Genre: blues-rock
Rating: 3 stars ***
Title: Bakerloo
Company: Harvest
Catalog: SHVL-762
Year: 1969
Country/State: Staffordshire, UK
Grade (cover/record): VG+ / VG+
Comments: gatefold sleeve
Available: 1
Catalog ID: 6042
Price: $250.00
"Bakerloo" was one of the first 'collectable' LPs I stumbled across when I started getting serious about non-top 40 music. It was also one of the first used albums I ever bought - hard to imagine I was reluctant to shell out $20 for it. Times and the market have definitely changes\d over the last twenty years. Even funnier, when I heard the LP I was less than knocked out by it. I distinctly remember thinking it was rather pedestrian blues-rock ... Kind of a second tier Kim Simmonds and Savoy Brown. So much for initial impressions.
Formed in 1968 and originally known as The Bakerloo Line Blues Band, this short-lived outfit featured the talents of former Harwell Reaction and The Vipers guitarist Clem Clempson, ex-The Pinch drummer David Hinch, and singer/bassist Terry Poole. Pinch's stay was extremely brief, by the time the band had abbreviated their name to Bakerloo and entered the recording studio he'd been replaced by Keith Baker.
Having signed on with manager Jim Simpson, the band got a break when they were hired as part of a UK tour that featured the bands Earth (soon to become Black Sabbath), Locomotive, and Tea and Symphony. The resulting publicity saw them hired by London's Marquee Club where they served as opening act for the likes of Jethro Tull and Led Zeppelin.
LP inner sleeve
One of the first acts signed to EMI's Harvest subsidiary, they made their debut with the 1969 single:
- 'Drivin' Backwards' (instrumental) b/w Once Upon a Time'' (Harvest catalog number HAR 5004)
Even though their adaptation of a Johann Sebastian Bach number didn't set the charts on fire, it attracted sufficient attention for Harvest management to finance a supporting album. Produced by Gus Dudgeon and released as the cleverly-titled "Bakerloo" (thankfully the original title "Gang Bang" was dropped), the set's become a highly sought after and valued collectable, though I still don't see the underlying appeal. That's not to imply these guys weren't talented. They clearly were. While neither Clempson nor Poole were the greatest singers you'd ever heard, they were good enough for these blues-tinged numbers. Mire importantly, Clempson's playing was quick and clean with a nice jazzy-feel that occasionally recalled an Alvin Lee, or Kim Simmonds, while Baker and Poole made for a tight rhythm section. That said, too often their mixture of Cream-styled jams and plodding English blues moves simply failed to ignite much excitement. In fact, on some of the longer numbers ('Gang Bang' and 'Son of Moonshine'), the results proved yawn inducing.
- With the focus was clearly on Clempson agile guitar, 'Big Bear Folly' opened the album with a mildly engaging, jazz-tinged instrumental. The man could definitely play guitar (this performance has always reminded me a bit of Kim Simmonds), but after a couple of minutes the song seemed to lose its way and I just wanted it to come to an end. rating: ** stars
- Seemingly no self-respecting late-1960s vintage English blues band could record an album without at least one Willie Dixon tune and 'Bring It On Home' was Bakerloo's contribution to the catalog. With Clempson handling the lead vocals, the results weren't half bad, though it wasn't going to make your forget Dixon's original. rating: ** stars
- Based on a Johann Sebastian Bach's 'Bouree', 'Drivin' Backwards' was actually a clever an engaging update. Certainly an odd choice for a single ... Wonder if Focus ever paid any royalties to these guys ... rating: **** stars
- Featuring Poole on lead vocals (he wasn't ebad), 'Last Blues' started out as a slow, heavy blues-rocker before morphing into an extended and needless Clempson hard rock solo. Luckily it then returned to the original melody. Complete with wind sound effects and Clempson effects laiden guitar, this one's always reminded me of something out of Robin Trower's early-1970s catalog. Regardless, the result was one of the set's most memorable performances and it would have been even better without the mid-section soloing. rating: **** stars
- Apparently meant as an opportunity for each member to get a crack at the spotlight, there really wasn't a great deal to the instrumental jam 'Gang Bang' ... Need to hear a lengthy Poole drum solo? Well here's your chance. rating: ** stars
- Side two found the band stretching out on a pair of extended blues numbers. 'This Worried Feeling' was standard English blues-rock that would have found an audience for John Mayall, Savoy Brown, or Ten Years After fans. While Clempson's vocals and lead guitar were professional throughout, the seven minutes just dragged on and on. rating: ** stars
- Another extended blues-rock number, 'Son of Moonshine' was also the best of the genre, though again, clocking in at 15 minutes Clempson guitar pyrotechnics eventually wore out its welcome. rating: *** stars
Okay, I didn't rave about this one, but so what ... it may be a masterpiece to your ears.
"Bakerlook track listing:
(side 1)
1.) Big Bear Folly (instrumental) (Clem Clempson - Terry Poole) - 4:00
2.) Bring It On Home (Willie Dixon) - 4:29
3.) Drivin' Backwards (instrumental) (Johann Sebstian Bach) - 2:06
4.) Last Blues (Clem Clempson - Terry Poole) - 7:05
5.) Gang Bang (instrumental) (Clem Clempson - Terry Poole- Keith Baker) - 6:21
(side
2)
1.) This Worried Feeling (Clem Clempson - Terry Poole) -
7:05
2.) Son of Moonshine (Clem Clempson - Terry Poole) - 15:00
full album cover scan
In he wake of Clempson's departure, claiming ownership to the Bakerloo name, band manager Simpson tried to keep the nameplate going. Supporting Baker and Poole, guitarist Adrian Ingram was brought in as a replacement for Clempson, as was sax player George Northall. The revamped line-up toured throughout the UK and Germany, but failed to attract an audience and within a year they were history, though Ingram and Northall stayed together long enough to join the band Hannibal - Ingram even appeared on the group's 1970 self-titled LP.
Charisma catalog number CAS-1022
While Bakerloo had an extremely short lifespan, the four principles went on to enjoy extensive careers.
Baker's career included stints with May Blitz, Warm Dust, Daddy (a pre-Supertramp outfit), and Uriah Heep.
Clemson's post-Bakerloo career included stints replacing James Litherland in Colosseum, replacing Peter Frampton in Humble Pie, the Uriah Heep spin-off Rough Diamonds, Champion, and Strange Brew.
Original drummer Hinch reappeared as a member of the band Hiroshima, followed by a stint in Judas Priest.
Poole spent time with Baker in May Blitz, followed by Graham Bond, and Vinegar Joe.
I've
never heard it and I'm not sure it it's even a legitimate release, but
there's also a live LP: "BBC Sessions 1969"
().
"BBC Sessions 1959" track listing:
1.) Big Bear Ffolly
2.) This Worried Feeling
3.) The Last Blues
4.) Driving Backwards