Rating:
Genre:
Rock
Release Date: 04/03/2007
Subtitled "
psychedelia melts into the progressive," this 20-track compilation gathers 20 rare British and European tracks from 1969-1971 (mostly from the earlier part of that period), the period in which
psychedelia was indeed changing into
progressive rock in Europe. It's certainly been compiled with care; so rare are the cuts that you'll have a hard time finding them on other reissues, if indeed any have been reissued at all. Very few of the artists will be known even to seasoned collectors, other than perhaps
Paul Nicholas (more famous as a British television star) and
the Locomotive (most known for doing the original version of
"Rudi, A Message to You," later covered for a hit by
the Specials). Still, this is going to fit an awkward niche in the '60s/'70s collector world. There's not enough
pop for many psychedelic enthusiasts, and some progressive enthusiasts might find at least some of this too
pop-oriented. To be honest, though, this material, while far from objectionable, fits the cliché "obscure for a reason"; there aren't many outstanding songs here, other than
Children's heavy rendition of
"Piece of My Heart" (the same tune done by
Erma Franklin and
Big Brother & the Holding Company). Naturally, many of the traits that made this sort of
rock "prog" are evident, like bulky songs with sections that varied from each other quite a bit;
hard rock guitar with numerous different shades of distortion and, at times, a bit of
improvisation and
blues/
funk influence; some passages highlighting thick organ, and a serious ambition that, unlike earlier
psychedelia, was more earnest and ponderous than playful and blissful. To its credit, the songs selected for
Lovin' Fire are pretty diverse (including bands from Holland, South Africa, Switzerland, and Germany as well as the U.K., though everyone sings in English) within this vaguely defined genre.
The Warm Sensation's 1969 single
"The Clown," for instance, sounds a little like
the Hollies going slightly heavy (unsurprisingly, considering that it was produced by
Hollies lead singer
Allan Clarke);
Left Side's
"Mama, You Said the Right Words" is as much glam-ish
power pop as it is heavy
rock; and
Hunter's
"Some Time for Thinking" is so much like
Blind Faith and
Traffic in their heavier moments that you're constantly expecting the track to turn into a cover of
Blind Faith's
"Had to Cry Today." ~Richie Unterberger, All Music Guide
;)
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