In a world of revisionist music history and endless top one hundred best album lists spewed forth by out of touch publications such as Rolling Stone who will not acknowledge Woodstock is over or the N.M.E. who sneer at anything that doesn’t fit their narrow field of indie cool, is and can be a nostalgic and wasteful bore. This book takes an unseal and refreshing look at the albums that some how slipped through the cracks and flopped at the time of release.
Emerging from Chicago based ultra-underground Label Hozac’s publishing wing. Compiled and mostly written by renowned music authors Mitchell Cohen, Matt Pinfield and Sal Maida (himself one of the unsung70’s rock stars having played bass with Roxy Music and Sparks among others). With added contributions from invited guests.
The Authors set out the method behind their picks, stating rightly that no one needs to hear another argument or defence of such universally lauded classics such as Revolver, Pet Sounds, Blonde on Blonde picking instead a 100(ish) Albums that didn’t make the top 100 Billboard charts but are still an important part of the tapestry of Rock and Soul music history. They have stuck strictly to those genres openly admitting that they have avoided both Jazz and Country as those rabbit holes would be never ending and would probably require several separate volumes for each.
They then divided the selection into 4 chronological sections:
• 1959 – 1966
• 1967 – 1968
• 1969 – 1973
• 1974 -1981
As for the list there is some very well-known and surprising names such as The Who (My Generation), The Kinks (The Great lost Kinks Album), The Beach Boys (Friends), Peter Green’s Fleetwood Mac (Then Play on)
The essays are beautifully written as they put forward their case for of albums most serious record collectors would now consider. If not essential at least worth high praise. Free’s 2nd self-titled album featuring “I’ll be Creepin’”. “Songs of Yesterday”, and “Trouble on Double“ is described as a complex album made by four young men who felt life deeply.
Baby Huey’s ultimate Cult Soul (and only) Album – the Baby Huey Story featuring the superb “Hard Times”, and “Listen to Me” (sampled by a Tribe called Quest, Ice Cube and covered by smooth soul singer John Legend)is described as a joyride and almost Jazz/Funk in its diversity.
None of that can really be disagreed with but there is an element of preaching to the converted with these better-known titles.The real treasure to be mined from this book is the cult and unknown. Artists like Don Covey and the Jefferson Lemon Blues Band (the House of Blue Lights), or Joe Cocker’s backing band The Grease Band (The Grease Band), and The Idle Race (the Birthday Party) Jeff Lynne’s first band had me running to the laptop and YouTube to check them out.
There are other surprises and timely reminders spotlighted here. Ike and Tina Turners super funky take on Free’s “The Hunter” will have you dancing (in my case like an epileptic chicken) after the first bar. Fairport Convention’s “what we did on our holidays” is a lovely spotlight on an album overshadowed by “Unhalfbricking” and “Liege and Leif.” Sandy Denny singing the traditional “She moves through the fair” is an absolute pleasure and masterclass in restraint from the rest of the Fairport’s giving her ample room to shine.
In General list books are something you skim or dip in and out of before putting them on the shelf to gather dust and forgetting about. I have certainly been guilty of this; however, this book is written with such a passion and clarity for the subject that I found myself reading a hell of a lot of it.
With hindsight and time good few of these artists and albums have had there day in the sun and some never will. It is a well thought out and well laid out book with some great artwork on display. Interesting bits of trivia and the authors really know the music they are putting forward for rediscovery and revaluation.
It may not be for everyone but for a self-confessed music anorak like myself it’s one of the best of its type. Now where can I find a reissue of The Bonzo Dog Band’s “A Donut in Granny’s Greenhouse”???
-Bobo Coen
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