their home town of Harrogate. A DVD of the concert called That Was Then was released later that year. In February 2010 the band released Montpellier comprising new recordings of demos from the band's earlier incarnation, along with new material by both Webber and Middleton. I was very curious to know how this new album would sound because I liked Wally's second album. However, as soon as I got a copy of the album it turned out that the sound of Montpellier was quite similar to that of their debut album. In a way the overall sound of the new album strongly tends to progressive folk rock, even more than on their debut. The music is still rather strong as you can especially hear on the opening tune Sailor. Even bands like Iona and Clannad crossed my mind while listening to the album, but as one of the song titles already indicates: the Thrill Is Gone.   

A second 'reunion' concert took place in April 2010. Funds from ticket sales were used to erect a permanent memorial for Cosker and Gerrett. A recording of the 2010 reunion was released as a live album called To The Urban Man. A third reunion concert was scheduled for 2011 again in Wally's home town. What the future will bring to this British band is still unknown, but I'm glad that they returned and hopefully, someday, they will release another stunning album like Valley Gardens. Until that moment I'll play their back catalogue on a regular basis. 

by Peter Willemsen

Tracks

1. Valley Gardens (Pete Cosker, Paul Gerrett) - 9:50

2. Nez Perce (Roy Webber) - 5:03

3. The Mood I'm In (Roy Webber) - 7:07

4. The Reason Why - 18:28

.a. Nolan (Roy Webber, Pete Sage) 

.b. The Charge (Pete Sage, Nick Glennie-Smith) 

.c. Disillusion (Roy Webber) 

Wally

*Roy Webber - Lead Vocals, Acoustic Guitar

*Pete Cosker - Lead Electric, Acoustic Guitars, Vocals, Bass Guitar

*Paul Gerrett - Fender Rhodes Electric Piano, Hammond Organ, Mellotron, Harmonium, Grand Piano, Harpsichord, Vocals

*Pete Sage - Electric Violin, Bass Guitar, Mandolin

*Paul Middleton - Lap Steel Guitar, Bass Guitar

*Roger Narraway - Drums, Percussion

1974   Wally - Wally (2015 SHM)   

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CWT - The Hundredweight (1973 uk, heavy brassy bluesy rock)

CWT were an English band who recorded their only album in Hamburg, which was then released on Kuckuck.

They were one of the heaviest acts on the label, which was also known to be the home of Out Of Focus, Armageddon, Murphy Blend and Ihre Kinder.

The band was actually a hard rock trio, but for the album Hundredweight they had reinforcements in the form of Cy Payne, who was responsible for the brass arrangements. This is exactly what gives the band its unique sound.

In addition to the fantastic guitar and vocal work of Graham Jones, the brass section lends the heavy

rock with a touch of Motown soul and a heavy groove.

Tracks

1. Widow Woman - 3:17

2. Take It Slow - 3:49

3. Roly Poly - 4:12

4. Signed D.C (Arthur Lee) - 4:11

5. Steam Roller - 3:57

6. Simon's Effort - 3:03

7. Mind Cage - 3:36

8. Mephistophales - 5:15

All songs by Graham Jones, Peter Kirk, Collin White except where stated

CWT

*Graham Jones - Guitar, Organ

*Peter Kirk - Bass

*Collin White - Drums

With

*Cy Paine - Brass Arrangements

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Harvey Mandel - Feel The Sound (1974 us, fascinating funky bluesy rock, 2016 edition)

One of the world's greatest guitarists in the history of rock n' roll, Harvey Mandel was light years ahead of the competition when he first broke onto the scene in the mid 1960's with Charley Musselwhite's Southside Band, bridging the gap between blues and rock n' roll. A true innovator who sounded like no one else at the time, Mandel played with such notables as Canned Heat, The Rolling Stones, and John Mayall before starting a solo career. Presented here is Mandel's classic 1974 solo album Feel The Sound Of Harvey Mandel, featuring Ray Lester (bass); Victor Conte (bass); Danny Keller (drums); Paul Lagos (drums); Coleman Head (rhythm guitar); Mark Skyer (rhythm guitar) and the original Pure Food And Drug Act band.

