Freedom to Music
Posts tagged Ric Grech
Charge – Charge (1973) (@256)
19 Jun 2010
(Info from sleeve)
Charge’s private pressed LP of 1973 is virtually cliched in their self tormenting guitar excess and psycho-hippie lyricism, lunatic heavy-rock. Occasional Hendrix-isms soon fall to the experimental idiosyncrasies.
Line-up:
- Smiley De Jones / percussion
- Ric Grech / violin, gtr, bs
- Ian Green / keyboards
- Rosetta Hightower / vocals
- Neil Hubbard / guitar
- Godfrey McLean / drums
- Alan Spenner / bass
- Lee van der Bilt / vocals, percussion
- Mike Woods / guitar
Track List:
01. Glory Boy – 4:04
02. To My Friends – 5:09
03. Rock My Soul – 3:48
04. Child Of Nations – 17:09
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Family – As & Bs (1969-78) (@256)
23 Sep 2009
(Review from amazon)
The title A’s and B’s sounds like a report card but in fact refers to all the singles released by the stellar English band Family between 1969 and 1973. Many of these tracks are significant for their relation to the state of the band and to the music industry of that time, when it was common practice to release singles by bands not necessarily connected with their albums.
For instance, “No Mule’s Fool”, the first single to chart well, is also the last Family song featuring Jim King. This is the original version of “Strange Band”, not the live version best known to most Family aficionados. “In My Own Time” may be the best track here of those not originally included on any of the Family LPs. Chappo delivers another vintage performance while the band flat out rocks. “Stop this Car”, an oddball track, swerves wildly from the terrain Family staked out into country. “Drink to You”, another oddity, is a nice, churning tribute to the alcohol, but who’s on the mike here? It’s not Chappo, so odds are Cregan or Ashton took the lead vocals.
Track List:
01. No Mule’s Fool – 3:23
02. Good Friend Of Mine – 3:34
03. Today – 5:00
04. Song For Lots – 3:41
05. Strange Band – 3:16
06. In My Own Time – 3:33
07. Seasons – 2:21
08. Burlesque – 4:04
09. The Rockin’ R’s – 3:27
10. My Friend The Sun – 4:22
11. Glove – 4:51
12. Boom Bang – 3:02
13. Stop This Car – 2:53
14. Sweet Desiree – 3:40
15. Drink To You – 3:34
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Family – Family Entertainment (1969) (@256)
05 Sep 2009
(Review from progarchives.com)
This album is absolutely essential. Why? Because it includes the unbelievably magnificent “The weaver’s answer”. This song is one of those masterpieces which comes along only when the planets are correctly aligned and a flash of inspiration is sent from the heavens. The song is perfect in lyric, melody and performance. It builds through Roger Chapman’s inspired vocal and some superb violin to a climactic and dramatic conclusion.
Much has been said about the production of “Family entertainment”, the band’s second album, over the years and it is true that there are deficiencies in that department. That however should not blind us to some highly enjoyable material.
“Observations from a hill” is clearly not sung by Chapman, but the credits are unclear as to who the vocalist is. Following “The weaver’s answer” is going to make any song sound inferior, but “Observations..” is a rather prosaic number all the same. “Hung up down” is a stronger, more conventional Family song, with a fine performance by Chapman.
“Summer ’67″ is a Charlie Whitney instrumental with an eastern flavour, reflecting the mood of that period. It makes for a pleasant interlude piece. “How-hi-the-Li” is a politically charged song focusing on China and the East, with rather uninspired lyrics such as We only wanna break the chain of society Put the people back on the road to reality We only wanna turn the whole world on “Second generation woman” sounds completely out of place, not just on this album, but in the Family catalogue as a whole. The song is a Beatles style rock and roll number, perhaps with singles potential. Rick Grech takes lead vocal and adds some violin too, but while the song is a credible piece of pop, it just does not fit at all here. Fortunately, normal service is resumed with the quivering vocal of Roger Chapman on “From past archives” which features a bizarre mix of harmonica, barroom piano, clarinet, orchestration and Harpsichord. It is about 15 songs in 3˝ minutes!
“Dim” also features harmonica, but in a lighter semi-country atmosphere. “Processions” has a retro 60′s pop feel, the reflections of boyhood conjuring up nostalgic images. Had this been recorded in the mid 1960′s, it would probably have found its way into the pop charts. The sitar based Rick Grech song “Face in the cloud” features a lead vocal by him. Why the band should insist on sharing out the vocal credits when they have in their line up the incredible and unique talents of Chapman is something of an enigma. Perhaps it was a futile attempt to prevent Grech from moving on to Blind Faith, something he announced would do before the tour to promote the album had started.
