Customer Reviews

Quatermass

5 star:		(4)
4 star:		(7)
3 star:		(4)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

This album is AWESOME! This album has a different range of music, anything from Led Zeppelin, King Crimson and Emerson, Lake and Palmer, it's hard to believe that hardly anybody has ever heard of this band and this album should be alot easier to find than it is cause it's that excellent, what's amazing is that there is no guitar player on this album and Quatermass is one of the best power trios out there.
My favorite song on this album is Black Sheep of the Family, Gemini and the instrumental Laughin' Tackle.
If you love King Crimson, Led Zeppelin, The Who, ELP and Deep Purple, then you should get this album, don't be afraid to get it cause it's a great album, and the liner notes are also a bonus.

Quatermass released this one and only album in 1970 on Harvest, which turned out to be one of the more rare and sought after items on the label. Luckily it's seen the light of day on CD. Quatermass is an odd band, because during the vocal passages, they play strictly in the Deep Purple and Uriah Heep vein, but unlike those bands, Quatermass never had a guitar player (the heavily fuzzed organ makes up for the lack of guitar), while during the instrumental passages, they're strictly a prog rock band, much like ELP, with Emerson-like keyboards. Comparisons to Atomic Rooster are also pretty common, as well as even the original 1969-1970 incarnation of Rare Bird (for the fact Rare Bird at that time also featured no guitar player, and the keyboards dominated as well). Quatermass featured bassist and vocalist John Gustavson, organist Pete Robinson, and drummer Mick Underwood. The one musician I recognize most is Robinson as he was later the keyboardist for Brand X in the late 1970s (1978's Masques, 1979's Product, and 1980's Do They Hurt). But what he done in Brand X is so different from Quatermass that it's hard to believe this is the same guy. John Gustavson was with some Liverpool club band from the early 1960s called The Big Three, who apparently was a regular at the Star Club around 1962 the same time as the Beatles. I don't recall Underwood's background. Anyway, "Black Sheep of the Family" was later covered by Rainbow on their 1975 debut. "Post War Saturday Echo" is one of the slower, more bluesy songs. The ballad "Good Lord Knows" features the use of orchestra. "Up on the Ground" sounds like some synthesizer is being used (and given this is from 1970, a big modular Moog was likely used as the Mini Moog just came out that year). The instrumental "Laughin' Tackle", because there's no vocals, is the band being strictly progressive all the way. Anyway, if you're a prog rock purist, you might want to stay away from this album, same if you're a hard rock purist, but if you like a fascinating blend of both, give this album a try.

One of those albums that noone else has ever heard of,and you love to turn people on to.A little of everything here.Some psychedelia,some thoughtful balladry,and some flat out rockers that cook.Gemini is a favorite.The recently released Quatermass 2,The Long Road,has nothing to do with the original feel(unfortunately)but the added track "One Blind Mice"is a nice surprise.

Mention a keyboard tro from 1970 and Keith Emerson's outfits, the Nice and ELP, immediately spring to mind. There are echoes of Emerson here- and the initial incarnation of Rare Bird as well- but the other band probably closest in sound was Atomic Rooster. Straddles the line between prog and heavy, unaware that the two musical strands were destined to become mortal foes. Drummer Mick Underwood was the tentative first drummer in Deep Purple. Bassist John Gustafson replaced Ian Gillan & Roger Glover in Episode 6. Gustafson & keyboardist Pete Robinson were in Jesus Christ Superstar with- wouldn't you know it?- Ian Gillan. Gustafson provided bass for three of Roxy Music's best albums.

. . . to borrow from an early Quatermass film. If you are looking for something new and original, you've put in the wrong CD. I don't get the Who or Zepplin comparisons, but their sound being close to Uriah Heap is right on the money. HEAVY keyboard album, this one. If you've also listened to Spooky Tooth, you can appreciate the blues touches that pervade this album. I don't think progressive rock is an apt description for these guys. Power trio definitely is. To give them some due, they did experiment with some jazz and orchestral touches. Personally, I think they should have taken an advertisement out for a guitarist, because the keyboard predominance is too sludgy and restrictive during certain moments when a guitar solo could have taken some of their songs much further than they didn't go. As far as the songs themselves go, "Black Sheep", "Good Lord Knows" and "Up On the Ground" are straight ahead blues rockers. "Post War Saturday Echo" is my favorite, because it is the only one that comes close to living up the the progressive rock moniker. Slow, wailing and surreal, this is the band in its finest moment. If there is any song that charts the band in ELP territory, it is "Make Up Your Mind", which sports a laborous organ and synthesizer duet. On the "Laughing Track" they pull out all the stops by adding an orchestra, an onerous keyboard solo, and a very laborous drum solo. The Laughing song unfortunately may scare you away; the orchestral arrangements may seem on a first listening to be out of place and the drum solo is stricly filler material. Of the bonus tracks, "One Blind Mice" (a ridiculous title-from a grammar standpoint) is another blues rocker. "Punting" dabbles in some funk and jazz. Thus, Quatermass. If you like your music served up loud and bluesy then you've come to the right album.

This album contains "Black Sheep of the Family" which was later recorded by Ritchie Blackmore's Rainbow on their debut. As for the rest,try to imagine a slightly jazzy ELP,and I mean that in a good way.Like all unknown bands you might want to give it a try and let it grow on you.No guitarist in the band but it's still likable and they make up for it by playing LOUD!

I live in Oklahoma City, and had the rare pleasure to witness Quatermass in concert, the 2nd billing to god knows who. I just remember being blown away by these guys. I went out to buy the album, and played it as loud as my quad car stereo system could play in my car. Keyboards, bass and drums.....that's it!! Sounds of The Nice, ELP, Atomic Rooster come to mind. Uriah Heep, Deep Purple maybe, but there is an edge here with these guys. Pay close attention to the bass lines and drumming on Post War Saturday Echo. I love the slow burn of the keyboard solo on Make Up Your Mind. Listen for a great snare drum lead in (about 2-3 seconds),and then the drums just kick in with a pulsating blast). Black Sheep Of The Family is sonic blast to get things started on the album (after a short keyboard/synth intro). Gemeni is just flat out rockin at break neck speed.

This is the kind of album you like to turn others onto, those who think they know classic rock, much less British rock. Meniton the name "Quatermass, and they say...who? Quatermass is meant to be played loud, and then louder! If you like your bands with a prominant keyboard mix, look no further than this gem, Quatermass. Known by a few. Unknown by most. The 14 other reviewers are the few, the proud, the owner of a classic rock British band in the truest sense. Buy it. Play it loud. And then, write a review and let us know what you think. Enjoy!!

Sounds like ELP plus Grand Funk vocalist with some keyboards "a la" Pink Floyd. That mix could be horrible, but not. It's Good. Quite Good

First came out in 1970, even better than the band's much later follow-up - Quatermass II - 'Long Road' {see my review}. Basically, just good British progressive. Tunes here I thought made this CD worth giving a spin every now and then were "Black Sheep In The Family", "Good Lord Knows", the eight-minute ELP-like "Make Up Your Mind" and maybe "One Blind Mice" {also sort of reminds me of ELP}. Personnel: Johnny Gustafson-bass & vocals, Pete Robinson-keyboards and Mick Underwood-drums. Note that Underwood is the only same player that shows up on the previously mentioned Quatermass II - 'Long Road'.

Just as good as when I first heard it. Brings back memories of the early 70's when all seemed a little more easy going and music wasn't so ....boring and dull as it is now!