Customer Reviews

Women and Children First

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

 

 

Exceptional album of an experienced band combining powerful rock with prog & psycho, near to "King Crimson", "Procol Harum" etc. Foot-stomping anthems, guitar riffs, organ-driven psychedelic ballads - it's there. "Ancient Grease" are not unknowns - they started their life as a Welsh R&B band "Eyes of Blue" which had a couple of successful albums and as vocalist had Gary Pickford -Hopkins (later "Wild Turkey" and THE VOICE on Rick Wakeman's "Journey to the Earth")."Eyes of Blue" became "Strawberry Dust" and, finally, "Ancient Grease" (when they got signed by Mercury). The album didn't get enough support from brainless execs of the label - usual story - although it had a huge potential. The reminders of the band emerged in 77 as "Racing Cars" and even made it into British charts, but I am impressed with that one, from 1970. Re-released by "Angel Air" which has a motto "Where The Artist Has A Voice" - how very true! The voice of "Ancient Grease" got second breath with this CD

This is one of the best hard rock albums I've ever heard. Ancient Grease plays like there is no tomorrow and sounds like Led Zeppelin without inhibitions circa 1970. The lead guitarist, Graham Williams, sounds like Jimmy Page on overdrive. The lead singer, Graham Mortimer (Morty)is excellent and later was the main man in the group Racing Cars. On Freedom Train, Morty at the end of the song, does the best Paul McCartney imitation I ever heard. Buy this.

Band's sole album, originally came out in 1970. This four piece, coming from Welsh, UK may just be another one of those 'better '70's lp's that you've never heard'. Tracks that (sort of) threw me for a loop were "Freedom Train", the foot-stomping "Don't Wait", the semi-Zeppelin like "Eagle Song", the well-played acoustic "Time To Die" and the title cut "Women And Children First". Personnel: Morty Mortimer-vocals, Graham Williams-guitar, Jack Bass-bass guitar and Dick Ferndale-drums. Mortimer and Williams had notably formed the band - Racing Cars several years later. Recommended for fans of Free, Uriah Heep, early Zeppelin and maybe Humble Pie