Their career was only 7 years long at best, Like from 2019 to now. But in that time they embraced psychedelic pop, folk, folk-rock, jazz and rock. They were loved by the Grateful Dead because their ability to extemporise, changed line-ups several times, never made a bad album, yet 4 of them never even charted in the UK and one of their best Low Spark of the High Heeled Boys didn't chart at all despite making 7 in America.
The debut was pure psychedelia and bore little relation to what came later. We used to play Dear Mr Fantasy in a band. It was a great song to jam on.
"No Face, No Name and No Number” and “Coloured Rain” are classic LSD infused songs. The second album is even better with songs like 40,000 Headmen and Feelin’ Alright” and “Pearly Queen” and achieved their highest position #9. Last Exit’s put-together of live tracks and singles etc marks the transition to a different phase and maybe their best.
John Barleycorn Must Die is wonderful. Their interpretation of the old folk song is really well judged and atmospheric. Steve Winwood’s influence makes this super classy.
The next two studio albums I see as a pair, both feature tracks extended on On The Road and it’s midtempo poise dominates with some lovely saxophone work from Chris Wood Shhot out At The Fantasy Factory has some great songs like Roll Right Stones. Sometimes I Feel So Uninspired and the title track.
I love the 1970 -74 period. The live album shows how great they were live. They were a unique hybrid who spanned a lot of different soundscapes. The records are beautifully produced initially by Jimmy Miller and later Steve Winwood. Even the final When The Eagles Flies has the brilliant 11-minute "Dream Gerrard" co-written with Viv Stanshall. It was criticised as self-indulgent at the time but I think it stands up well.
There aren’t many bands who are so consistently good across all their records, especially one that changed their sound so profoundly. America loved them but the UK blew a bit hot and cold on them, it might have been down to lack of touring because it’s quite inexplicable. I would take John Barleycorn as one of my desert island discs.
