Customer Reviews

Hogwash

5 star:		(13)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Hogwash is one of the great unsung rock albums of the 70's. This is a highly underated Groundhog album. While "Thank Christ For The Bomb", and "Split" are their two most popular albums with a lot of great guitar work on both, Hogwash is the album with the songs on it that really stick to the ribs. Tony Mcphee's guitar work is great as usual on here, but it's his production and music arrangements here that really steal the show. He's never been better than on the unbelievably creative "Earth Shanty", where he uses full orchestration to great effect. And "I Love Miss Ogyny", which has that mysterious, and yet sad sounding guitar intro that still gets to me every time I hear it. But my favorite on here is "3744 James Road", which is 7 minutes of the best progressive blues rock I've ever heard. The original album ended with "Mr.Hooker, Sir John", which was dedicated to Mcphee's idol John Lee Hooker. You also get 4 bonus songs on here. All acoustic tracks very different from the original album, but nevertheless some very tasty guitar pickin' by Mcphee. You can't go wrong with this album. One listen and you'll be hooked. And that's no hogwash. Highly recommended!

A lot of recordings don't get the air play they deserve and the Groundhogs "Hogwash" is one of them. From the opening sounds of "I Love You Miss Ogyny" I was hooked. This was unique and brash. Other terrific cuts include "You Had a Lesson", "S'one Song". "Earthy Shanty" and my personal favorite "3744 James Road". Solid guitar work by Tony McPhee is a true highlight mixed with his distinct vocals. Clive Brooks and Peter Cruikshank provide a great two party rhythym section on drums and bass. Clives innovative "the Ringmaster" solo is wicked.
I had previously purchased "Thank Christ for the Bomb" and was impressed enough to by Hogwash. It won't dissapoint the ardent blues fan by a long shot. Well worth the money.

Having been lucky enough to see the Groundhogs at a festival in Pennsylvania after the "Who Can Save the World" album was released, the follow up "Hogwash" blew me and my friends away. For Groundhog fans, this was the pinnacle of greatness for T.S. McPhee, from both the songwriting and tightness of the band perspective. Been listening to this one for some thirty years now and it still sounds great: from the opener: Miss Ogny" through his James Road classic and the amazing "Sad is the Hunter", Hogwash took the best elements of Who Can Save the World, Split and Thank God... and blasted off into space. Highly recommended and then some.

Hogwash is such a fantastic LP and part of the great unheard underground rock of my college days, that I would recommend this to anyone who loves "classic rock". This album is mostly heavy blues rocks. Earth Shanty is a one-of-a-kind song that is so aweome to sit back and just feel with eyes closed. There is no song I know of that takes you where this song does. I love the DEEP bass and Tony McPhee's lead guitar and vocals are awesome. The guys are very well known in the UK and if they had the airplay here in the US would have become one of the supergroups of the 70s. I spent about 5 years looking for this on CD and finally found it and it's well worth it to replace the LP.

Oh, man, is this a good album! First heard this 20+ years ago and have enshrined it in my record (later CD) collection ever since. Tony McPhee is THE underrated guitar hero, never mind yer Eddie Vans, yer Stevie Rays...McPhee does things on his fretboard that no one beyond Hendrix had thought of. The really great part is that he could go the distance acoustically as well, as his song "Mister Hooker, Sir John" proves admirably. He also writes LITERATE songs..."Sad Is The Hunter," "Earth Shanty" and "3744 James Road" particularly stand out in that regard, but everything here clicks. Get this album; you won't be sorry!

THE GROUNDHOGS WOW WORDS CAN'T DESCRIBE THE GUITAR RIPPING RIFFS IN "YOU HAD A LESSON" THIS TRACK WILL KEEP YOU AT THE EDGE OF YOUR SEAT. THAT IS IF YOU CAN SIT STILL WHILE T.S. McFEE THE LEAD GUITARIST STARTS YOU OUT ON A NICE PEACEFULL JOURNEY AND TOTALLY SUPRISES THE LISTENER WITH SUPURB SOUNDS. UNBELIEVABLE IS THAT THERE IS ONLY THREE VERY TALENTED MUSICIANS. I HAVE ENJOYED THE GROUNDHOGS FOR OVER 20 YEARS. I NEVER TIRE OF THIS CD "HOGWASH" YAHH!

This was the missing piece of my collection of Groundhogs, slipping between Who Will Save The World and Solid.

As many have said, The Groundhogs are an acquired taste, no different than say, Motorhead. That being said, the Hogs are my taste when it comes to blues rock. Tony's no-pick guitar style is unique and fresh, and his vocals are like no other. Yeah, he'd probably not do so well on American Idol, but most likely because he can actually play an instrument besides sing. However, when it comes to his craft, there is nobody better.

I like every cut on the album, and find the style more reminiscent of Who Will Save The World (my all-time favorite) than any other Hogs album. Despite no mistaking who is playing, each Hogs album is different enough that they stand on their own.

I especially like when Tony goes off with his solos. Some may not like such extended jams, but that is something I really get into, and he does plenty of that on Hogwash. A couple of the songs here have become staples, especially I Love Miss Ogyny, 3744 James Road, Sad Is The Hunter, and Earth Shanty.

Hogwash is classic Groundhogs, and if you liked their earlier stuff, you won't be disappointed here. Highly recommended.

Classic British blues rock from one of the best, but least well known bands of all time. This should belong in everyone's CD collection along with their other masterpice, SPLIT. I first heard it 25 years ago and I still think it rocks.

When I played lead guitar in a band 30 years ago, Radio DJ friends turned me on to a LOT of GREAT Rock Music that wasn't even making the big times. The Groundhogs were every bit as innovative as Led Zeppelin and Pink Floyd in coming up with new sounds in Heavy Blues Rock sound. This Album would list in my personal list of 100 greatest classic rock albums of all time. Yet most people have never even heard of them. If you like slow blues rock this album will blow you away!

OK so everybody who thought Nirvana Invented grunge needs to check out the Groundhogs From 1969-1974.
Hogwash whilst not typical is probably there greatest work.
Largley undervalued by a record company, who refused to promote it properly at its time of release.
This album is a must listen for anyone politicaly, economicaly & enviromentaly concerned for the planet.
If you don't like wishy washy political folk music, then this is definitley for you.
Its angry, Inteligent, and strangely prophetic of the world as we know it today.
Master Rock Guitarist Tony Mcphee's masterpiece.
Not as noisey as his previous albums, "Thank Christ For The Bomb", "Split" & "Who Will Save The World".(all worth checkin out!)
But Technicaly superior & Superbly crafted.
So if you wanna be different, & Have your own thing to turn your friends on to this controversial CD is a must.
"I'm on my 4th copy since 1972".