WONDERWORLD

Only four months after the release of 'Sweet Freedom' and the band were back in the studio for 'Wonderworld'. The problems that had been apparent during the recording of the last album grew as some of the band turned to drugs of one type or another to cope with the burnout. Given the workload that they were being placed under it really isn't surprising. They started work on their seventh studio album in January 1974, less than four years since the release of their debut and when not in the studio they had been on the road. Try explaining that schedule to bands today.

Due to all of these factors coming into play it is probably of little surprise that the album suffered somewhat. However, not nearly to the extent that one might think. Although there probably isn't any song here that could remotely be given the 'classic' moniker, the album itself is consistent. The band themselves felt at the top that they could do no wrong and this confidence does come through. David Byron was a great singer and frontman, and in Ken Hensley they had a great keyboard player and songwriter while guitarist Mick Box, drummer Lee Kerslake and bassist Gary Thain were no slouches either. In "The Easy Road" they showed that they were more than just a hard rock band as piano and extremely lush orchestration showed another side of the band, while "Something Or Nothing" showed that they could still blast away when they wanted to. Yet again this has been remastered by Rob Corich with more bonus cuts.

Originally appeared in Feedback #79, June 2004