Tracks

1. Got To Be Bad (Coleman Head, Victor Conte) - 3:50

2. Sore Throat (Dick Wagner, Mark Skyer, Harvey Mandel) - 2:33

3. Just Wanna Be There (Dick Wagner, Mark Skyer, Harvey Mandel) - 4:26

4. Candles By The Bedside (Dick Wagner, Mark Skyer, Harvey Mandel) - 4:06

5. Feel The Sound (Dick Wagner, Mark Skyer, Harvey Mandel) - 6:01

6. I Got Your Slot (Coleman Head, Harvey Mandel, Victor Conte) - 2:52

7. Rankachank Blues (Harvey Mandel) - 2:49

8. Forever And Forever (Roselyn Mandel) - 2:35

Musicians

*Harvey Mandel - Lead Guitar

*Coleman Head - Rhythm Guitar (Tracks 1,2,6,8)

*Danny Keller - Drums (Tracks 3-5,7,8)

*Victor Conte - Bass, Guitar

*Mark Skyer - Guitars, Vocals (Tracks 3-5,7)

*Paul Lagos - Drums ( (Tracks 1,2,6)

*Ray Lester - Bass (Tracks 3-5,7)

*Richard Martin - Vocals (Track 1)

1968  Harvey Mandel - Cristo Redentor (2003 remaster and expanded)
1969-70  Harvey Mandel - Righteous / Games Guitars Play (2005 remaster)

1971  Harvey Mandel - Baby Batter (2016 remaster)

1971  Harvey Mandel - Get Off In Chicago

1972  Harvey Mandel - The Snake (2016 remaster) 

1972  Pure Food And Drug Act - Choice Cuts (2002 edition)

1973  Harvey Mandel - Shangrenade  
Related Acts
1965-66  The Barry Goldberg Blues Band - Blowing My Mind ..Plus (2003 remaster and expanded)
1967  Charley Musselwhite - Stand Back! Here Comes Charley Musselwhite's Southside Band
1968  The Barry Goldberg Reunion - There's No Hole In My Soul
1969  Barry Goldberg - Two Jews Blues (vinyl edition) 
1967-73  Canned Heat - The Very Best Of (2005 issue with previous unreleased track)
1970  Canned Heat - Future Blues (remastered and expanded) 
1971-72  Canned Heat - Historical Figures And Ancient Heads (extra track remaster issue)
1974  Love - Reel To Reel (2015 deluxe edition)

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Chris Smither - Honeysuckle Dog (1973 us, splendid guitar bluesy rock, 2004 release)

Recorded with producer Michael Cuscuna in two sessions — Woodstock, December 1972, and New York City, Spring 1973 — this was to be Smither’s third album for Poppy. Soon after it was finished, the label folded, parent company United Artists took over the masters, and the album was shelved. The Cambridge-via-New-Orleans guitarist, singer and songwriter subsequently recorded ten of its twelve songs on later albums, but this is the first time Honeysuckle Dog has been released intact. It suggests that with a few breaks labelwise and a less self-destructive personal life, Smither could even then have been a contender, at least on a John Hammond/Ry Cooder level.

On the former, his complex, elegiac fingerpicking style interpolates his own deft instrumental theme with four of the pacific Delta bluesman’s calling-card songs. The latter, with a full band that includes Little Feat’s Lowell George on electric guitar, confirms that even though Smither didn’t have much of a blues voice, he did invest it with tremendous blues feeling of his own. He sounds like nobody but himself, true to his influences without aping them, as did most of his misguided white blues peers. This track and its solo acoustic successor, a knowing interpretation of Randy Newman’s “Guilty” that was recorded before either the composer’s or Bonnie Raitt’s versions, provide the album’s emotional core.

The rest of the set balances originals such as the title song (featuring Dr. John) and the deeply estranged “Homunculus” with Smither readings of Bessie Smith’s “Jailhouse Blues”, Danny O’Keefe’s “Steel Guitar” and the like. Honeysuckle Dog fills a gaping hole in the Smither discography, and most of it can stand with anything he’s done in the three-plus decades since.

by John Morthland. 

