Reg King - Reg King (1971 uk, great classic rock with glam shades)

Reg King belonged to the Action, Mighty Baby, Blossom Toes,  B.B. Blunder family tree, leaving the Action before they became Mighty Baby and performing with (ex-Blossom Toes) B.B. Blunder after releasing this acclaimed and rare solo record.

Members from the bands above would form the backbone for this project, recorded over three years and guesting Stevie Winwood on keys. The Action had cut their teeth covering Motown soul during the mid 60s and those influences had not gone amiss for this LP, albeit through distorted guitars and stoney jams. 

The leadoff track “Must Be Something Else Around” is a blistering slice of hard English rock that probably gave Led Zep a brief jolt of anxiety. “That Ain’t Living” has the explosive impatience of certain tracks I know from The Action, but add this album’s key ingredient: raw and relentless blue-eyed soul, propelled by Reg King’s voice – probably the best of the British hard-rock-soul singers.

It’s not a grand slam on the other hand. I’m not much of a blues-hound, so “Down The Drain,” or six-minutes of predictable blues doesn’t do it for me. But “That Ain’t Living” pushes hard through a fully worthwhile six of spirited rock. There are a couple less memorable tracks, but the good hooks make this record worth a spin. Perhaps a good introduction to the Action family tree .

by Brendan (The Rising Storm)

Tracks
1. Must Be Something Else Around - 4:35
2. You Have Yourself a Good Time (Reg King, Peter Dale) - 3:10
3. That Ain't Living (Reg King, Peter Dale) - 6:41
4. In My Dreams (Reg King, Alan King) - 3:54
5. Little Boy - 2:57
6. 10,000 Miles (Reg King, Peter Dale) - 3:30
7. Down the Drain - 6:15
8. Savannah - 11:52
9. Gone Away (Reg King, Peter Dale) - 2:38
10.Must Be Something Else Around (Guide Mix) - 6:20
11.Must Be Something Else Around (Rough Mix) - 4:37
12.You Have Yourself a Good Time (Reg King, Peter Dale) - 4:23
13.Down the Drain - 3:10
14.Nobody Knows Where We Are - 5:58
15.10,000 Miles (Reg King, Peter Dale) - 4:05
16.Gone Away (Reg King, Peter Dale) - 4:21
All tracks written by Reg King unless as else stated

Musicians
*Reg King - Guitar, Vocals
*Brian Auger - Keyboards
*George Barker - Trumpet
*Brian Belshaw - Bass, Vocals
*Marc Charig - Trumpet
*Peter Dale - Vocals
*Elton Dean - Saxophone
*Michael Evans - Bass
*Frank Farrell - Bass
*Brenda French - Vocals
*Brian Godding - Guitar, Vocals
*Barry Jenkins - Drums
*Nic Jones - Percussion
*Alan "Bam" King - Guitar
*Danny McCulloch - Bass
*Paul Nieman - Trombone
*Roger Powell - Drums
*Martin Stone - Guitar
*Peter Swales - Vocals
*Mick Taylor - Guitar
*Dick Thomas - Drums
*Doris Troy - Vocals
*Kevin Westlake - Drums, Guitar
*Ian Whiteman - Bass, Flute, Keyboards
*Steve Winwood - Keyboards
*Jo Wright - Guitar

Related Act
1964-90  Action - The Ultimate Action

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