Forum Home Forum Home > Other music related lounges > Proto-Prog and Prog-Related Lounge
  New Posts New Posts RSS Feed - The "Mighty" Groundhogs:The '70's
  FAQ FAQ  Forum Search   Events   Register Register  Login Login

Topic ClosedThe "Mighty" Groundhogs:The '70's

 Post Reply Post Reply Page  12>
Poll Question: Your fav Groundhogs album from the '70's?
Poll Choice Votes Poll Statistics
1 [8.33%]
8 [66.67%]
0 [0.00%]
0 [0.00%]
2 [16.67%]
0 [0.00%]
0 [0.00%]
1 [8.33%]
This topic is closed, no new votes accepted

Author
Message
cannon View Drop Down
Forum Senior Member
Forum Senior Member
Avatar

Joined: July 03 2010
Location: Coho Country
Status: Offline
Points: 1302
Direct Link To This Post Topic: The "Mighty" Groundhogs:The '70's
    Posted: February 18 2011 at 08:09
The Groundhogs were part of the 2nd. wave of the British blues revival and got thier start backing up John Lee Hooker in 1965. Entering the '70's the band left behind thier "traditional" blues influences are started to fuse prog, heavy psych, and hard rock. Your fav album from the band in the '70's?
Back to Top
presdoug View Drop Down
Forum Senior Member
Forum Senior Member
Avatar

Joined: January 24 2010
Location: Canada
Status: Offline
Points: 8780
Direct Link To This Post Posted: February 18 2011 at 12:00
For me, Split. It is a perfectly done album, and thrills me to this very day. It is pretty well produced, and inventive and experimental,but also accessible. Thank Christ For The Bomb is also  impressive, but none of their records surpasses Split
Back to Top
holy ghost View Drop Down
Forum Groupie
Forum Groupie
Avatar

Joined: November 24 2009
Location: Hogtown
Status: Offline
Points: 50
Direct Link To This Post Posted: February 20 2011 at 12:32
Split is absolutely perfect. Can't find a single thing wrong with that one, although I haven't checked out anything beyond Who Will Save The World.
Back to Top
chopper View Drop Down
Special Collaborator
Special Collaborator
Avatar
Honorary Collaborator

Joined: July 13 2005
Location: Essex, UK
Status: Offline
Points: 20035
Direct Link To This Post Posted: February 20 2011 at 14:22
I've only heard the first two and out of those I really like Split, so that gets my vote.
Back to Top
Hawkwise View Drop Down
Forum Senior Member
Forum Senior Member
Avatar

Joined: May 31 2008
Location: Ontairo
Status: Offline
Points: 4119
Direct Link To This Post Posted: February 20 2011 at 15:31
Always have had a soft spot for Hogwash so voted for that but i Love them ALL !!  and where is Blues Obituary ?(yeah i know  it was 1969 but ya know i love it) i also have a soft spot for Black Diamond  its full of good tunes and  Tony T.S McPhee    lyrics on that album are really good  in fact Tony lyric writing really is top notch  as well as his brilliant Guitar Playing .


Good to see the Mighty  Groundhogs  getting some well deserved kudos around these parts  , good thread !!!

Edited by Hawkwise - February 20 2011 at 15:33
Back to Top
presdoug View Drop Down
Forum Senior Member
Forum Senior Member
Avatar

Joined: January 24 2010
Location: Canada
Status: Offline
Points: 8780
Direct Link To This Post Posted: February 20 2011 at 16:17
Any of you folks seen the Groundhogs Live dvd recorded in 1998?
Back to Top
cannon View Drop Down
Forum Senior Member
Forum Senior Member
Avatar

Joined: July 03 2010
Location: Coho Country
Status: Offline
Points: 1302
Direct Link To This Post Posted: February 21 2011 at 20:50
Thank Christ is my first pick, but just a hair above Split. Hogwash third. Blues Obituary leaves Scratching The Surface behind in both production and musical direction. Like Hawkwise I could vote for all of them.
Back to Top
thellama73 View Drop Down
Collaborator
Collaborator
Avatar
Honorary Collaborator

Joined: May 29 2006
Location: United States
Status: Offline
Points: 8368
Direct Link To This Post Posted: February 21 2011 at 20:53
I only have Blues Obituary. I find it rather boring, sadly. :(
Back to Top
cannon View Drop Down
Forum Senior Member
Forum Senior Member
Avatar

Joined: July 03 2010
Location: Coho Country
Status: Offline
Points: 1302
Direct Link To This Post Posted: February 21 2011 at 20:56
Originally posted by thellama73 thellama73 wrote:

I only have Blues Obituary. I find it rather boring, sadly. :(
 
I'd suggest anything after Blues Obituary.
Back to Top
Dick Heath View Drop Down
Special Collaborator
Special Collaborator
Avatar
Jazz-Rock Specialist

Joined: April 19 2004
Location: England
Status: Offline
Points: 12818
Direct Link To This Post Posted: March 02 2011 at 07:59
The Groundhogs while touring Split, apparently had McPhee using some of the early radio mikes and pick-ups. A police car message broke through onto  his speakers during the stage announcements of one gig in the UK. As quick as a flash McPhee apologised to the audience explaining he was having problems with his fuzz-box.
 
 
 
Yours truly with TMcP, just after his signing the album on which I first heard the Groundhogs (and Tony McPhee with the excellent Jo Anne Kelly) - McPhee on seeing that  LP sleeve whilst having a leisurely pint at a DeMont Hall's bar in 2004, said "when the f*** did you get that?" - to which I replied: "Since the day it was released."  (Around 1968-9)


Edited by Dick Heath - March 02 2011 at 12:58
The best eclectic music on the Web,8-11pm BST/GMT THURS.
CLICK ON: http://www.lborosu.org.uk/media/lcr/live.php
Host by PA's Dick Heath.

