Ripple Theater - Barry Richards TV Collection Vol.1 featuring Tommy Bolin, Alice Cooper, Humble Pie, Bob Seger

In the 3 years I've been scribbling for Ripple I've received some very cool stuff - lots of great music, some cool feedback on my reviews (Captain Sensible commented on my review of Grand Funk's Live Album!) and the chance to bond with my fellow rock freaks out there. But this DVD/CD that I was just got in the mail might be one of the best perks I've ever received. If you're into kick ass classic rock don't even bother reading this review. Just go to the bottom of the page and click the link to order a copy. Trust me, you're gonna want this as soon as possible.

Back in the early 1970's Barry Richards presented a low-budget TV show that featured rock bands playing live. Shit, just having good quality footage of Alice Cooper doing "Eighteen" and "Black Juju" from 1971 is worth whatever they're charging for this. And then there's the smokin' version of "Rollin' Stone" by Humble Pie back when Frampton was still in the band. So good! There's Zephyr featuring a very young Tommy Bolin (Racer, have you ordered your copy yet?) playing a gorgeous Les Paul. This is also back when Bob Seger used to rock hard so you get 3 killer jams including a burning "Ramblin' Gamblin' Man." Bob's really going for it rocking a red, white & blue Gibson Firebird (paint job probably inspired by Wayne Kramer's American flag Strat he played with the MC5) and a drummer with an insane drum kit. There's also some very cool footage of the Byrds backing up Fats Domino and an interview with Little Richard. But the best part for me is excellent performance from Muddy Waters.

The audio CD is also very cool. There are 2 interviews Barry did with the Beatles in 1964 that collectors will love to have. Dr. John also gets interviewed and turns in a great 10 minute version of "Gris Gris." Alice Cooper freaks like me will love the radio concert ad Barry did in 73 as well as the 16 minute interview with Alice and Flo & Eddie.

This review is kinda short because after the first viewing I was pretty dumbfounded. I could write some more but I'd rather go watch this thing again. The booklet has lots of cool photos and interesting liner notes from DC area native Joe Hasselvander of Pentagram and Raven. That guy certainly knows his rock n roll. This is mandatory viewing, don't snooze on it. The cover says it's Volume 1, hopefully there's a lot more of this coming out soon.


--Woody

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HUMBLE PIE - EAT IT

Too much free time on my hands is a dangerous thing because that means I can check ALL of the bins at used record stores. The kids today are buying lots of vinyl, and that's a good thing, but an even better thing is that they're ignoring all the great classic rock albums they've never been exposed to. This is where I come in. Used Johnny Winter and Joe Walsh albums for 3 or 4 bucks in decent shape - how can I not give them a good home next to their long lost friends Robin Trower and Mountain? So when I found this very nice copy of Humble Pie's Eat It for about 10 bucks there was no hesitation. It needed to be reunited with of Smokin, Thunderbox and, of course, Performance: Rockin' The Fillmore on my shelf. Eat It was released in 1973, a year that I've gone on record here many times saying it might be the best year for rock (Tres Hombres, Raw Power, Billion Dollar Babies!). Eat It is not as monumental as any of those records but it's still a great album and one that deserves a place in every heavy rock fan's library. Each side of this double album is a different thing. Side one is all hard rock songs, side two is covers of soul tunes, side three is acoustic and side four is live and loud in concert. No matter what kind of party you're having, Humble Pie have got you covered.

Side one rocks hard with kick ass songs like "Get Down To It" and "Good Booze and Bad Women." These are very much in the vein of the songs on 1972's great Smokin' album. "Is It For Love" is a moody R&B influenced song and "Drugstore Cowboy" is faster and funkier. Steve Marriott's vocals are excellent as always and the band really grooves. Very few English bands could play authentic R&B and a lot of that has to do with the Pie's killer rhythm section of Greg Ridley (bass) and Jerry Shirley (drums). These guys can really swing. Clem Clempson and Steve make a great guitar team.

