Poor Boy: The Deram Years 1972 - 1974 (+ 1 Bonus Tr) [Extra tracks, Import]

Chicken Shack | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (March 6, 2006)
• Original Release Date: 2006
• Number of Discs: 2
• Format: Extra tracks, Import
• Label: Castle Music UK
• ASIN: B000DXSBK0
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #60,214 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Editorial Reviews

Fronted by the ubiquitous Stan Webb, the mighty Chicken Shack were second in popularity only to Fleetwood Mac in the late '60s Blues Boom. This set re-releases Shack's three early 70s Deram albums, Imagination Lady, Unlucky Boy and the ultra-rare Goodbye Chicken Shack. Includes their European hit single 'Poor Boy' & the bonus track 'He Knows The Rules'. Castle Music. 2006.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Imagination Lady + Unlucky Boy, January 25, 2007

By 

Robert Carlberg (Seattle) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

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This review is from: Poor Boy: The Deram Years 1972 - 1974 (+ 1 Bonus Tr) (Audio CD)

After the four stellar albums represented by "The Complete Blue Horizon Sessions," guitarist Stan Webb took a two-year breather. Between 1970 and 1972 music changed A LOT, and when Stan was finally ready to retake the stage, the same old 4-bar blues just wasn't gonna cut it anymore. Stan's idea for the New Chicken Shack was a sort of hybrid between the old Shack and the newer heavier post-blues bands like Led Zeppelin, Cream, Blind Faith, Traffic, Jethro Tull, et al.

To my thinking the resulting albums, "Imagination Lady" (1972) and "Unlucky Boy" (1973) were not entirely successful. They never achieved the carefree adrenaline-fueled swagger of those other bands, probably due to Stan's perfectionist tendencies. Who ever heard of meticulous heavy metal? They never sold very well either (except in Germany) and their relative failure led to Stan's effective retirement a few years later (temporary, thank god). Nevertheless they represent an interesting coda to the Blue Horizon sessions, and a glimpse of what could have been.

Tacked onto these two albums is a rare German-only live album from 1974, showcasing the band in its power-4tet lineup thrashing through some ramped-up BB King, Bert Weedon and Little Richard covers. It is of passing interest, certainly not a lost masterpiece.

5.0 out of 5 stars Stan Webb at his best, May 14, 2010

By 

A.Kapic (USA) - See all my reviews

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This review is from: Poor Boy: The Deram Years 1972 - 1974 (+ 1 Bonus Tr) (Audio CD)

He came back after two years to make sure we don't forget he is one of the best. I guess he got sick and tired of screaming bands with songs made of "yeah","babe","c'mon"...,boring bands with one track per side of album (what is the point of repeating one theme over and over within the same song, 20 minutes drums and guitar solos/masturbation?)
Them Brits got the blues nailed down. Nobody ever got close to them. Chicken Shack,Juicy Lucy,Blodwyn Pig,Savoy Brown, Fleetwood Mac(with PG of course),John Mayall,Ansley Dunbar,Keef Hartley Band,Vinegar Joe... just to mention few.
Get this cd and you'll enjoy every second of it.

4.0 out of 5 stars A Great Alternative To Expensive Japanese Imports, May 2, 2009

By 

Trevor - See all my reviews

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This review is from: Poor Boy: The Deram Years 1972 - 1974 (+ 1 Bonus Tr) (Audio CD)

Here are all the Deram recordings together in one place at a great price. Stan Webb is a very underrated blues guitarist. The sound quality is quite reasonable. Buy this and the Blue Horizon compilation and that's all the Chicken Shack you'll ever need.
Enjoy.