Love - Revelation

Love - Revelation

'Revelation' is a 19 minute psychedelic blues jam that hogs the whole of one side of the album 'Da Capo'. Some critics see it as a let down to the album - a kind of flabby afterthought compared to the focussed and territory staking songs of the first half. Be that as it may, this tune has a rolling charm of its own, punctuated by the agitated yelps of Arthur Lee, rousing harmonica parts and a low end that perseveres like a used car salesman on performance enhancing drugs.

Billy Cobham 'Stratus'

Billy Cobham 'Stratus'

A restless, surging bassline paves the way for an artillery of instruments on this 7 minute trip to the statosphere, whilst Billy knocks seven shades of shit out of a drum kit the size of a holiday cottage.

Santana 'Jam In E'

Santana 'Jam In E'

This is what Santana were all about - explosive, percussive jamming. Proper rug-swaying, freak-your-shit-out rock. Taken from the 'Acapulco Sunrise' demo recordings from 1968, when big ropey perms and bandanas were most definitely 'in'.

O'Donel Levy 'Bad, Bad Simba'

O'Donel Levy 'Bad, Bad Simba'

'Bad, Bad Simba' kicks pretty much every other jazz-funk/fusion record in to the proverbial 'row z' in a blur of pummeling guitar work. 

Ten Years After 'Help Me' (Live)

Ten Years After 'Help Me' (Live)

Anyone who has seen the Woodstock film (and if you haven't, why not?) will have the musical gymnastics of Ten Years After firmly lodged in their brain's musical highlights file. Their explosive version of I'm Going Home put them firmly on the white blues revival map and Alvin Lee is to many people right up there with the best guitarists of all time. This is a slow, building blues that lurches like a rabid, slavering hound, with Alvin scowling and baying for attention, needing love so bad because otherwise he might have to COOK and perform other domestic duties that seem so alien its comical.

Brian Auger 'Listen Here'

Brian Auger 'Listen Here'

A pinch and a punch for the first of the month from Brian Auger with added slaps, kicks, snares, organ and wild guitar noodlings for good measure. 

Neil Young 'No Hidden Path'

Neil Young 'No Hidden Path'

Once heard a quote from someone saying that Neil Young was a crap guitarist and that he always sounded like there was a solo in there somewhere but he just couldn't get it out. This says bollocks. Anyone fortunate enough to catch the be-gripped legend performing live on his Chrome Dreams UK tour will have had this track etched indelibly on their subconscious. Searing heat from a man that just won't stop doing it for the love of music, unlike some of his rock dinosaur contemporaries out to fund their latest island or personalised range of grooming products.