Monday, January 11, 2010

The Graham Bond Organisation - Sound of 65 1965


The Graham Bond Organisation - Sound of 65 1965
Lp 33SX 1711

Blues

Although the Organization's first album was recorded a mere year or two before Cream's debut, it bears little resemblance to Cream's pioneering hard blues-rock. Instead, it's taut British R&B with a considerable jazz influence. That influence comes not so much from the rhythm section as saxophonist Dick Heckstall-Smith and lead singer/organist Bond himself. This LP is not as exciting or rock-oriented as those of contemporaries like the Rolling Stones or John Mayall, but is respectably gritty, mostly original material, with an occasionally nasty edge. There are some obscure treasures of the British R&B explosion to be found here, including the original version of "Train Time" (later performed by Cream), the thrilling bass runs on "Baby Be Good to Me," and the group's hardboiled rearrangements of such traditional standards as "Wade in the Water" and "Early in the Morning." Even their blatant stab at commercialism (the ballad "Tammy") has its charm.
By Richie Unterberger, All Music Guide.
**
Like his contemporary Alexis Korner, Graham Bond is one of the unsung heroes of the early-'60s UK R&B scene. Both led groups that incubated talent which would later mature and eclipse their own groundbreaking efforts. With Bond it was his rhythm section, Ginger Baker and Jack Bruce, who later became two-thirds of Cream. Both of the organist's albums included here offer an intriguing snapshot of this fertile period in Britain when jazz and blues coexisted quite happily.
Bond was a firm fan of Ray Charles, which extended to both hischoice of material ("What'd I Say?") and also his approach.A talented player himself (both organ and alto sax) as wellas a vocalist, Bond was generous in showcasing his sidemen ("Dick's Instrumental" for tenor player Dick Heckstall-Smith) and tended to pepper the staple Beat group repertoire withhis own compositions. "Camels and Elephants" is an early example of both Ginger Baker's composing and drum solo style. "Hoochie Coochie Man" replaces the malevolence of Muddy Waters's version with something altogether jazzier and as such is the perfect introduction to Bond.
**
Jack Bruce- Vocals, Bass
Graham Bond- Organ [Hammond Organ], Saxophone [Alto Saxophone], Lead Vocals
Dick Heckstall-Smith- Tenor Saxophone]
Ginger Baker- Drums
**
01. Hoochie Coochie Man   3:13
02. Baby Make Love to Me   1:52
03. Neighbour Neighbour   2:40
04. Early in the Morning   1:50
05. Spanish Blues   3:05
06. Oh Baby   2:42
07. Little Girl   2:15
08. I Want You   1:45
09. Wade in the Water   2:41
10. Got My Mojo Working   3:11
11. Train Time   2:24
12. Baby Be Good to Me   2:35
13. Half a Man   2:06
14. Tammy   2:49
**
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