BAKERLOO

This 1969 release is the only album from UK band Bakerloo, their existence cut short by guitarist Dave 'Clem' Clempson jumping ship to John Hiseman's Colosseum. A band in the classic power trio tradition aka Cream, they played powerful Blues Rock with a Jazzy edge clearly evident on opening track and instrumental Big Bear Ffolly. From Clempson's dextrous playing it's clear why he was soon to be sought by Hiseman for Colosseum.

Bring It On Home is the Willie Dixon number brought to wider attention by Led Zeppelin's bombastic version on their second album. Bakerloo play a more restrained and no doubt more faithful to the original rendition, though I must admit to preferring the explosive qualities brought to the piece by Zeppelin.

Drivin' Bachwards treads the same territory as Bouree by Jethro Tull being based on a piece as the title suggests by composer Johann Sebastian Bach, though with a faster tempo than Tull used.

Last Blues' restrained beginnings soon give way to more dextrous instrumental interplay before returning to where we started to close. Despite the main appeal of the band lying in Clempson's guitar work, bassist Terry Poole and drummer Keith Baker make up a fine rhythm section, clearly evident in Gang Bang which some may be put off by it being a vehicle for a Baker drum solo.

This Worried Feeling is a typical laid back formulaic blues number which is good enough, though not spectacular but as expected Clempson rises to the occasion.

The album closes with the 15 minute Son Of Moonshine, a driving bluesy rocker, the type of track that lends itself to endless jamming that goes on forever..and it almost does!

Overall a decent enough though not spectacular album largely forgotten about today, though no doubt still retaining affection by the largish cult following the band had in the late sixties, in the main down to Clempson's fine guitar playing.