GROUNDHOGS/THANK CHRIST FOR THE BOMB LBS 83295 (-70) UK

An album all accomplished fans of white blues seems to have an opinion about and most of them very positive. It has a well known history and is often mentioned as a cruisal point in the band's carreer - where the more traditional blues developed to incorporate elements of prog and hard rock and lyrics dealing with political or social issues. Many white blues bands at the time changed their agendas to hard rock and/or prog and seldom looked back. What's special with this is - though loud and heavy with repetitive riffs, howling solos and sometimes odd swings it's still just blues and nothing else. All centered around Tony McPhee's songwriting, guitars and vocals with bassist Pete Cruickshank and drummer Ken Pustelnick so precisely adaptive they come out like one stable organism. Audio is absolutely tophole - loud and cheeky, yet clear and natural. This doesn't take you by the hand and gently place you in the listening chair. Instead the power will press you down and force you to sit put till it's over. I usually don't like being pushed, but in this case don't mind at all. Favorite tracks - "Strange Town", "Thank Christ For the Bomb" and "Rich Man, Poor Man". 1970 releases on Liberty in US, Canada, downunder and a couple of European countries. UK 2014 CD on Parlophone (ERLP-2003). Premiere UK had label as shown here and structured fold/out cover. (XLÄ*)