Tracks

1. Sunshine Lady (Paul MacNeil) - 3:51

2. Tribute to Mississippi John Hurt (John Hurt) - 3:40 

3. Honeysuckle Dog - 4:04

4. Rattlesnake Preacher (Eric Von Schmidt) - 4:39 

5. Rosalie - 3:05

6. Guilty (Randy Newman) - 2:13 

7. It Ain't Easy (Ron Davies) - 3:57

8. Lonely Time - 3:22 

9. Homunculus - 3:10 

10.Braden River - 3:41

11.Steel Guitar (Danny O'Keefe) - 2:41 

12.Jailhouse Blues (Traditional) - 5:39

Written by Chris Smither except where noted

Personnel

*Chris Smither - Vocals, Acoustic Guitar  

*John Bailey - Acoustic, Electric Guitars, Autoharp 

*Dave Holland - Acoustic Bass, Double Bass 

*Jackie Lomax - Electric Bass

*Richard Anthony Davis - Electric Bass 

*Richard Davis - Bass

*Ralph Mcdonald - Tambourine 

*Maeretha Stewart - Background Vocals 

*Lowell George - Electric Guitar 

*Robin Kenyatta - Flute; 

*Eric Kaz - Harmonica, Piano, Electric Piano 

*Perry Robinson - Clarinet 

*Pat Rebillot - Piano, Organ 

*Dr. John - Piano 

*Bill Payne - Piano 

*Mike Mainieri - Vibraphone 

*Chris Parker - Drums

*Ray Lucas - Drums 

*Dede Puma - Background Vocals 

*Patti Austin - Background Vocals 

*Hilda Harris - Background Vocals

1971-72  Chris Smither - I'm A Stranger Too! / Don't It Drag On   

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Blodwyn Pig - The Basement Tapes (1969/74/96 uk, awesome blues brass rock, 2000 release)

If pure talent was the only requirement to guarantee massive popularity, then Mick Abrahams would be as well known as Eric Clapton. The fact that he is not is due to a combination of bad luck and bad decisions, but rarely bad music, as this CD clearly demonstrates. Abrahams played a very big part in launching rock giants Jethro Tull to mega-star status, but when musical and personal differences with Ian Anderson came to a head at the end of 1968, Mick left that band and formed Blodwyn Pig, carrying on in the jazz/blues style of early Tull whilst Anderson & Co. veered off into more idiosyncratic musical dimensions. Andy Pyle (bass) and Ron Berg (drums) provided the solid rhythm section, and the sax and particularly flute of Jack Lancaster echoed the early Jethro Tull sound, to the extent that an instrumental track from the first Blodwyn Pig album turned up on a Jethro Tull bootleg listed as "untitled instrumental".

Blodwyn Pig (named by a musician friend of Mick's on his return from several years exile as a Buddhist monk!) was an instant success, both musically and commercially, with two UK top 10 albums in '69 and '70. But whilst Mick was clearly the group leader he somehow managed to get himself fired from his own band, and the Pig folded completely weeks after his departure.

Mick carried on his quest for great music and bizarre band names with "Wommet" before launching the more soberly named Mick Abrahams Band in 1971. They made two albums, but failed to match the success of Blodwyn Pig, and, disillusioned, Mick temporarily quit the music business.

It was a short break, as he came back with a revamped Blodwyn Pig in 1974, with Andy Pyle and Jack Lancaster back in the fold, plus Clive Bunker, drummer and fellow Jethro Tull founder. It was a very short lived return lasting for only half a dozen gigs, but they did manage a BBC session for John Peel and an "In Concert" (both featured on this CD) before calling it quits once more. A guitar tutorial album, a few recording sessions and the occasional gig kept Mick in touch with music, but he considered himself retired from the music business, getting "a proper job" and religion simultaneously.

That was almost the end of the story, but thankfully The Blods were resurrected yet again for a 'one-off' charity gig in Luton in 1988. Mick, Andy Pyle and Clive Bunker were joined by Bruce Boardman and the legendary sax man Dick Heckstall-Smith in the new line up, and both audience and band were so delighted with the gig that they decided to carry on - and they are still there, albeit with countless personnel changes since.

The return to recording in 1991 with the Mick Abrahams album All Said And Done" and then the 1993 Blodwyn Pig album "Lies" heralded the rebirth in earnest, and all four of the early albums were issued on CD. In the last few years the recorded output of Mick Abrahams and Blodwyn Pig has bordered on meteoric; four studio albums have highlighted the quality of Abrahams' song writing and amazing guitar technique, and no less than five (count 'em!) live CDs have offered a taste of the excitement generated by the various versions of his bands throughout the years - even if the sound quality on some of them leaves a lot to be desired.