The closing “Emotions” is an atmospheric song with a strong arrangement. That arrangement in many ways carries the song, which is melodically average.
“Family entertainment” is far from being a one song album. While “Weaver’s answer” is undoubtedly the jewel in the crown, it is supported by a creditable range of decent songs. The progressive influences are largely kept in check in favour of a more pop orientated feel, but the diversity of the content more than compensates for this.
Line-up:
- Roger Chapman / Vocals
- John ‘Charlie’ Whitney / Guitar, Vocals
- Jim King / Saxophone, Flute
- Rick Grech / Bass
- Rob Townsend / Drums
with:
- Heavenly Strings / Strings
- Tony Cox / Additional Arrangements
Track List:
01. The Weaver’s Answer – 4:56
02. Observations from a hill – 3:11
03. Hung Up Down – 3:12
04. Summer 67 – 3:19
05. How-Hi-the-Li – 4:56
06. Second Generation Woman – 3:13
07. From Past Archives – 3:21
08. Dim – 2:31
09. Processions – 2:48
10. Face In The Cloud – 2:53
11. Emotions – 5:09
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Streetwalkers – Streetwalkers (1974) (@256)
06 Aug 2007
Request of Panka & John. Thanks to Plastic Geordie for the contribution. Sorry I forgot to post.
(Review from Patrick Little)
In the winter of 1973/1974, only months after the dissolution of Family, Chapman/Whitney completed a duo album called Streetwalkers. Basically this was an informal exercise by the pair to stretch their musical wings. They had done some diverse stuff on the last Family album, but this was sort of a jam project with a loose collection of famous musical friends.
The album starts off with an intense tune — succinct, biting and ever-changing. “Roxianna” has an Americana feel that is reminiscent of Family album “It’s Only a Movie”, even features clarinet. “Systematic Stealth” is a mature ballad with electric piano and Whitney’s 12-string and slide. “Call Ya” features a sax solo from Mel Collins and a Rod Stewart like Roger Chapman. “Creature Feature” is atmospheric and creepy, it has a slunky feel with a mean edge, excellent funk that would permeate later Streetwalkers. “Sue And Betty Jean” is yet another ballad that builds and floats along; featuring a baritone saxophone that coats, soothes and relieves… A nice and orchestrated blues piece “Showbiz Joe” follows. “Tokyo Rose” is a mean mix of bass, horns and low guitar. Fifties style sax screaming over chord changes and multi-tracked Chappo gets the rock back on track. The last track is an epic in the least — the string section score is right there from the beginning, creating counter melodies and embellishments.
A touring outfit of the studio album followed the formation of a solid backing band In February 1975 and the duo dubbed themselves the Streetwalkers.
Line-up:
* Charlie Whitney – guitar, steel guitar
* Roger Chapman – lead vocals, percussion
* John Wetton – bass, back vocals
* Ric Grech – bass
* Tim Hinkley – keyboards, back vocals
* Max Middleton – keyboards
* Neil Hubbard – guitar
* Ian Wallace – drums
* Mike Giles – drums
* Godfrey McLean – congas
* Poli Palmer – electric vibes
* Mel Collins – brass, woodwind, arrangements
* Boz Burrell – back vocals
* Linda Lewis – back vocals
* Jim Cregan – back vocals
Track List:
01. Parisienne High Heels
02. Roxianna
03. Systematic Stealth
04. Call Ya
05. Creature Feature
06. Sue And Betty Jean
07. Showbiz Joe
08. Just Four Men
09. Tokyo Rose
10. Hangman
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Family – BBC Radio Volume 1 (1968-69) (@256)
29 Jun 2007
(Review from progarchives.com)
Family played very original and wayward progressive rock featuring the distinctive vocals from Roger Chapman. The line-up on this album (recordings from 68-69) is Roger Chapman (vocals, saxophone, harmonica and percussion), Rick Grech (bass, violin, cello and vocals), Jim King (saxophones, harmonica, vocals, tin-whistle and piano), Rob Townsend (drums and percussion) and John “Charlie” Whitney (guitar, keyboards, Mellotron and sitar). Later Rick Grech would be replaced by John Weider (bass, violin and guitars) when he decided to join supergroup Blind Faith (featuring Clapton, Stevie Winwood and Ginger Baker). This line-up plays four songs on this album that contains all previously unreleased compositions.
