Stone the Crows - Stone the Crows (1969)

Μία επιλογή από την Βρετανική σκηνή του blues-rock/R'n'B (αλλά και soul θα συμπλήρωνα) με αυτό το Σκωτσέζικο γκρουπ που κάθε άλλο παρά Σκωτσέζοι μοιάζουν κατά την γνώμη μου. Επέλεξαν πάντως για όνομα (αρχικά όπως λέει και το Αγγλικό κείμενο ήταν ως The Power αλλά μεσολάβησε για την αλλαγή ο μάνατζερ των Zeppelin) ένα ιδιωματισμό που χρησιμοποιούν στην πατρίδα τους αντίστοιχο με το To Hell with It. Όλα βαίνουν «ομαλά» στο άκουσμα μέχρι που ακούγεται η φωνή της Maggie Bell όπου προς στιγμήν μπερδεύεσαι αφού νομίζεις πως ακούς την αείμνηστη Janis Joplin (οι απαίδευτοι θα είναι βέβαιοι πως είναι η Janis). Αυτή η φωνή είναι κατά την γνώμη μου το στοιχείο που χαρακτηρίζει το γκουπ και του δίνει τον ξεχωριστό ήχο. Μία συνέχεια των Holding Company θα έλεγα με πολύ όμως αυθαιρεσία στον χαρακτηρισμό μου. Πάντως ακούστε και το Fool on the Hill και προσπαθήστε να θυμηθείτε μία άλλη φωνή. Στην ιδιοσυγκρασία μου ταιριάζει το Blind Man που θεωρώ και καλύτερο του δίσκου. Η επίσκεψη τους στην Αμερική απέφερε το τεράστιο χρονικά I Saw America το οποίο επίσης είναι αξιόλογο.

Personnel:
COLIN ALLEN drms A B C
MAGGIE BELL vcls A B C
JIM DEWAR bs A
LES HARVEY gtr A B C
JOHN McGINNIS keyb'ds A
RONNIE LEAHY keyb'ds B C
STEVE THOMPSON drms B
JIMMY McCULLOCH gtr C

ALBUMS:
1(A) STONE THE CROWS (Polydor 2425 017) 1969 SC -
2(A) ODE TO JOHN LAW (Polydor 2425 042) 1970 SC -
2(B) TEENAGE LICKS (Polydor 2425 071) 1971 SC -
3(C) 'ONTINUOUS PERFORMANCE (Polydor 2391 043) 1972 33
4(-) STONE THE CROWS (Comp.) (Polydor 2482 279) 1976 -
NB: (5) was reissued on Thunderbolt (THBL 070) 1989, also on CD (CDTB 070). (1) reissued on CD (Repertoire REP 4626 WY) 1997, (2) on (Repertoire REP 4624 WY) 1997, (3) on (Repertoire REP 4625 WY) 1997 and (4) on (Repertoire REP 4627 WY) 1997, with new liner notes by veteran journalist Chris Welch.

45s:
1 Mad Dogs And Englishmen/Sad Mary (Polydor 2066 060) 1971
2 Good Time Girl/On The Highway (Polydor 2058 301) 1972

This Scottish group set out playing blues/heavy rock and were originally known as The Power. They were 'discovered' by Led Zeppelin manager Peter Grant whilst gigging at clubs and air bases in Europe. He renamed them Stone The Crows and they signed a record deal with Polydor. The original line-up cut two tight soul-based albums. Les Harvey was a fine guitarist and Maggie Bell's raucous vocals gave them a winning blend. Both albums are well worth checking out but didn't get the critical acclaim they deserved, a factor clearly instrumental in the departure of Jim Dewar and John McGinnis in February 1971. Leahy and Thompson came in as replacements. Thompson had previously played in John Mayall's band as had Colin Allen.

The Teenage Licks album made a greater impression than their previous efforts and with Maggie Bell widely acclaimed as Britain's Top Girl Singer in 1972 things really seemed to be heading upwards for the band until Les Harvey was tragically killed on stage by a 'live' microphone during a gig at Swansea University. Jimmy McCulloch (ex-Thunderclap Newman) was drafted in as a replacement and their next album 'Ontinuous Performance was completed by this new line-up. Sadly commercial success continued to elude them and they eventually called it a day during 1973. Maggie Bell launched a solo career but never achieved the success her talent suggested. Jimmy McCulloch joined Joe Soap and later Wings. Stone The Crows can also be heard playing Raining In Your Hearts and Sad Mary on Polydor's 1971 compilation Bombers and Fool On The Hill on Rock Party, which appeared the same year.

Tracks:
1. Touch of Your Loving Hand - 6:01
2. Raining in Your Heart – 5:06
3. Blind Man – 5:09
4. Fool on the Hill – 4:07
5. I Saw America – 18:21

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