Customer Reviews

Aynsley Dunbar Retaliation

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

 

 

I bought this vinyl album on a lark when I was in high school. It had just come out and I was intrigued by the name. I had no idea what to expect. Once I put it on the turntable, I was quite disappointed. It didn't rock at all! I wasn't really into the blues that much at the time. However, my friend Dennis was, and he borrowed the album. I eventually got it back, without the original cover, and kept it in my album collection in just a sleeve with the title hand-written on it.

Jump 40 years later and I burned it to a CD and have been listening to it on my long commute to work.

The one song I remember is Watch And Chain and hearing it again after so many years, brings back a rush of memories from high school. Though I never played it much, Dennis did, and it took plenty of abuse and is scratchy and poppy. All that noise actually adds to the charm of it now. An old scratchy blues album sounds better than one that is pristine, in my opinion.

For some reason, this band really nails the blues. They make it sound so authentic, especially for a bunch of Blokes. They somehow tapped into the genuine vibe and pulled off a great group of songs. All the songs are good, but I especially favor Watch and Chain, and the more extended cuts on side two.

This is British blues at its best and I highly recommend it for blues fans.

Aynsley Dunbar had a great assembly going strong here in the late sixties. This I believe is their debut album, and it contains some of the best British blues ever recorded. Singer Victor Brox went on to greater fame as he procured one of the lead roles--Judas Iscariot?--in Jesus Christ Superstar. It is so novel and refreshing to listen to a man sing who actually sounds....like a man! Of course, drummer Aynsley Dunbar himself shook off the blues and made megamillions in Journey. High points are Whiskey Head Woman and Double Lovin, the latter which features a truly magnificent solo by John Moorshead, a sadly unknown and unsung guitarist. I have it on good authority [see comments after my review here] that, after hearing the track, no less a guitar luminary than Jimi Hendrix remarked that Mr. Moorshead's solo was THE BEST playing he'd ever heard! Those two cuts are worth the price alone, but there are many others to enjoy. A landmark recording in British blues history. And it's not just blues, is it? There are a wide variety of musical styles and genres here.

I'd have given it five stars, but I only give five stars to the most stupifyingly phenomenal stuff, you know, the things which have the power to change your life.

This CD is great and the digital remix is even better. Aynsley Dunbar is one of the greatest drummers of our time and this was his first effort to do his own thing. The AD Retaliation band was huge and had/has a world wide fan base. Aynsley was eventually recruited out of this band by Frank Zappa to become one of the Mothers and complete another successful chapter in his career. He went on to record with the biggest names in the busines including Lou Reed, Journey, Jefferson Starship, Whitesnake, and many, many others. Look at his website and you won't believe it.... http://www.aynsleydunbar.com

white fella blues ,the late 60,s style.raw ,not overdone with bombastic solos.rare pure.he drummed for frank zappa 200motels.hammond organ provides warmth .sadly neglected gem of the late 60,s blues explosion in the u.k..out of stock what a shame.super drum rolls.

hey Iam listening to the band now,I ve got it only on cassette...and might have mixed up the review before about the hammond organ..sorry..Ive got 2 vinyl records of the retalition and two tapes of their other albums and the other one ,the mum one with the great cover ,now im away from my vinyl records and tapes have to do ...check this music out it is pure ...Iwas listening to this stuff in London UK when ...1982/3 when really I was into Punk,seeing bands at the clubs..coming home with my then American girlfriend Susan it was the retaliation 4o,clock in the morning.. this white fella blues did it then does it now .living in the tropics ...older... and white stripes and retaliation any of their music will make your hairy parts stand up ... that good it is.early morning blues you and your lover whilst the head is spinning from the speed of being eternaly young and married to freedom at the time and now ...peace power and passion...volker