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Baker Gurvitz Army

Live 1975

Review by Gary Hill

This live album from 1975 has been expanded to include several songs from a different show the same year. Baker Gurvitz Army was always an intriguing band, managing to move between and merge diverse musical genres from hard rock to funk, soul and more into something that was uniquely their own. Of course, with Ginger Baker in the band, you know that they would do some Cream, and one track here is from that group. All in all, this is a solid set of live performances.

This review is available in book (paperback and hardcover) form in Music Street Journal: 2024  Volume 3 More information and purchase links can be found at: garyhillauthor.com/Music-Street-Journal-2024.

Track by Track Review
Live at Reading University 1975
                         
Wotever It Is

Drums start this. They bring it in from there with a groove that makes me think of Deep Purple. The vocals have an almost Motown vibe, though. They make me think of Rare Earth a little. The tune has some serious funk built into it. It wanders out into some smoking hot guitar soloing on the instrumental break later, though.

The Gambler

A slower, bluesier rocker, the vocal arrangement on this again makes it really stand out. The keyboard elements also alter the texture. There is some really classy guitar work on this piece.

Freedom

They put in a cool soulful, but rocking rendition of this classic chestnut. It's high energy and so classy. The keyboards lend an intriguing angle.

4 Phil

Basically a blues showcase, this features some pretty awesome organ work. It also has some smoking hot guitar playing. There is a real jam band kind of vibe to the extended instrumental opening section. It shifts out eventually to more of a mainstream driving rock sound for the vocals. I'm reminded a little of Sly and the Family Stone on this for some reason, but also The Allman Brothers.

Remember

This is a rocking powerhouse. It has some intriguing twists and turns. I love how the vocal arrangement is well developed, but yet the instrumental mode doesn't take a back seat. There is a good balance between more rocking and mellower movements, and while a lot of it is guitar dominated, there is still plenty of room for the keyboards to shine.

Memory Lane

Now, this also has a contrast between more driving and less, but it's overall a much more powered up and frantic piece than the last one was. It has plenty of classic 1970s rock sound built into it, too. This cut includes an extensive drum solo. Baker was an amazing talent, but I'm not really the audience for drum solos, so it goes on a bit long for my tastes. The acapella section later again makes me think of Rare Earth, and as the instruments rejoin that same vibe is retained.

People

This is another song that's focused on the blending of Motown elements and more rock-based ones. It's also another winner with some great musical moments built into it. This includes a killer funky instrumental break later, too. It turns toward heavy prog rocking as it continues. even getting a little spacey at times.

Additional Tracks:
                   
Live at the New Victoria Theatre London 1975
                       
Drum Solo

As you might guess, this track isn't really my kind of thing. I'm sure there are those who will really enjoy it, though. Although, at about eight-and-a-half minutes, I think it might tax the patience of even some of those. We do get a tease of Cream music at the end of it.

Hearts on Fire

More straight-ahead blues rocking sound is on the menu here. The sound on this recording isn't as good as that on the first set here. Still, this is far above bootleg level. This is a real guitar showcase piece.

Help Me

I really dig this song a lot. It has driving sections and mellower ones. Yet it's all delivered with a real classic rock sensibility and flavor. This is classy stuff. There is some scorching guitar soloing built into it, too.

Sunshine of Your Love

Here they deliver a full-on Cream cover. I think this suffers a bit from the lack of Jack Bruce's vocals, but it's still a rocking rendition of a classic tune.

 
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