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Wednesday, October 2, 2019

Harvey Mandel - Baby Batter (1971 us, strong jazzy blues funk rock, 2016 remaster)



Originally released in 1971, this frenetic, funk-laden fusion of Jazz licks and Blues-Rock attack from former-Canned Heat guitarist Harvey Mandel is a true lost gem that pre-dates the later work of Jeff Beck, Al Di Meola et al. Featuring the knock-out band of keyboardist Howard Wales, bassist Larry Taylor and drummer Phil Lagos, this fine recording sounds as fresh as the day it was born.


Tracks
1. Baby Batter - 3:47
2. Midnight Sun - 6:25
3. One Way Street - 4:22
4. Morton Grove Mama - 4:59
5. Freedom Ball - 6:25
6. El Stinger - 7:27
7. Hank The Ripper - 5:16
All compositions by Harvey Mandel

Personnel
*Harvey Mandel - Acoustic, Electric Guitar
*Colin Bailey - Drums
*Big Black - Congas
*Sandra Crouch - Tambourine
*Paul Lagos - Drums
*Mike Melvoin - Keyboards, Organ, Electric Piano
*Joe Picaro - Percussion
*Jeff Porcaro - Percussion
*Emil Richards - Percussion
*Shorty Rogers - String Arrangements
*Larry Taylor - Bass, Fender Rhodes
*Howard Wales - Keyboards, Organ, Electric Piano

1968  Harvey Mandel - Cristo Redentor (2003 remaster and expanded)  
Related Acts
1965-66  The Barry Goldberg Blues Band - Blowing My Mind ..Plus (2003 remaster and expanded)
1967  Charley Musselwhite - Stand Back! Here Comes Charley Musselwhite's Southside Band
1968  The Barry Goldberg Reunion - There's No Hole In My Soul
1969  Barry Goldberg - Two Jews Blues (vinyl edition) 
1967-73  Canned Heat - The Very Best Of (2005 issue with previous unreleased track)
1970  Canned Heat - Future Blues (remastered and expanded) 
1971-72  Canned Heat - Historical Figures And Ancient Heads (extra track remaster issue)
1974  Love - Reel To Reel (2015 deluxe edition)

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6 comments:

  1. I noticed that they changed the cover for this remaster.
    Great Album. Harvey Mandel was once asked to join the Rolling Stones

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  2. Thank you "MARIOS"for remaster.Harvey Mandel is an outstanding guitar player.

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  3. Thanks, Marios, a strong and fluid album in the transitional phase of Mandel's career between the three classic Philips albums and the three Janus ones. Next, after a pause of nearly 20 years there would be "Twist City", an album concentrating on "modern" funk blues which is all but bluesy. All subsequent albums suffer from being shallow, meaningless, badly produced, and from mediocre material.
    @Anonymous: Glad, Mandel rejected The Rolling Stones' offer, he only would have joined the "guitarists who were used up by The Stones" league (see the highly talented Mick Taylor). Can't imagine how Mandel's unique licks would have fitted into The Stones' groove. Twin guitars of Harvey Mandel and Ron Wood? Phew!

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  4. Look what the stones did to Brian Jones. He was the most talented musician. Harvey Mandel's guitar playing on, 'So sad the world is in a tangle' and the eponymous Future Blues, cements his place as one of the greats. I know it made me want to play the guitar!

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  5. A great album - knocked me out when I first heard it - a great guitarist. Many thanks!

    -Brian

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