AMEN CORNER/FAREWELL TO THE REAL MAGNIFICENT SEVEN IMSP 028 (-69) UK

Band founded 1966 in Cardiff, Wales. Initially having a jazz blues orientation, but after getting their first record contract with Deram 1967 escorted towards a more commercial output largely consisting of cover versions. After four charting 45:s on the UK list, where of "Bend Me, Shape Me" at #3 and "High In The Sky" at #6, they moved to Immediate early 1969 and immediately got their first #1 with "(If Paradise Is) Half As Nice" (English version of an Italian song first rejected by The Tremeloes), followed by Move's "Hello Suzie" reaching #4 and a non-charting cover of Beatles "Get Back". By then the label was going bankrupt from bad management and this LP became the band's last before the 1976 "The Return Of The Magnificent Seven (Immediate IML 1004). What you get here is a mix between five self-penned and nine covers. But when listening it doesn't really matter who did what. This is good rock'n'roll - well performed and produced, warm melodic and very appealing. In a way an early taster of what would happen to British music in the seventies. I guess later prominent band's as Slade and Nazareth listened and learned how to make heavy rock catchy and highly commercial by well performed emotional vocals to a hard yet embracing background. Audio is very good, big and bouncy with a soft edge. For me a happy album fitting for background as well as close listening. Big smile. Favorite tracks - "Lady Riga", "Hello Susie" and "(If Paradise Is) Half As Nice". 1969 issues also in Australia and New Zeeland (same labels and numbers). Japan 2009 CD (Victor VICP 70114) came with six bonus tracks. Premiere UK had label as shown here and matt fold/out cover. (YDÄ*)