In general Family sounds melodic and very alternating with lots of musical styles: from folky with violin, acoustic guitars or banjo and moving bluesrock with saxophone and harmonica to progrock with organ and some Mellotron and propulsive rock with fiery electric guitar. That ‘hot rocking side’ delights me most like the tracks Second Generation Woman, Love Is A Sleeper and the Cream-inspired I Sing ‘Um The Way I Feel (in which John Whitney almost levels ‘Guitar-God’ Eric Clapton!). The rhythm-section plays fluent, John Whitney is great and the vocals from Roger Chapman top this unique progrock but you have to be up to his many vibrations and cynical undertone. Another good song is The Cat And The Rat featuring catchy folk-rock with swirling violin work from John Weider. A certain John Lennon said about Family in the late sixties “this is the best I have heard in years!”. A band to discover!
Line-up:
- Roger Chapman / vocals, tenor saxophone, harmonica, percussion
- Rick Grech / bass, violin, cello, vocals (except tracks 13-16)
- Jim King / Tenor & Soprano saxophones, harmonica, vocals, tin whistle, piano
- Rob Townsend / drums, percussion
- John ‘Charlie’ Whitney / guitars, keyboards, mellotron, sitar
- John Weider / bass, violin, guitars (13-16)
Track List:
01. See Through Windows
02. The Weaver’s Answer
03. Breeze
04. Second Generation Woman
05. Observations
06. Dim
07. Holding The Compass
08. The Procession
09. How Hi The Li
10. Love Is A Sleeper
11. I Sing Em The Way I Feel
12. A Song For Me
13. Drowned In Wine
14. Wheels
15. No Mule’s Fool
16. The Cat And The Rat
Links in comments.
Traffic – 1971-10-14 (Bootleg) (@256)
27 Apr 2007
Traffic
Boston Music Hall
Boston, Massachussetttes
1971-10-14
Line-up:
- Steve Winwood / vocals, guitar, piano, organ
- Jim Capaldi / vocals, percussion
- Rick Grech / violin, bass
- Chris Wood / flute, saxophone
- Jim Gordon / drums
- Reebop Kwaku Baah / percussion
Track List:
01. Medicated Goo
02. Light Up
03. Glad
04. Freedom Rider
05. Hidden Treasure
06. John Barleycorn Must Die
07. Rock ‘n’ Roll Stew
08. Many a Mile to Freedom
09. Low Spark of High Heeled Boys
10. Gimme Some Lovin’
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Traffic – Low Spark of the High Heeled Boys (1971) (@320)
26 Apr 2007
(Review from amazon.com, progarchives.com)
Following the (yet again) departure of Mason, Traffic released a new studio album. “Low Spark of the High Heeled Boys” was a big change from thequiet, largely acoustic flavour of Traffic’s reunion album “John Barleycorn Must Die”. Although the gentle opening track,”Hidden Treasure”, and the meandering, mellow closer, “Rainmaker”, were in keeping with the pastoral vibe of the previous record, sandwiched in between those are several increasingly aggressive and lyrically sour songs about that evergreentopic–life in a rock & roll band.
The venality of the business gets a workout in the 12-minute title track, a slow-building jazz-rock groove that starts with a sense of quiet menace and ends with a pealing, distorted guitar solo, with one of Steve Winwood’s most impassioned and lengthy organ solos at the song’s heart. “Rock & Roll Stew” and Jim Capaldi’s sneering putdown “Light Up or Leave Me Alone” are even more forceful, with only the groovy ecological message of “Manya Mile to Freedom” lightening the mood — even that song rocks harder than anything on “John Barleycorn Must Die”, though.
There is a lot of percussion on this record, provided by Jim Capaldi, Jim Gordon and the African percussionist Reebop Kwaku Baah, the latter adding a pinch of exotic spice to the whole.This is a mellow, rather laid-back album, but one which is deceptively easy on the ear, as it needs repeated listens to be really appreciated in full.
Line-up:
- Steve Winwood / vocals, guitar, piano, organ
- Jim Capaldi / vocals, percussion
- Rick Grech / violin, bass
- Chris Wood / flute, saxophone
- Jim Gordon / drums
- Reebop Kwaku Baah / percussion
Track List:
01. Hidden Treasure (4:16)
02. The Low Spark Of High-Heeled Boys (12:10)
03. Rock & Roll Stew (4:29)
04. Many A Mile To Freedom (7:12)
05. Light Up Or Leave Me Alone (4:53)
06. Rainmaker (7:39)
Link in comments.
