Blues Obituary [Vinyl]

Groundhogs | Format: Vinyl

Product Details

• Vinyl (January 27, 2009)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Sundazed Music Inc.
• ASIN: B001LX4LGE
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  Vinyl
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #376,907 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

1. B.D.D.

2. Daze of the Weak

3. Times

4. Mistreated

5. Express Man

6. Natchez Burning

7. Light Was the Day

Editorial Reviews

Sundazed Music's tradition of making rare vintage rock gems available again on vinyl continues with the dual release of Scratching the Surface and Blues Obituary, the first two albums by '60s British bluesrock legends The Groundhogs. Out of print for decades and never before reissued domestically, these two cult classics have been meticulously restored, using Sundazed's usual exacting standards; each is pressed on high-quality audiophile vinyl, and features original cover art.

Originally released in 1968 and 1969 respectively, Scratching the Surface and Blues Obituary are landmarks of Britain's blues-rock movement. Led by master guitarist/singer/songwriter Tony McPhee, the bandformed in the mid-'60s, borrowing their name from a John Lee Hooker song. Prior to launching their recording career, the Groundhogs developed a reputation as a powerful live act, and backed such visiting American blues greats as Champion Jack Dupree and Hooker himself.

The raw, rootsy Scratching the Surface ranks among the finest albums to emerge from the British blues-rock boom, matching McPhee's memorable original tunes with a blistering reworking of the Muddy Waters classic "Still a Fool." The album features the Groundhogs' original recording lineup of McPhee, bassist Peter Cruickshank, drummer Ken Pustelnik and harmonica player Steve Rye.

Blues Obituary finds the group beginning to stretch beyond traditional blues forms, as demonstrated on the seven-minute epic "Light Was the Day." Beyond its memorable cover art, Blues Obituary, marks the Groundhogs' first effort as a power trio, the format in which the band would do its most acclaimed and popular work.

In the four decades since these albums were originally released, Tony McPhee and the Groundhogs have continued to tour and record in Britain, while maintaining a rabidly loyal cult following on both sides of the Atlantic. These two rare classic LPs remain the cornerstone of the band's seminal body of work.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Oh yea - five stars and three thumbs up!, September 6, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Blues Obituary (Audio CD)

Recorded in June 1969 and still one of the best British Blues Albums at the end of the century. I'm sitting here listening to the original album and it's as timeless as the year it was recorded. There are a total of 7 tracks on the LP (I haven't heard the CD yet) - all are good although the best are "B.D.D." and "Natchez Burning". This album and "Thank Christ from the Bomb" are the Groundhog classics - Blues Obituary has all the raw power while TCFTB has the polish.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars British Kings Of Blues Rock, July 18, 2000

By 

JOHN SPOKUS (BALTIMORE, MARYLAND United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Blues Obituary (Audio CD)

If you want to debate on what British blues-rock act ruled in the late 60's to early seventies, The Groundhogs led by guitar wizard Tony TS McPhee win hands down in my book. I love this album more than anything ever released by Hendrix or Cream. A timeless classic. Warning to any guitarist; after hearing this you'll want to either sit down and practice or hang it up. McPhee is so good it'll leave your head spinning. Essential listen !

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A great band at one of their many peaks!, August 6, 2010

By 

John Dewey Stewart (Park City, KS United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Blues Obituary (Audio CD)

Every Groundhogs album is special in its own way, and you'll find different people have different favorites. This one is mine.

Recorded during June of 1969, this album captures them moving away from their traditional blues format into different territory. Rock music was becoming more virtuoso-driven at this time - Cream and Led Zeppelin had blazed a different trail out of the psychedelic era, and the Groundhogs reflected the new sound with their own, still heavily blues-inflected take on it.

If I would use one word to distinguish the Groundhogs from other bands of this era, it would be "gritty". Their blues roots still show, especially in the production values. These were guys who were the preferred backup band of people like John Lee Hooker, Little Walter, Jimmy Reed and Champion Jack Dupree. Even when they're stretching out into heavy rock or prog territory, the music still sounds like it was recorded at Chess Studios - not a bad thing!

Listen to the samples! These guys are stone pros, exploring some new territory, and if you like the sounds of that era and haven't heard this album, it will be a real eye-opener!