Thankfully Hux Records now bring us a quality reminder of the greatness of Mick Abrahams and Blodwyn Pig, rescuing from the BBC archives tapes that had long been thought lost for ever. The live and session tracks from '69, '71 and '74 are augmented by two tracks recorded during the sessions for the most recent (to date) studio album "Pig In The Middle", released at the end of 1996. This album serves as a handy guide through the Blodwyn Pig story, showing the full range of acoustic blues, heavy rock and progressive blues/rock that endeared them to real music lovers in the 70's, and still excites the fans in the 90's. And on "Mr Green's Blues" we get a sample of Mick's irreverent humour that punctuates every Blodwyn Pig gig.

In many ways Mick is now more involved in music than ever before; in 1998 he put together the This Was Band, touring the UK recreating the sound of the Jethro Tull he had played with some thirty years earlier, and a live album from the tour was released. He was also heavily involved in an all-star line-up on the Jackie Lynton album "Pin-board Wizards", which also featured erstwhile Jethro Tull colleagues Ian Anderson and Clive Bunker, along with Martin Barre who replaced Mick in the Tull ranks and is still there today. In 1999 he started work on a new album in his newly built home studio. The resulting CD "See My Way", was released by A New Day Records in March 2000, featuring guest appearances by Elliott Randall, Geoff Whitehorn and fellow Pig founder, Andy Pyle, who joined Mick for a great new working of the classic title track. There is also talk of another acoustic solo album following the success of "One" in 1996, on which he was joined by Ian Anderson, and another project pending is a collaboration with Jackie Lynton on what promises to be a musical version of Derek & Clive! The mind boggles!

All this activity bodes well for the future, and anybody with an ear for great guitar playing should be grateful for that! Here's to much more from mighty Mick.... and wouldn't it be nice to hear a few more offerings via the BBC in years to come?

by Dave Rees, June 1999

Tracks

1. The Modern Alchemist (Jack Lancaster) - 4:49

2. Mr. Green's Blues (Mick Abrahams, Jack Lancaster, Ron Berg) - 3:49

3. It's Only Love - 3:31

4. See My Way - 5:56

5. Blues Of A Dunstable Truck Driving Man - 2:47

6. Baby Girl - 3:53

7. The Leaving Song - 4:53

8. I Know - 8:54

9. It's Only Love - 3:16

10.See My Way - 6:35

11.Blues Of A Dunstable Truck Driving Man - 2:10

12.Hound Dog (Jerry Leiber, Mike Stoller) - 2:20

13.Drive Me - 2:43

All songs by Mick Abrahams except where indicated

The Blodwyn Pig

*Mick Abrahams - Guitar, Vocals, Seven String Guitar, Tenor Guitar

*Jack Lancaster - Saxophone, Flute, Violin (Tracks 1-11)

*Andy Pyle - Bass (Tracks 1-11)

*Ron Berg - Drums, Tympani (Tracks 1-3)

*Clive Bunker - Drums (Tracks 4-11)

*Mike Summerland - Bass (Tracks 12,13)

*Graham Walker - Drums (Tracks 12,13) 

1969  Blodwyn Pig - Ahead Rings Out (2006 remaster and expanded)
1970  Blodwyn Pig - Getting To This
1971  Mick Abrahams - Mick Abrahams

1972  Mick Abrahams Band - At Last

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Fallenrock - Watch For Fallenrock (1974 us, soft folk rock with nice with vocal harmonies and melodically swaying tunes)

A sweet 70s set on Capricorn Records – one from a time when the label was moving away from a more slavishly southern sound, and really opening up to some other currents of the period! The group have a nice way of harmonizing on the vocals, with some slight rootsy elements in the instrumentation, supported with richer backings overall – maybe a style that's a more southern take on the territory of America, with a slightly more AOR vibe overall. Titles include the great "She's A Mystery", plus "World On A String", "Lonely In Churchville", "I'm Never Alone", "Tie Me", and "We Got Love".

Larry Keith, Steve Pippin, and Rafe Van Hoy are Fallenrock, based out of Nashville, TN. They only had this one 1974 release, which came out just before Warner Bros acquired Capricorn Records, and thus Fallenrock fell between the cracks, making this an obscure recording today.  Rafe Van Hoy wrote or co-wrote many country hits, including "Golden Ring" for George Jones & Tammy Wynette; "Let’s Keep It That Way" by Mac Davis, Tanya Tucker, & others; "Sail Away" by The Oak Ridge Boys; and "What’s Forever For" by Michael Murphey. "Watch For Fallenrock",  produced by Johnny Slate & Larry Henley (of The Newbeats) for Windchime Productions, Inc. 

