?PINK 1970 Orig SPOOKY TOOTH ? I AM THE WALRUS ? LAST PUFF ? HEAVY Psych BEATLES

$

29

                   The LAST PUFF ... 1970 HARD ROCK       
                                                                          
                                   
                                             The LAST PUFF

                                                                                                                       Australia (PINK) Island - ILPS 933810
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ORIGINAL  = PINK ISLAND Aus RARE collectible in LAMINATED cover ...

The 47 years onward pressing is hard to find !

Includes the original plastic lined all black inner sleeve!

This is one of the best Spooky Tooth albums released in the dawning of 1970, a throwback to that magical era of innocence and wonder when the world was theirs to give. The LP was getting some prime airplay on the more renegade FM station broadcasting and serves up a solid and very good album of keyboard/guitar driven English hard/blues rock with an impact sound! Headlining the affair is a stretched out reworking of The Beatles masterpiece "I Am The Walrus" which takes the acidrock tune to new highs and arguably surpasses the Beatles version with riveting intensity - stylistically superb with anguished vocals and shattering guitar injections... the track, so stunning that it received heavy rotation on underground FM radio ...Beatles music was still somewhat of a sacred cow in those days and few groups outside of the progressive rock scene dared to fool around with anything written by Lennon/McCartney for fear of incurring the wrath of the Gods but the ultra- dark, macabre atmosphere these guys created drew listeners in immediately and without protest. Mike's voice is perfect for the grey mood of this delightful Hammond-laden dirge because he sounds like a man dancing along the jagged edge of insanity throughout. Another big difference is the tough, metallic heaviness to it that is rarely achieved. One of the finest performances of Beatles covers ever !! Original keyboard man Gary Wright left the band an excellent tune entitled "The Wrong Time" yet another highlight of this album. It features a sublime rock guitar riff that's one of the faves from that era and packs a strong punch. The rhythm section of drummer Kellie and bassist Spenner maintains an infectious groove that manages to both flow and drive at the same time. Luther Grosvenor's Jimmy Page-ish blues/rock guitar solo and interspersed licks blaze a fiery trail through the number and his gutsy tone is to drool over. Next up is an obscure Joe Cocker ditty called "Something to Say" and although it takes a while for the band to settle into the proper feel, Harrison's soulful rasp carries the load admirably until they do. They eventually find it and hit their stride when the repeating hook line arrives and the swaying chorale sends it soaring into the wild blue yonder. The musicians then lock firmly into a keys-led, Traffic-like stroll to the fade out that makes one feel like being outside on a sunny spring day. Speaking of Traffic, side two begins with "Nobody There At All," a song that gives off a palpable Dave Mason folk/rock vibe but, jumps right onto the fray with a somber, sentimental girl-that-got-away tune that ends with rocked-out emotion and fueled abandon. Elsewhere, the title track "The Last Puff," delivers a two-chord jam throughout as it possessed such a tight and lively groove. Overall the Lp provides a surprisingly tight and enjoyable effort...

I Am the Walrus ...6:20
The Wrong Time ...5:40
Something to Say ...6:05
Nobody There at All ...4:00
Down River ...5:10
Son of Your Father ...3:32
The Last Puff ...3:30