COME TO THE SABBAT: THE ANTHOLOGY

Black Widow is always going to be associated with one song, which has given title to this double CD compilation which attempts to provide the definitive anthology of the band. Overall it has to be said that it works very well in that respect, apart from the fact that it doesn't list the original source of all of the songs, just the years, which is the one failing that I can find. The booklet folds out and there are plenty of photos and reprinted reviews and album covers etc as well as a history of the band. Musically it starts with two tracks from the band before they became Black Widow, when they were known as the slightly less threatening Perky Gee! (their exclamation mark, not mine). At this time they had a female lead vocalist in Kay Garrett, but she left during the recording sessions of the debut BW album, 'Sacrifice'.

Who knows what the band would have done if Pesky Gee! had been more successful as while the Uriah Heep-style hard rock and Clive Jones sax are easily recognisable her vocals give the band a different, more polished, edge. Track three is actually from 1999, taken from a Black Widow tribute album where the band is also credited with providing some new songs but were actually Kip Trevor backed by Pendragon (!). It is of course "Come To The Sabbat" and "Sacrifice" that are the songs that are probably best remembered now; although at the time a much bigger fuss was made over the fact that the band used to sacrifice a naked woman onstage after simulated sex with the lead singer! And critics say that Tatu are shocking!!

In fact there are two versions of "Come To The Sabbat" as well as the 'proper' version there is also the demo from 1969 which features Kay as well as two previously unreleased songs from her unreleased 1971 solo album. This album is easily the most complete attempt at providing a complete history of the band and although it is annoying that there aren't enough track details this is still an interesting release.

Originally appeared in Feedback #73, Jun 03