LEIGH STEPHENS/LEIGH STEPHENS AND A CAST OF THOUSANDS CAS 1040 (-71) UK

 His second solo album after leaving Blue Cheer following their second album "Outside Inside". So far not familiar with his first - the 1969 "Red Weather" - but since Blue Cheer, especially through their debute "Vincebus Eruptum"  https://monolover.blogspot.com/search?q=vincebus+eruptum , were very dirty forerunners in the hard rock genre you could expect great things here. And it does deliver...almost...in a way. Apart from a cover of Rolling Stones "Jumping Jack Flash" all numbers are self-penned and he's surronded by players as Ashton, Gardner and Dyke and Jethro Tull  bassist Glenn Cornick among others. Recorded at Island studios, London, and produced by Stephens himself. Those expecting something close to the early Blue Cheer albums may be disappointed. This is more pastel, partly reinforced by brass and female background quires. To my ears a little uneven. I'm not all in with all vocals, but his guitars are very good all the way. And I can be without the funkier trials, but he JJF cover works well and I get some very fine rock'n'roll moments in "The World's Famous Soul Transplant", "Simple Song", and "Oh Lord". Maybe not the stone hard stuff I expected, still a quite all right rock album with enough weight to secure a spin every now and then.  Vinyl issues also on Philips in France, Holland and Downunder. Italy 2004 CD on Akama (AK 094) in a fold/out sleeve.  Premiere UK had label as shown here in a thin matt cover.  (CÄX*)