Tracks

1. She's A Mystery (Larry Keith, Steve Pippin) - 2:34

2. Tie Me (Steve Pippin) - 2:07

3. Mary Anne (Larry Keith, Steve Pippin) - 3:36

4. I'm Never Alone (Danny Morrison, Johnny Slate, Larry Keith) - 2:16

5. Sayin' It's So Don't Make It So (Danny Morrison, Johnny Slate, Larry Keith) - 3:00

6. Lonely In Churchville (Larry Keith, Steve Pippin) - 3:35

7. My World Begins And Ends With You (Larry Keith, Steve Pippin) - 2:34

8. We Got Love (Larry Keith, Ron Culbertson, Steve Pippin, Hal Forness) - 2:59

9. Love's A Game (Larry Henley, Larry Keith) - 2:38

10.World On A String (Larry Keith, Rafe VanHoy, Steve Pippin) - 3:03

Fallenrock

*Larry Keith - Guitar, Keyboards, Vocals

*Rafe VanHoy - Guitar, Vocals

*Steve Pippin - Guitar, Vocals

With

*Steve Gibson - Guitar

*Lea Jane Berinati - Vocals 

*Hayward Bishop - Drums 

*Bill Humble - Trombone

*Shane Keister - Keyboards

*Tony Migliore - keyboards

*Steve Schaffer - Bass 

*Don Smith - Bass

*Buddy Spicher - Fiddle 

*Roy Culbertson - Backing Vocals 

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Funkadelic - America Eats Its Young (1972 us, excellent prog psych funk, 2005 extra tracks remaster)

1972's America Eats Its Young is a disparate, schizophrenic record. Despite Clinton's efforts to produce a record that would have a better chance at crossover appeal than the first three Funkadelic records, like many double LPs, there's simply too much material, and too many conflicting directions to really make this seem anything other than a Frankenstein production. Of course, it has its classics: "Loose Booty" and "A Joyful Process" are the two of the best pure funk songs the band ever did, while "If You Don't Like the Effects, Don't Produce the Cause", "Biological Speculation", "Everybody Is Going to Make It This Time", and "Miss Lucifer's Love" are great evidence of the band's strong pop bent even as their chosen subject matters could range from dark to disturbing to sci-fi. 

Tunes like "I Call My Baby Pussycat", "Balance", and "Philmore" even hark back to the more rock-oriented stuff of the first three records. However, it's hard to hear "We Hurt Too" (a maudlin ballad about the hidden tenderness of men) as anything but a joke, and the title track, similar to Maggot Brain's title cut, is a bit heavy on the huffing and panting. I think of this record as Funkadelic's White Album, containing too much great stuff to dismiss, but by almost anyone's standards, containing more than it needs.

by Dominique Leone, August 3, 2005

Tracks

1. You Hit The Nail On The Head (Bernie Worrell, Fuzzy Haskins, George Clinton) - 7:11

2. If You Don't Like The Effects, Don't Produce The Cause (Garry Shider, George Clinton) - 3:44

3. Everybody Is Going To Make It This Time (Bernie Worrell, George Clinton) - 5:55

4. A Joyful Process (Bernie Worrell, George Clinton) - 6:14

5. We Hurt Too (Bernie Worrell, George Clinton) - 3:50

6. Loose Booty (George Clinton, Harold Beane) - 4:41

7. Philmore (William Earl Collins) - 2:33

8. I Call My Baby Pussycat (Billy Nelson, Eddie Hazel, George Clinton) - 5:09

9. America Eats Its Young (Bernie Worrell, George Clinton, Harold Beane) - 5:51

10. Biological Speculation (Ernie Harris, George Clinton) - 3:07

11.That Was My Girl (George Clinton, Sidney Barnes) - 3:46

12.Balance (Bernie Worrell, George Clinton) - 5:30

13.Miss Lucifer's Love (Fuzzy Haskins, George Clinton) - 5:55

14.Wake Up (Bernie Worrell, George Clinton, Harold Beane, James Wesley Jackson) - 6:29

15.Loose Booty (George Clinton, Harold Beane) - 2:55

16.A Joyful Process (Bernie Worrell, George Clinton) - 3:15

Musicians

*Al Stanwyck - Trumpet

*Albert Pratz - Violin

*Arnie Chycoski - Trumpet

*Bernie Worrell - Horn Arrangements, Keyboards, Melodica, String Arrangements, Vocals