Traffic – Welcome to the Canteen (1971) (@224)
25 Apr 2007
(Review from progarchives.com, wikipedia)
Steve Winwood was still contracted to Island for 2 more albums, and the following year, he started work on a solo album, calling in Wood and Capaldi to assist. The Traffic name was quickly resurrected, and the album “John Barleycorn Must Die” released. For many, this is Traffic’s best album. While the title is taken from a traditional folk song, the music is a wonderful blend of prog, jazz, rock, and folk.
Traffic went on to expand its lineup in 1971. Various subsequent line up additions and changes took place, including another return by Mason. They also added Ric Grech (ex-Family, Blind Faith) on bass, drummer Jim Gordon (ex-Derek and the Dominos) and percussionist Rebop Kwaku Baah. The live album “Welcome To The Canteen” offers a good summary of their work during this period.
“Welcome to the Canteen” is a surprising live album which recapitulates some of the memorable songs previously released by the band. The record itself sounds great, very energic, sometimes suggesting jazz to folk rock instrumentations. As usual, Steve Winwood engaged himself in the most fruitful side of the performance, conducting voice / organ / guitar parts. In this live session he is perfectly accompanied by Dave Mason’s solid guitar playing. The performance begins with a nervous pop / rock composition followed by the very emotional, sensitive ballad “Sad and Deep as You”, essentially played on acoustic instruments. “Gimme some lovin” which closes the album is a faster, more aggressive rock & roll tune, very efficient. My favourite songs on the record are the guitar folk sounding tune “Shouldn’t have took More…” and the very classic epic tune “Dear Mr Fantasy”. Deeply inspired and musically achieved, this album is more than tolerable.
Line-up:
- Jim Capaldi / vocals, tambourine, percussion
- Jim Gordon / drums
- Rick Grech / bass
- Dave Mason / vocals, lead guitar, acoustic guitar
- Reebop Kwaku Baah / congas, timbales, bongos
- Steve Winwood / vocals, organ, electric piano, guitar
- Chris Wood / saxophones, flute, electric piano, organ
Track List:
01. Medicated Goo (3:34)
02. Sad and Deep as You (3:48)
03. Forty Thousand Headmen (6:21)
04. Shouldn’t Have Took More Than You Gave (5:39)
05. Dear Mr. Fantasy (10:57)
06. Gimme Some Lovin’ (9:02)
Link in comments.
Blind Faith – Blind Faith (1969) (@256)
23 Apr 2007
(Info from wikipedia, keno.org)
Blind Faith’s beginnings date to mid-1968, with the breakup of Cream. Rock’s original supergroup had become a financial powerhouse, selling millions of records within a few years and raising the group’s (and each member’s) repertoire to international popularity. Despite that success, the band was crumbling from within due to frequent animosity between Jack Bruce and Ginger Baker, with Eric Clapton doing his best to mediate. In addition, Clapton had tired of being coerced into playing commercially-driven blues, and hoped to move forward with a new, experimental, less straight-jacketed approach to the genre.
Steve Winwood was facing similar problems in The Spencer Davis Group, where he had been the lead singer for three years while they produced straight-laced blues. Winwood wanted to experiment with the band’s sound by infusing jazz elements, but left due to his musical differences, instead forming a new band — Traffic — in 1967. That band split temporarily in 1969, and Winwood, a good friend of Clapton (they had previously collaborated on a record as “Powerhouse”), started to jam with Clapton in his basement in Surrey, England.
Clapton was pleased with the jam sessions and looked seriously towards starting a trio with Winwood — but they were in need of a drummer. Ginger Baker turned up to sit in with them in 1969, and the band took near-final form. But Clapton questioned letting Baker in the band, because he had promised Jack Bruce that, if they were to work with one another again, they would all three play. Moreover, Clapton didn’t want to reunite with Cream barely nine weeks after the breakup, and also didn’t want to deal with another “Cream-like” superstardom situation. Winwood ultimately persuaded Clapton to finalize Baker’s inclusion in the lineup, arguing that he strengthened their musicianship and that it would be hard to find an equally talented drummer.
