Pub Rock!!!

I guess the pub rock scene to me, has always been about cover bands churning out the same old Oasis, Bryan Adams and other 'safe' songs down at the local. However, back in the mid to late seventies, pub rock was an attempt to get back to the basics of R&B and rock (the mid seventies were awash with inaccessible and complicated prog rock bands). Elvis Costello, Squeeze, and the Stranglers were all examples of this new genre.

In 1976, a band called Eddie and the Hotrods came on the scene and great things were expected of them, and they did OK, with one major hit in 1977. They were, however overshadowed by a band that symbolised a revolution that pub rock is often cited as beginning... punk! That band was the Sex Pistols and whilst a support act for 'The Rods' decided to trash their gear and thus entered music folk lore. Sabotage perhaps? I doubt it.

I cannot resist a good jangly, guitar sodden, pop/rock song so here is their biggest hit 'Do Anything you wanna do' from the album Life on the line

Look both ways, there's some traffic

With a title that bad, I can only be talking about one band, Traffic!

Steve Winwood is a man you just want to dislike, not only is he one ubher talented pianist, he can play pretty much any instrument you introduce him too. Some of his solo efforts contain no other musicians (aside from some horn players perhaps). Would definately make the line up for keyboard duty in most peoples Fantasy Band!!

Winwood was fronting the Spencer Davis Group when he was just 15, which puts him almost in the child prodigy bracket. He left to from Traffic just 4 years later with Jim Capaldi (drums) Guitarist Dave Mason, and Chris Wood (any instrument he needed to play) released a few singles and an album called 'Mr Fantasy' the same year. They released their self titled 2nd album in 68 and went on tour, split up, got back together then recorded their best work 'John Barleycorn must Die' in 1971.

A very diverse band, covering multiple genres, of Rock, Blues, Jazz, Prog and even Psychedelic. Traffic were a very popular band in their day, but today sound a bit dated perhaps. I don't care, I love em!!

I digress, today's first selection comes from the album Traffic and is called Medicated Goo, Enjoy!




Secondly, a bonus track from John Barleycorn Must Die, with possibly the greatest keyboard solo ever recorded, Empty Pages

Its Groundhog day

Don't worry, you're not going to live through the same day over and over again!

Famed for being John Lee Hookers backing band during his tours of the UK in the 60s, The Groundhogs were formed back in 1963, and were never a really household name even though four of the albums from 1970 onwards all got into the top 10 successively.

Again its one of those bands that I had read about and thought I would give them ago, and have been really very impressed. A little touch of Hendrix, a fair bit of Cream with a touch of Prog thrown in now and again all make up a band worth a listen too.

Here is the track Split Part 2 from the Album Split

I'm back, and I am awake

Just a short post from me here, will do something different in another post

As promised many weeks ago, here is another Terry Reid fave of mine, Brave Awakening from the excellent album Seed of Memory