PUBLIC ENEMIES/FROM PUBLIC ENEMIES WITHOUT LOVE SLPS 1403 (-66) NORWAY

Norwegian r&b group existing between 1965-67 and then consisting of already cultured jazz musicians. During those years they became one of the leading live acts in their home country, also releasing a couple of '45:s and this album. 1967 guitarist Terje Rypdal and keyboardist Christian Reim pitched in and after the band dissolved bassist Hans Marius Stormoen and Reim went on to join Rypdal in psych/prog combo Dream. However the music here has little to do with the psych, prog or modern jazz some of the members later would get into. This is blue-eyed r&b and soul with a strong garage flavor. Two of the cuts are self-penned, the rest covering black US artists like James Brown, Booker T and Wilson Pickett - the song "Bo Diddley" credited to James Brown on cover and label. The performance is faithful to the originals with a slightly more jazzy feel. What I like best with it is Arild Boman's hammond organ, giving all tracks a nice warm atmosphere. Sounds like recorded more or less live in the studio with few overdubs. Audio is excellent. Released in compatible stereo/mono, but pushing the mono button doesn't make much difference and it sounds good whichever you choose. Also originally issued in Italy on Thunder (FPT-S 104) with other cover design. 1989 CD release from Sonet Norway was limited to 500 copies (KSCD 2). Earliest Norwegian had label as shown here, heavy vinyl, thin glossy cover and inner sleeve with text by keyboard player Arild Boman. Cover of this copy is rather spoiled - black paint on front and red tape on back, impossible to remove without damaging. At least I can show the original label and inner as they were. Personally I don't care much about looks anyway - as long as it sticks together and doesn't affect the music or audio it's fine with me. (SCÄ*)(ÖGÄ*)(CCÖ*)(SÖNÄ*)