Do Yerself a Favour!!!!
This review is overshadowed by the the sudden passing of Peter Haycock this October. The loss of the man whose voice and guitar playing are have been so ingrained in my life for 40 years is still sinking in, possibly made harder to process by never having actually met him, but still feeling that affinity that the sharing of musical gifts so magically imparts.
Up until October 30th this year, 2012/2103 had been great years for Climax Blues Band fans who've been waiting and waiting for top notch reissues of the Band's extensive back catalogue.
Previous reissues of this album have had a red hot go, have all fallen short for one reason or another. This,on the other hand, has finally done justice to a vastly underrated album. Firstly, the remastering is superb. The bottom end is huge, without sacrificing detail, and much of the crisp, punchy sound of the original vinyl release has been restored (rumour has it that one previous reissue was mastered from said vinyl!?)
The 8 songs from the original release are intact (no whacky edits a-la Plum Records) and the 8 bonus tracks are for the most part (75% for me) worthy additions.
Together and Free: A driving, funky rock song, with a Sax & Guitar riff, underpinned by Clavinet. Smooth changes and great solos by both Colin Cooper (Sax) and Pete Haycock (Guitar).
Mighty Fire: Minor Key Blues Rock, great solos from Pete Haycock. Lyrically, we're in scheming female territory, the singing is heartfelt, with wonderful harmonies.
Chasin' Change: Based around a funky riff, this song ponders the futility of living for money. Marvel at the band's superb feel, as as they negotiate melodic and dynamic shifts.
Berlin Blues: Another Driving rock track, with fluid guitar work and a political content in the lyric.
Couldn't Get it Right: A big hit in 1976, and easy to see why. Tight playing, super catchy, beautifully played and sung. If you buy the album on the strength of this song, hopefully you'll be seduced by Climax's many charms.
Rollin' Home: A (dare I say?) rolling, melodic, medium tempo blues. Redolent of BB King in some ways, with string synth in the mix. Simply a lovely, lovely 'Blues Ballad'
Sav'ry Gravy: Slow Tempo, down and dirty, lusty Funk-Rock - delicious!
Extra: A straight ahead rocker with frills for a Fast finish!
Now let me elaborate on that 75% mark on the bonus tracks.Fat Maybellene: Original B-side of Couldn't Get It Right and musically not a million miles from Loosen Up from the Stamp Album. Together and Free (single edit): Not as good as the album version (it's shorter - less song to love!) Chasin' Change (Extended Take): Superior version to the on on the Plum reissue IMO. Shadow Man: Not previously unreleased as stated. This is a short solo piece by Derek Holt, previously available on both the 1999 Repertoire and more recent (2005?) Fuel reissues.
Then a quartet of 1976 John Peel sessions with versions of Couldn't Get It Right, Chasin' Change, Together and Free & Mighty Fire. For lovers of this album, these bonus tracks will thrill - who doesn't dig hearing new versions of their fave tracks, especially when it's a band like Climax, who played everything with such fire & skill?
For those who know, this will not disappoint. For those who don't - Take a chance on this one, this band are a superb ensemble, & as Charles Shaar Murray points out on the liner notes: "A lot is just what the Climax Blues Band got, and right here on this record album is where they got it"
Trevor King 11/12/13Vollständige Rezension lesen
