THE ALAN BOWN - BBC Sessions 1967-1970 - EU Atos / Verne Press - LISTEN - VERY RARE

The Alan Bown is one of the most underrated bands of the turn of the 60s and 70s. While the studio records (apart from the brilliant 1968 debut) are a little uneven, the radio sessions for the BBC show the band as one of the best on the British scene of the time! The first side of this limited, 58-minute LP is filled with original, psychedelic, melodic compositions (sometimes lighter, sometimes heavier...) played with the participation of an exquisite brass section. I draw particular attention to the sophisticated arrangement in "All Along The Watchtower" (it is precisely this version that inspired Hendrix!), and the heavy, guitar-riff-driven "Penny For Your Thoughts". In truth it is hard to single out one track or another here, because all the recordings are simply exquisite! In addition, it is worth noting the excellent vocalist Jess Roden - later in Bronco and (with Robbie Krieger and John Densmore of The Doors) in The Butts Band! In 1969 Roden was replaced by the quite good Robert Palmer (a huge pop star in the 80s), and then came Gordon Neville, sounding almost identical to RP. So the second side of the album was filled with rock of a more progressive (at times folk) flavour, and the last two tracks are a real treat for fans of playing in the vein of Colosseum or Mogul Thrash! All the recordings sound ideal! A must! NEW, SEALED.