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Tuesday, July 7, 2020

Tear Gas - Tear Gas (1971 uk, superb hard prog rock, 2019 remaster and 1993 bonus track issue)



Tear Gas, the Scottish rock outfit, released a pair of albums in the early ’70s that vividly highlighted their talents for guitar-based rock. Though the band kept up a rigorous touring schedule, it only really paid off once a few band members joined with Alex Harvey as The Sensational Alex Harvey Band. Still, Esoteric’s reissues of Piggy Go Getter (in its first-ever official CD release) and its follow up Tear Gas show the band’s early promise.

The Glasgow-based group originally formed in the tail end of the ’60s and included Eddie Campbell on keys, Zal Cleminson on guitar, Chris Glen on bas and vocals, Gilson Lavis on drums, and Andi Mulvey on vocals. By 1970, their lineup had changed.

By 1971, Tear Gas had undergone another shift in personnel as Eddie Campbell departed and Ted McKenna replaced Wullie Monroe on drums. Session keyboardist Ronnie Leahy stepped in during the sessions of what would become the band’s self-titled second album. He was a skilled player and, as Zal Cleminson recalls in the liner notes, “[Leahy] could do exactly what we needed.” The band’s goal for their next album was to create a collection of more rock-leaning material. While the debut had some Traffic-like hippie-folk, Tear Gas was inspired by some of their contemporaries to embrace a heavier sound.

To that end, Tear Gas took a stab at that Jeff Beck Group arrangement of “Jailhouse Rock/All Shook Up” and covered Jethro Tull’s “Love Story.” The latter, with its slow build and sudden dynamic shifts, was often the dramatic opener for Tear Gas’s live shows. With more than one scorching guitar solo and several intense instrumental interludes, “Love Story” was a far cry from some of the lighter fare on their debut. The medley of “Jailhouse Rock” and “All Shook Up” was equally heavy, with layers upon layers of distorted guitars consistently propelling the tunes forward, if sometimes burying the vocals along the way.

Other highlights include the rockabilly-inspired “Lay It On Me.”  Its crunchy leads, honky tonk piano, and layered slide guitar lines demonstrate their country-rock flair, which they amp up as loud as possible.  The Sabbath-like “I’m Glad” begins as a more straight-ahead heavy rocker with an array of propulsive guitar riffs.  After a lengthy solo, the band glides gently into the second part of the song – a more tender, ballad-like B-section with electric twelve strings, phasey drums, and yearning (if not particularly strong) vocals.  The band builds just as quickly into another rocking exit.

Though sales figures for Tear Gas showed much room for improvement, the album’s release brought the group attention throughout Europe.  In early 1972, Tear Gas opened for Alex Harvey at London’s Marquee Club.  By the middle of the year, faced with the fact that they weren’t going to reach the levels of their heroes, Glen, McKenna, and Cleminson signed on to be Harvey’s back-up group, eventually becoming known as The Sensational Alex Harvey Band.  Donning larger-than-life glam outfits and performing experimental-leaning music, the SAHB, as it became known, found a cult following in Europe.
by Sam Stone, July 9, 2019


Tracks
1. That's What's Real (Davey Batchelor, Zal Cleminson) - 6:03 
2. Love Story  (Ian Anderson) - 7:00 
3. Lay It On Me  (Davey Batchelor, Zal Cleminson) - 3:44 
4. Woman For Sale  (Davey Batchelor, Zal Cleminson) - 4:23 
5. I'm Glad (Davey Batchelor, Zal Cleminson) - 5:43
6. Where Is My Answer (Davey Batchelor, Zal Cleminson) - 5:54 
7. a. Jailhouse Rock (Jerry Leiber, Mike Stoller)
...b. All Shook Up  (Elvis Presley, Otis Blackwell) - 5:44
8. The First Time (Davey Batchelor, Zal Cleminson) - 4:47
9. The Temptation Of St. Anthony (Alex Harvey) - 5:06
Bonus Track 9

Tear Gas
*Davey Batchelor - Vocals, Guitar
*Zal Cleminson - Lead Guitar
*Chris Glen - Bass, Vocals
*Ted McKenna - Drums
With
*Hugh McKenna - Keyboards (Track 9)
*Alex Harvey - Vocals (Track 9)

Related Act
1972-73  The Senstational Alex Harvey Band - Framed / Next (2002 remaster and 2014 japan SHM) 
1976  The Sensational Alex Harvey Band - British Tour '76 (2004 remaster) 

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17 comments:

  1. Thanks Marios! I searched for this after hearing the Piggy Go Getter post but couldn't find it. Much appreciated!

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  2. Tear Gas (Rare original 1971 UK stereo vinyl LP on the red Regal Zonophone label designed by Storm Thorgesons Hipgnosis.
    Awesome the second album in the discography of the band without a doubt belongs to the leading edge of the heavy British play This Scottish band had a very heavy, dark, but clear sound. Catchy, specific compositions; paramount guitars (Zal Cleminson - after years of such Nazareth), a few modifications (Love Story - Jethro Tull, Jailhouse Rock - Elvis) and the occasional organs Hammonda in the background ... Soon after, the group adopted a proposal for Alex Harvey and became the Sensational Alex Harvey Band. Additionally, a live bonus - now with a new leader on vocals!

    Despite the fact that it has long been in my collections - edition Digipack Second Harvest....Thanks Marios!

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  3. Thanks! Another great one...

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  4. Thanks Mario. They are new for me and I will check.

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  5. Hi Marios,
    Any chance to post this album in MP3?
    Thank you!
    Alan - Brazil

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  6. I had a drive failure, so I'm baaaaackkk...thanks Marios! :D

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  7. 2nd album a true hard rock classic!!!!

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  8. Hello Marios, can you please fix the links to both Tear Gas albums? Thanks in advance, best regards

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  9. Hello Marios, can you please fix the links to both Tear Gas albums? Thanks in advance, best regards

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  10. Yes! I'm so happy to see this remaster version,because ESOTERIC made good sound.Thank you so much"MARIOS".(The second album will be awesome)?

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  11. PLOD PLOD PLOD !!!!!!!!
    Useless
    No wonder they went on to join in the UNsensational alax hervey band
    Did quite like their version of Tull's 'Love Story'
    Anony mouse

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  12. Thanks a lot Marios!!!!
    Happy to hear again this Excellent but short-living group!!!
    Best regards

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  13. Δυστυχώς 404 Not Found

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  14. Alexander, just cheked, links are working fine on both albuma..

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