Description
TOPS101 Gatefold Sleeve and fantastic artwork by the one and only J. Petagno. Feat. ex-members of: Three Man Army/Gun/Cream/ Blind Faith. Ginger Bakers (legendary drummer) playing is really impressive.
English rock group. Their self-titled début album featured a blend of hard rock laced with Bakers unmistakable drumming. The lengthy “Mad Jack” was the albums outstanding track. The following album contained similar material
Former The Gun and Three Man Army members, Paul Gurvitz and Adrian Gurvitz joined forces with ex-Cream drummer Ginger Baker in 1974. Things had not been going too well for Ginger Baker since the demise of his own band Ginger Bakers Air Force. The Gurvitz Brothers, too, were looking for a new way ahead after the early success of their band The Gun.
When Cream split up in 1968, Ginger Baker was invited to join Blind Faith, which formed the following year. This was not such a successful venture and following its demise, Ginger decided to put together his own outfit, Ginger Bakers Airforce, in 1970. This huge band included many of his friends and favourite musicians like Graham Bond, Phil Seamen, Denny Laine and Steve Winwood. The band recorded two ‘live’ albums, but eventually the whole project became too costly. In 1974, though, it seemed he could use his greatest talent in the Baker Gurvitz Army. Their first album was released the same year and featured a dynamic mixture of heavy rock, guitar themes propelled by Bakers irrepressible drumming.
The band recorded Elysian Encounter but personality clashes eventually led to the band breaking up the same year of their last release.
Check review video:
Label: Mountain – TOPS 101
Format: Vinyl, LP, Album, Gatefold
Country: UK
Released: 1975
Genre: Rock, Prog Rock
Tracklist:
A1 People 4:10 Written-By – A. Gurvitz*, G. Baker*
A2 The Key 6:25 Written-By – G. Baker*, P. Gurvitz*
A3 Time 4:03 Written-By – A. Gurvitz*
A4 The Gambler 4:15 Written-By – A. Gurvitz*
B1 The Dreamer 3:38 Written-By – A. Gurvitz*
B2 Remember 5:23 Written-By – A. Gurvitz*, G. Baker*
B3 The Artist 5:15 Written-By – A. Gurvitz*
B4 The Hustler 6:40 Written-By – A. Gurvitz*, G. Baker*, P. Gurvitz*
Phonographic Copyright (p) – Mountain Records (U.K.) Ltd.
Recorded At – Island Studios
Mixed At – Trident Studios
Mastered At – Abbey Road Studios
Arranged By – Baker Gurvitz Army
Bass Guitar, Vocals – Paul Gurvitz
Drums, Percussion, Vocals, Producer – Ginger Baker
Guitar, Vocals, Producer – Adrian Gurvitz
Keyboards – Peter Lemer
Lead Vocals – Adrian Gurvitz (tracks: A3, B2), Mr. Snips*
Mastered By – Chris Blair
Painting, Design [Sleeve Design] – Petagno III*
Baker Gurvitz Army (BGA) were an English rock group. Their self-titled debut album featured a blend of hard rock laced with Ginger Baker’s jazz- and Afrobeat-influenced drumming. The lengthy “Mad Jack” was that album’s outstanding track, and the album hit the US Billboard 200 chart, and peaked at number 22 in the UK Albums Chart. The two following albums contained similar material, although neither charted in the UK nor the US. When Cream split up in 1968, Ginger Baker was invited to join Blind Faith, which formed the following year. This was not such a successful venture and following its demise, Baker put together his own outfit, Ginger Baker’s Air Force, in 1970. Things did not go too well for Baker after the demise of that band.
Former The Gun and Three Man Army members, brothers Paul and Adrian Gurvitz were looking for a new way ahead after early successes, so they joined forces with Baker in 1974. In their first year they recorded one live and one studio album, following with two more studio albums, Elysian Encounter and Hearts On Fire. However, the death of their manager led to the band breaking up in 1976. In 2003, a compilation album, Flying In And Out Of Stardom, was released, including four new live songs.
Album Review
This album has really grown over the years. When it came out in 1975 it got slightly lost in the wave of somehow similar rock albums, many at the time released by better known names. However, this one turns out to be a survivor that still sounds fresh and enthusiastic after so many years and after most competitors are forgotten.
There is no real highlight among the eight tracks as they are all on an equally high level of quality, making this a truly great album that should not be overlooked. The album cover work is also a great drawcard that certainly catches your attention, thanks to the fine artwork and design by J. Petagno.
These five formidable musicians had enough talent between them to blow any band off the stage, which is clearly evident from what’s enclosed here. Both Baker’s drumming and Adrian’s guitar playing is some of the best ever heard on record. This music simply refuses to fade out and remains to be vibrant and exciting. Play it loud!
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