Customer Reviews

Underworld

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Even though this posting lists this particular title as having one disc, it's actually a 2-CD release. As many of you know, The Herd was Peter Frampton's early band - prior to joining up with Humble Pie. The Herd put out three lp's between 1967-68 and after closely checking out this pressing's total of thirty-one tracks, 'Underworld' looks to feature a good most of the light-weight British pop band's repertoire. Tunes here that I was sort of impressed with were "From The Underworld", "Paradise Lost", "Charlie Anderson", the somewhat inspiring "I Can Fly", "On My Way Home", "Sugarloaf Mountain" and "Understand Me". The Herd wasn't quite what I thought they'd be - but okay. Certainly doesn't suck by any means. Personnel: Peter Frampton-guitar & vocals, Andy Bown-guitar & keyboards, Gary Taylor-bass & vocals and Andrew Steelw {R.I.P.} - drums. Just might pull in fans and followers of the Honeycombs, Kinks, Small Faces and possibly Dave Dee, Dozy, Beaky, Mick & Tich.

The release of this 2-CD anthology by lightweight Brit-poppers The Herd made me suspect that perhaps now there are but only 1 or 2 dusty old acetates left unturned in the 60's vaults (let us pray). However, my "inner anglophile" got the better of me and I picked up this set based almost solely on the knowledge that the band claimed one Mr. Peter Frampton as a member. Not suprisingly, the 3 or 4 most listenable cuts all prominently feature (then teenager) Frampton's distinctive vocals and guitar. Of particular note is a true diamond in the rough-the sophisticated "On Your Own", which stands head and shoulders above the other material and would have sounded right at home on Frampton's highly underrated solo debut, 1972's "Winds Of Change" album. As for the rest of the material...well, let's just say it has not dated so well. Even in context of the era, some of these Small Faces-Lite numbers make Freddie & The Dreamers sound like thrash metal. In fact, the next time I need to punish annoying upstairs neighbors, I have a new plan: Aim my speakers heavenward, crank the volume, and put "Laugh & Dance & Sing" (CD 2, cut 1) on "Repeat Play" until they beg for mercy. For British Invasion completists only.