Can I get a witness (Steampacket) (LP 3948)

Steampacket  Rod Stewart & Steampacket (Vinyl, Pagan Records, 1993) ****  

Genre: Soul revue, jazz, R&B, blues

Places I remember: Real Groovy Records

Fab, and all the other pimply hyperboles: Can I Get A Witness

Gear costume: Back at the Chicken Shack 

They loom large in his legend (The Album Collection playlists): Part 1; Part 2; Part 3; Part 4; Part 5; Part 6

Active compensatory factors: A cheeky bit of packaging promotes this album as Rod Stewart & Steampacket. He's the biggest name that eventually emerged from this sixties' blues band, but it could just as easily have been marketed as Julie Driscoll & Steampacket, or Brian Auger & Steampacket, or Long John Baldry & Steampacket (he has the best claim as he started the band). 

All four were members, along with guitarist Vic Briggs, Richard Brown on bass guitar and Micky Waller on drums.

They never recorded a studio album, nor did they release a live album at the time. So where did these songs come from? The answer is - from some demo tapes they recorded at a rehearsal in the Marquee Club. They've been released in a myriad of titles ever since.

It's soul-jazz-rock music featuring Brian's cool organ sounds. The three vocalists are on form when featured, even though it's a demo, but it's Brian Auger that's the appeal for me. Everything he does has value.

 

Where do they all belong? What happened next is probably more interesting to fans of each member. Rod Stewart left in early 1966 and joined Shotgun Express. Long John Baldry left a few months later, and Steampacket disbanded soon after. Long John Baldry then joined Bluesology (which included a then unknown Elton John). Julie Driscoll, Brian Auger and Vic Briggs formed Trinity.

Freedom jazz dance (Brian Auger) (LP 2086 - 2088)

Billy Cobham  Total Eclipse (Vinyl, Atlantic Records, 1974) *****  

Brian Auger and The Trinity  Berliner Jazzstage  November 7, 1968 (Vinyl, Rock Beat Records, 2018) ***  

Brian Auger's Oblivion Express  Second Wind (Vinyl, RCA, 1972) ****   

Genre: Jazz fusion  

Places I remember: Melbourne Record Shops - Wax Museum Records; Round and Round Records; Record Paradise

Fab, and all the other pimply hyperboles: Truth (Second Wind)

Gear costume: Bandits, Sea Of Tranquility (Total Eclipse)

Active compensatory factors: I bought quite a few records while in Melbourne recently. These three are all in the jazz fusion category.

I love this genre because it can extend in lots of directions along a jazz rock fusion continuum.

Billy Cobham's Total Eclipse is an intense multi-layered experience. I've highlighted a short intense track (Bandits) and a longer form intense track for your listening pleasure. Even so, the music feels tight - no noodling wig outs from Billy!

While Billy is intense, Brian Auger is cool personified. When he gets into a great groove like on Truth there is no one better on the Hammond B3 organ.

The 1968 live album is recorded well and a great artifact from Driscoll and Auger. Season Of The Witch gets a ridiculously expansive treatment from the pair.

Second Wind from four years later features spirited vocals from Alex Ligertwood, those sinewy and funky organ lines from Auger and some excellent songs.

Where do they all belong? All excellent additions to one of my favourite genres.

In and out (Brian Auger and Julie Driscoll) (LP 1089 - 1091)

Brian Auger, Julie Driscoll and The Trinity Open (Vinyl, Polydor Records, 1967) ****

Brian Auger's Oblivion Express Live Oblivion Vol 1 (Vinyl, Polydor Records, 1974) ****

Brian Auger Search Party (Vinyl, Headfirst Records, 1981) *****

Genre: Jazz fusion

Places I remember: Real Groovy Records

Fab, and all the other pimply hyperboles: Isola Natale (Open)

Gear costume: Don't Look Away (Live Oblivion); Planet Earth Calling (Search Party)

Active compensatory factors: Open was the first album uniting Jools and Auge. Kind of. Although Jools gets the front cover (and Brian the back) they each take a side to display their talents. 

Brian's side has a few instrumentals that sound absolutely vital and cooking. It's 1967 remember - the year of Sgt Pepper. In the jazz fusion arena Driscoll, Auger and The Trinity were where it was at maan.

That means experimentation without fear. Driscoll sounds like a veteran and Brian is already a mastermind. Her version of Season of the Witch is definitive!

A remarkable record - it sounds fresh as a daisy!

The Oblivion Express records are all impressive. I particularly like this live one (Vol 2 has eluded me thus far). Alex Ligertwood takes the lead vocals and he's a great fit for this funky jazz fusion outfit.

There is creative space within the arrangements and the band effortlessly lock into a great groove (try Don't Look Away and you'll see what I mean).

Search Party continues the adventure into the eighties in great fashion and more. I think it's a classic. There's only one song with vocals and it's a catchy one. Most of the album then is instrumental, featuring thrusting exploratory progressive jazz rock/fusion at its finest.  

Where do they all belong? I suspect there will be a lot more to come as I've become a completist!