Customer Reviews

Art Gallery

5 star:		(3)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Art Wood (guitarist Ron Wood's less famous brother) fronted this British mod r'n'b act in the mid-60s. Their sound (distinguished by Art Wood's gruff vocals and Jon Lord's nimble Booker T.-like organ lines) was sure-footed and tough through relentless club gigs in the UK. Like other organ-based UK combos like the Graham Bond Organization, their main strength was their awesome instrumental prowess but not top-notch songwriting ability ('Art Gallery' is comprised mostly of soul and r'n'b covers). This fated them to relative pop obscurity and footnote status to late-60s supergroups like Deep Purple and Cream. But the recorded documents they left behind define an era. 30+ years later, they still sound exciting; their rhythmic drive on tracks like "Keep Lookin'" and "Be My Lady" is undeniable. No collection of 60s r'n'b from either side of the Atlantic is complete without it.

From here on in, I write silly messages about knowing the Bass player, Malcolm Pool...and the link becomes clear with the sirname! He happens to be my Dad. None the less that doesn't make me bias. The band is excellent to the last. I sometimes wish that the Artwoods had been around today. The music they were playing then I feel could have done so well against some of the bands that have come to light today. But then he wouldn't be my Dad, he would probably be someone elses, so I'm happy with history.

There's only one word that I think aptly sums up the Artwoods and this CD issue.......MAGIC!

I have all of the Artwoods' original 45s and they are in my box marked "Treasures of 60s British R&B". Go out and buy (or steal) what is quite simply a wonderful musical experience. FIVE stars isn't enough...."Can You Hear Me"??!

Originally released in 1966 on Decca Records, as this appears to may have been the Artwoods only actual album. I'm assuming the other two CD's of theirs '100 Oxford Streets' and 'Singles A's And B's' (see my reviews of both) are obviously B-sides and unreleased tracks. Duh! With this Repertoire reissue - you get the lp's initial twelve tracks + a whopping added bonus fourteen cuts to make this must-own classic even more of a have-to-have it in your collection title. Again, another of those out-standing CD reissues of some of the best music a lot of you have never heard. Old school British rhythm & blues fans, rejoice! This CD is sure to make your next house party, stay-over, get-together, etc. a most memorable event.