*Bill Richards - Violin

*Bootsy Collins - Bass, Vocals

*Bruce Cassidy - Trumpet

*Clayton Gunnels - Trumpet, Vocals

*Cordell "Boogie" Mosson - Bass

*David Van De Pitte - Steel Guitar, String Arrangements

*Dianne Brooks - Vocals

*Eddie Hazel - Guitar, Vocals

*Frankie "Kash" Waddy - Percussion, Vocals

*Garry Shider - Guitar, Vocals

*George Clinton - Cover Design, Producer

*Harold Beane - Guitar, Vocals

*Josef Sera - Violin

*Ollie Strong - Steel Guitar 

*Peter Schenkman-  Cello

*Phelps "Catfish" Collins - Guitar, Vocals

*Prakash John - Bass, Vocals

*Ramon Tiki Fulwood - Percussion

*Randy Wallace - Alto Sax, Vocals

*Ronald Laurie - Cello

*Stanley Solomon - Viola

*Steve Kennedy Vocals

*Tyrone Lampkin - Percussion

*Victoria Polley - Violin

*Walter Babiuk - Viola

*Zachary Frazier - Percussion

1970  Funkadelic (2005 remaster)

1970  Free Your Mind And Your Ass Will Follow (2005 remaster)

1971  Funkadelic - Maggot Brain (2005 remaster)

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Kin Ping Meh - Kin Ping Meh 3 (1973 germany / uk, tough prog rock, digipak remaster)

1972 was a very good year for Kin Ping Meh. They wrote the music for a drug musical called 'Rausch', composed the soundtrack for ZDF series "Sechs unter Millionen" (Weber said in an interview: "We tried to make good rock music because for us, this job is an important milestone, a big step ahead in our career") and thus joined the short list of German rock bands who had achieved something similar, e.g. Can with 'Spoon', their song for a Durbridge crime movie, or Popol Vuh for the Herzog movie 'Aguirre, der Zom Gottes'. Almost simultaneously, they opened the Sailing Olympics in Kiel, went on tour with Rory Gallagher and Golden Earring, and released their second album, 'No. 2'.  In their annual vote, the readers of magazine "Popfoto" voted them among the Top 5 in the category, 'Most Promising Band'. 

But they had to pay a high price for constantly being on the road - 1972 saw a drastic change in the line-up. Willie Wagner, Werner Stephan and Torsten Herzog left the band to be replaced by Gerhard "Gagey" Mrozeck, Uli Gross, British bass player Alan Joe Wroe and his fellow countryman Geff Harrison. With this line-up, Kin Ping Meh recorded 'III', the band's third album, in the Summer of 1973. The album featured a wind section and a female choir. It was mainly because of singer Geff Harrison's influence that the band developed a hard rock image. "The people mainly want to really rock, to be happy and to get to see something. And that's all true in our case", the band explained in a 1973 "Musik Express" interview and added: "There is not much demand for space and cosmic rock right now." Kin Ping Meh played concerts with hard rock superstars like Deep Purple and Slade and appeared on a couple of television shows. 

Alex Gitlin

Tracks

1. Come On In (Fritz Schmitt, Gerhard Mrozeck) - 5:24

2. Random (Alan Joe Wroe, Uli Gross) - 3:50

3. Love Is The Day (Alan Joe Wroe, Gerhard Mrozeck, Uli Gross) - 4:59

4. Rock Is The Way (Fritz Schmitt, Gerhard Mrozeck) - 4:46

5. Circus (Alan Joe Wroe, Gerhard Mrozeck, Uli Gross) - 14:06

6. Mrs. Holmes (Alan Joe Wroe, Kalle Weber, Uli Gross) - 7:20

Kin Ping Meh

*Gerhard Mrozeck - Acoustic, Electric Guitars, Vocals

*Fritz Schmitt - Organ, Piano, Moog Synthesizer

*Alan Joe Wroe - Bass

*Kalle Weber - Drums, Percussion

*Geff Harrison - Lead Vocals, Percussion

With

*Uli Gross - Guitars, Vocals

*Werner Stephan - Vocals

*Elga Blask - Backing Vocals

*Peter Bender - Backing Vocals

*Gabriele Oberpichler - Backing Vocals

*Rolf Köhler - Backing Vocals

*Helmut Mocker - Horn Arrangements

1971  Kin Ping Meh - Kin Ping Meh (expanded edition)  

1972-73  Kin Ping Meh - Kin Ping Meh II (Bonus Tracks)  

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