Customer Reviews

Band Plays on

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

 

 

I bought this way back when there were only LP's not CD's, but the tone is still there ... sharp as a razor . Paul had a true style and sound that in time would have made him a full-blown "star". At times he could be somewhat sloppy, but not on "The Band Plays On". I believe he had one of the finest vibratos in rock ... he made a note sing ... something most guitarist never learn to do well. Paul was also an excellent rhythm player ... he is known for his lead playing but just listen to any of the songs on the CD ... the dude could play ... and he had a really great band to perform with, Back Street Crawler could have been a contender ... but fate had other ideas for Paul, sadly enough. This recording is 35 years old ... so it has a time stamped on it ... but this was how rock kicked butt in its day. And thanks to this CD, The Band Plays On ... and so does Paul Kossoff.

Just as Ritchie Blackmore replaced the guitar player of Elf with himself and became Blackmores Rainbow. Paul kossoff replaces the guitar player from the band Bloontz, and renames the band Back Street Crawler. What a great move, I have the Bloontz LP and it was actually a good album, but with Kossoff playing the guitar, the band stepped up to Elite status. This is a really good album and Paul shows off his stuff with musicians other than the Free guys. If U like Blues U'll like this one.

The debut by Back Street Crawler "The Band Plays On" suffers from many of the same flaws as "Kossoff, Kirke, Tetsu, Rabbit"--the playing is terrific and some of the songs are quite good but lead vocalist Terry Wilson-Slesser is only adequate showing that voices like Paul Rodgers don't grow on trees. The mix of the album also buries the vocals which wouldn't be as much of a problem with a stronger lead vocalist.

allmusic mentions this album sounds a lot like Bad Company claiming that this explained why this failed to sell in large numbers. I don't know which album they were listening to but it wasn't "Back Street Crawler" because this sounds NOTHING like Free or Bad Company (and only shares the same rock-blues roots as Kossoff's previously band Free--half of which became Bad Company). Kossoff was a much better guitarist than Mick Ralphs but Bad Company had the advantage of two fairly prolific songwriters (Rodgers and Ralphs) who could write hooks and two occasional ones (Kirke and Boz Burrell)that could write solid material as well. Ironically, this album sounds more like early Mott the Hopple (which was the band that Rodgers recruited Ralphs from) with the original line up if it were fronted with a vocalist who sounded like Mick Ralphs but had the Dylanesque vocal mannerisms of Ian Hunter.

Mike Montgomery who wrote or co-wrote the bulk of the songs (and also provides a lead vocal or two)writes some nice material but unlike Free or even Bad Company, the songs lack the hooks to make the material work. Kossoff fans will find this essential though as he only recorded four albums outside of Free--the previously mentioned "Kossoff, Kirke, Tetsu, Rabbit", "Back Street Crawler" (his solo album not to be confused with this album "The Band Plays On") and "Second Street" (Backstreet Crawler continued on after Kossoff died changing their name to Crawler recording one album before disbanding).

Kossoff offers up some terrific playing on a number of tracks and that's the reason to pick up this album. Montgomery's songs are solid enough for Kossoff to hang some decorate blues guitar solos on while the rest of the band provides solid support.

This reissue by Wounded Bird was licensed from Rhino and is a flat transfer of the original album. The original mix was a bit murky to begin with and this self produced effort has much the same sound. This is a fine release and a solid album but those looking for something that sounds like Free or Bad Company are looking in the wrong place. This is essential for fans of Kossoff's fine guitar playing skills but it is far from a four or five star album.

"The Band Played On" was issued October 1975 on Atco SD36-125 in the USA and Atlantic K 50173 in the UK - this 2004 USA-only Wounded Bird label CD (WOU 125) is a bare-bones reissue of that long-forgotten Free/Paul Kossoff related album.

Typical of Wounded Bird releases, the inlay is a gatefold slip of paper which barely reproduces the albums credits - there's no added liner notes, no interviews, no history of the album, no outtakes, no demos...bugger all.

While there's no mention of master tapes or even a remaster, the sound quality is good throughout - not great - but good. Give it enough muscle on the volume control and you'll get a decent punch out of it.

Musically its very mid Seventies rock - some songs are great - some are mediocre. I love the slow blues of "It's A Long Way Down To The Top" with its prophetic lyrics (above) and Mike Montgomery's piano playing working off Koss's fantastic guitar work. The funkier rock tracks like "Jason Blue" and "Hoo Doo Woman" also remind me of "The Don Harrison Band" album (another 1975 LP on Atlantic) - a record that's a little Free meets a little Creedence meets a little Bad Co. Nice!

My personal fave is "Train Song" where Kossoff is ably supported by a great band - it funks along with Koss soloing away as only he could - so Free sounding...so funky...a criminally forgotten gem.

It's a shame WB didn't dig deeper and put up some bonus tracks, but as this is the only way you can get the album - I'd say it's still a worthy buy.

Docked a star for the less than stellar presentation though.

PS: the band's second album "2nd Street" from 1976 is also available on Wounded Bird (WOU 138) - it features John 'Rabbit' Bundrick on Keyboards with Terry Wilson-Slesser again on Lead Vocals