BIG RED ROCK

Australian band's Ayers Rock debut album was recorded live, but the sound quality is excellent! As it often happens with marginal prog markets, even if this album was recorded in 1974, it sounds more as US band from 1969-70.

The music on this album is mostly slightly psychedelic blues-rock with some jazz-rock elements. Album's opener "Lady Montego" is melodic and energetic song mixing blues rock, sax and CCR influences. Vocals are really strong and have some John Fogherty timbres. "Talkin' 'Bout You" is another bluesy rocker with plenty of sax. The sound could be compared with early "Bad Company" american version with plenty of sax added.

"Goin' Home" is r'n'b composition influenced by "Status Quo". As on all previous songs, music is not very original, but nicely played and very inspired.

"Crazy Boys" is first really jazz-rock song, but it sounds as excellent Frank Zappa's early material copy ( even Frank's vocals is perfectly imitated!). From musical side, this song demonstrates great band's musicians musicianship and includes long psychedelic soloings. Possibly, it is the best album's composition.

"Nostalgic Blues" is not a blues at all, but the composition in a vein of early Allman Brothers. Not very memorable though, with long guitar soloing just to fill the space."Big Red Rock" is nice jazz-rock instrumental, still with accent on more bluesy side.

"Boogie Woogie Waltz" is the only non-original album's composition ( written by Joe Zawinul). Band plays it on their own manner and it sounds as bluesy funk. Not bad at all!

"Get Out to the Country", the last album's composition, is almost heavy blues-rock one, with BS & T - like sound and vocals (less brass, more heavy guitar).

In all great early bluesy jazz-rock album, not very original, but extremely inspired and energetic. Really recommended for all early bluesy jazz-rock fans (but possibly too obscure to be wide popular).

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Posted Monday, July 26, 2010 | Review this album | Report (Review #291942)

The band's jazz influences aren't that overt on this album, even during the Joe Zawinul cover; mostly in their approach to instrumental sections, which is generally to lock on to a strong groove and improvise away, with the focus on the rhythmic drive rather than harmonic or melodic invention. An ex ... (read more)

Report this review (#724472) | Posted by sl75 | Thursday, April 12, 2012 | Review Permanlink

My sons recently asked me what were the 70s really like musically.I went to my vinyl collection looking for an album that would answer their question as i saw it.I remembered that there were 2 levels of australian rock back then.The commercial radio airplay version and the underground, the typ ... (read more)

Report this review (#80905) | Posted by ole chicka | Sunday, June 11, 2006 | Review Permanlink

Both Big Red Rock and Beyond are available on CD, and have for some time. I especially like the Big Red Rock production. The quality of the CD is exceptional. Considering it is the earlier release i was surprised that it has such great production standards compared to Beyond which was recorded i ... (read more)

Report this review (#74048) | Posted by RobyB | Tuesday, April 4, 2006 | Review Permanlink

AYERS ROCK - BIG RED ROCK Well - surprise, surprise - another great band & slice of Aussie rock heritage dumped by the major record labels. AUSTRALIAN record labels! This album, along with other classics by Oz bands such as Dragon & Sebastian Hardie is now virtually unobtainable. It's a gre ... (read more)

Report this review (#71163) | Posted by | Sunday, March 5, 2006 | Review Permanlink

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