Most rock bands trying to play soul music is pretty much a joke, but Steve's vocals have the range and expression needed for the material. Ike & Tina's "Black Coffee" is given a real workout. What a groove! Edwin Starr's "Shut Up & Don't Interrupt Me" is a lot of fun. There are also dramatic versions of the Ray Charles classic "I Believe To My Soul" (also covered by the MC5 in their live show) and Otis Redding's "That's How Strong My Love Is." Good side for when you're trying to convince a lady to move to the backseat of your car. If that doesn't work, side three might do the trick. Four acoustic, bluesy songs all written by Steve Marriott. "Say No More," "Oh Bella" and "Summer Song" are more back porch than the kind of mystical acoustic stuff that Led Zeppelin would do. The last song "Beckton Dumps" is more uptempo and has some electric guitar on it.

Once you drop the young lady off at the end of the night, it's time to CRANK UP side four and rock the fuck out. Recorded live in Glasgow, this is Humble Pie at their finest. "Up Our Sleeve" is not only one of Humble Pie's greatest songs, but it's also one of the most kick ass jams you will ever hear. Flat out, balls to the wall, driving rock n roll. This version is slightly less ferocious than the one that was later issued on Humble Pie's awesome King Biscuit CD recorded on this tour. The rest of side four is taken up with a  good version of the Rolling Stones' "Honky Tonk Woman" and an extended jam on Junior Walker's "Road Runner."

Humble Pie rocked like no other. They were such a potent band, it's a shame that they don't get more recognition. The domestic CD of Eat It is out of print but the import is still available. But the best way to experience this is on vinyl. The double album comes with a very cool booklet glued inside the gatefold sleeve with illustrations and action live shots. Musically, it also makes much more sense when you change the sides. Either way, it's a great record. And if you don't like it - EAT IT!


--Woody

Grifter - S/T

If Grifter didn’t exist I would have had to make them up. Three hairy, over the hill guys from Plymouth, England playing no frills heavy rock and living in a 1974 time warp will always be something I will encourage. Since 2003, Grifter has been kicking ass and putting out EP’s but now it’s full length album time and it’s on Ripple’s home grown label. How cool is that? Pretty fuckin cool if you ask me since Grifter rock hard and the Ripple guys are experts at recognizing the real deal. A match made in rehab, for sure.

If you’re into Humble Pie, Cactus and Foghat then you’ll like Grifter. There are probably some “modern” influences like Clutch and Fu Manchu in there, but they are overpowered by the original boogie. “Good Day For Bad News” is a powerhouse opening jam complete with a nice Johnny Winter-ish slide guitar solo. It’s followed up by “Alabama Hotpocket,” which is easily the best song title of the year if not the century. (Look it up, have a bucket nearby to hurl into). The chorus on this one is so catchy that it should be sung at sporting events.

If “Alabama Hotpocket” offends you, then chances are that songs like “Asshole Parade,” “Piss and Gas” and “Strip Club” will really get you upset. Sure, potty mouth lyrics and four letter words show a limited vocabulary but that’s society’s problem, not mine. When the riffs are this tough you can’t sing about lame crap like feelings or, even worse, politics. Some of the toughest riffs are on “Young Blood, Old Veins,” a total Black Sabbath stomper that wouldn’t sound out of place on the underrated Sabotage album. “Bucktooth Woman” and “Preacher And The Devil” were probably written after being bombarded with Blackfoot tapes in the van when they toured with Sun Gods In Exile. And I think I detect some Zep on “Bean” and “Unwelcome Guest.” The album wraps up with the nice acoustic “Gone Blues.”

Production on the album is top notch and all of the songs would sound great on the radio if the classic rock stations would take a break from brainwashing us with yet another Elton John weeper. Ollie’s guitar sound is killer, pure Charvel plugged into a solid state Peavey combo amp (just kidding!). Ollie’s a Les Paul/Marshall/Guinness kind of a player and the rhythm section of Foz (drums) and Phil (bass) are very tight and in the pocket at all times. Ollie’s vocals remind me at times of both Peter Frampton and Greg Ridley from their Humble Pie days. Hopefully next summer Grifter will get to headline Plymouth Jam II with Federale and Stone Axe at the Argyle Football Club stadium.

--Woody

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