By May 1969, Ric Grech, bassist with Family, was invited to join them (leaving Family, mid-tour). They laid down most of their album at Olympic Studios under the supervision of producer Jimmy Miller. Miller provided focus to the band, who often preferred jamming, over the standard commercial 3-5 minute track. By then the group was known collectively as Blind Faith, a slyly cynical reference by Clapton to his outlook on the new group.
The short-lived supergroup produced only one album but this album amazing!
Winwood’s voice just soars on songs like “Had to Cry Today” where Clapton plays some awesome guitar behind him. Clapton’s “Presence of the Lord” is an amazing song, which features Clapton’s leslie-tele sound and Winwood’s amazing voice and piano before it goes into the awesome wah part where Clapton reveals that he still is the God we knew from Cream. Another fantastic song is Buddy Holly’s “Well Allright” with both Clapton and Winwood singing fantastic. The jam at the end is even more awesome with Stevie playing some of his incendiary piano. Winwood seems to be the star of the show on the other songs. “Can’t Find My Way Home” is a beautiful song as is “Sea of Joy”, which is possibly Winwood’s best singing on the album as well as including some of Rick Grech’s fantastic violin work. “Do What you Like” is Baker’s composition and an awesome jam where everybody plays some awesome solos. Clapton and Baker’s jazzy-like solos are huge standouts.
After the album’s tour finished in August, the band returned to England surrounded by rumours of breakup or a possible UK tour. By October, the band had effectively dissolved within a year of its creation.
Thereafter, Clapton stepped out of the spotlight, first to sit in with the Plastic Ono Band and then to tour as a sideman for Delaney & Bonnie and Friends, with whom he had become good friends since Blind Faith’s U.S. tour. This freed him of the limelight that he had considered a plague to both Cream and Blind Faith. After his sideman stint, he took several members from Delaney & etc. to form a new supergroup, Derek and the Dominos.
Unlike Clapton, Ginger Baker had enjoyed his Blind Faith experience and looked to carry on an offshoot of the band in the form of Ginger Baker’s Air Force with both Grech and Winwood. After a few shows together, Winwood left with Grech and went to Island Records to reunite and reform Traffic.
Line-up:
* Eric Clapton – guitar, vocals
* Steve Winwood – organ, bass, guitar, piano, keyboard, vocals
* Ginger Baker – percussion, drums
* Ric Grech – bass, violin, vocals
Track List:
01. Had to Cry Today – 8:48
02. Can’t Find My Way Home – 3:16
03. Well…All Right – 4:27
04. Presence of the Lord – 4:50
05. Sea of Joy – 5:22
06. Do What You Like – 15:18
Link in comments.
Family – Music in a Doll’s House (1968) (@256)
31 Dec 2006
(Review from amazon)
Sometimes you need to go back and experience what was to wonder what could have been. No other debut album from a band can match the force of this one from Family, and for more than 30 years, this work has remained a testimony to what rock music should be about: creative, mind-bending, pulsing, twisting, strange, engaging, and even failing.
The CD is full of gems, but the crowning glory may be “Old Songs, New Songs.” Chappo’s unearthly delivery of the main vocals contrasted with the falsetto of reedman Jim King’s vocal on the chorus could stop traffic. Charlie Whitney offers up one of the coolest wah-wah pedal-powered solos toward the last minute of the song against the rock solid drums of the great Rob Townsend and the bass line of the late Rick Grech.
Be warned, however, if you cut your teeth on what has been on commercial FM radio for the past 20 years, you may experience osmotic shock when listening to Family. Had Family achieved the popularity it so deserved, then maybe today folks would know that the first and best rock band to ever feature violin, saxophone, guitar, bass, drums, and vocals may very well have been Family, not the Dave Matthews Band.
Line-up:
- Roger Chapman / Vocals
- John ‘Charlie’ Whitney / Guitar, Vocals
- Jim King / Saxophone, Flute
- Rick Grech / Bass
- Rob Townsend / Drums
Track List:
01. The Chase (2:14)
02. Mellowing Grey (2:48)
03. Never Like This (2:17)
04. Me My Friend (2:01)
05. Variation On A Theme Of Hey Mr. Policeman (0:23)
06. Winter (2:25)
07. Old Songs, New Songs (4:17)
08. Variation On A Theme Of The Breeze (0:40)
09. Hey Mr. Policeman (3:13)
10. See Through Windows (3:43)
11. Variation On A Theme Of Me And My Friend (0:22)
12. Peace Of Mind (2:21)
13. Voyage(3:35)
14. The Breeze (2:50)
15. 3xTime (3:48)
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