Back to Top
Easy Livin View Drop Down
Special Collaborator
Special Collaborator
Avatar
Honorary Collaborator / Retired Admin

Joined: February 21 2004
Location: Scotland
Status: Offline
Points: 15585
Direct Link To This Post Posted: March 02 2011 at 14:51
Great post Dick!Clap
Back to Top
Hawkwise View Drop Down
Forum Senior Member
Forum Senior Member
Avatar

Joined: May 31 2008
Location: Ontairo
Status: Offline
Points: 4119
Direct Link To This Post Posted: March 03 2011 at 06:20
Originally posted by Dick Heath Dick Heath wrote:

The Groundhogs while touring Split, apparently had McPhee using some of the early radio mikes and pick-ups. A police car message broke through onto  his speakers during the stage announcements of one gig in the UK. As quick as a flash McPhee apologised to the audience explaining he was having problems with his fuzz-box.
 
 
 
Yours truly with TMcP, just after his signing the album on which I first heard the Groundhogs (and Tony McPhee with the excellent Jo Anne Kelly) - McPhee on seeing that  LP sleeve whilst having a leisurely pint at a DeMont Hall's bar in 2004, said "when the f*** did you get that?" - to which I replied: "Since the day it was released."  (Around 1968-9)



Top Bloke Tony sadly last time i saw him was in Summerton Somerset he did a solo gig but there was only 7 of us who turned up (poor gig advertising and organization) felt so sorry for the guy he is such a Legend to me just love his music, but we got to have good chat with him he signed my mates copy of Split. he played a few tunes then gave up  so we  all went to the bar for few beers .   i also remember the Hogs playing a cracking set at a festival at some racecourse up north  they played early in the morning couse they were of after to play at another festival  in Yorkshire some where.  Top Bloke Tony !!!
Back to Top
cannon View Drop Down
Forum Senior Member
Forum Senior Member
Avatar

Joined: July 03 2010
Location: Coho Country
Status: Offline
Points: 1302
Direct Link To This Post Posted: March 03 2011 at 07:33
Originally posted by Dick Heath Dick Heath wrote:

The Groundhogs while touring Split, apparently had McPhee using some of the early radio mikes and pick-ups. A police car message broke through onto  his speakers during the stage announcements of one gig in the UK. As quick as a flash McPhee apologised to the audience explaining he was having problems with his fuzz-box.
 
 
 
Yours truly with TMcP, just after his signing the album on which I first heard the Groundhogs (and Tony McPhee with the excellent Jo Anne Kelly) - McPhee on seeing that  LP sleeve whilst having a leisurely pint at a DeMont Hall's bar in 2004, said "when the f*** did you get that?" - to which I replied: "Since the day it was released."  (Around 1968-9)
 
That's a great picture.Cool
 
I'm a huge Groundhogs fan but being here on the west coast of Canada I've never seen them live. I have "Me And The Devil" on vinyl which features Jo Anne Kelly amongst others.
Back to Top
chopper View Drop Down
Special Collaborator
Special Collaborator
Avatar
Honorary Collaborator

Joined: July 13 2005
Location: Essex, UK
Status: Offline
Points: 20035
Direct Link To This Post Posted: March 03 2011 at 07:39
It is a shame that a legend such as McPhee is playing to small audiences. About 25 years ago I was staying with a friend in Wales and we popped down to his local social club and, much to our surprise, the band that night was The Groundhogs. At least there were more than 7 people there but not many were very interested in the band.
Back to Top
mattstevens View Drop Down
Forum Groupie
Forum Groupie


Joined: April 04 2010
Location: London
Status: Offline
Points: 72
Direct Link To This Post Posted: March 14 2011 at 18:04
Thank Christ For The Bomb is amazing - lovely chordal voicing and inversions. The harmonized guitar parts are awesome. Massive inspiration for me.
"Ghost is a phenomenal piece of work that has already garnered countless frothing plaudits within the online prog and post-rock firmament" Classic Rock Presents Prog

http://mattstevensguitar.com
Back to Top
presdoug View Drop Down
Forum Senior Member
Forum Senior Member
Avatar

Joined: January 24 2010
Location: Canada
Status: Offline
Points: 8780
Direct Link To This Post Posted: March 20 2011 at 19:49
Originally posted by presdoug presdoug wrote:

Any of you folks seen the Groundhogs Live dvd recorded in 1998?
I have it, and it is very good, despite the fact that poor McPhee had the flu when it was recorded (as he explains in the intro)
        There are classic period pieces and some more recent ones, and it is wonderful!
Back to Top
moshkito View Drop Down
Forum Senior Member
Forum Senior Member
Avatar

Joined: January 04 2007
Location: Grok City
Status: Online
Points: 18160
Direct Link To This Post Posted: March 24 2011 at 14:13
Originally posted by cannon cannon wrote:

The Groundhogs were part of the 2nd. wave of the British blues revival and got thier start backing up John Lee Hooker in 1965. Entering the '70's the band left behind thier "traditional" blues influences are started to fuse prog, heavy psych, and hard rock. Your fav album from the band in the '70's?
 
Not so sure about that ... I think I read somewhere that Toni and Eric came from the same school or area ... and both are quite blues leaning ... but if I have a chance to make a call, I would take Toni any day of the week, because his music and playing is far more exciting and lively and talented than Eric's. Eric may have the biggest hit, but Toni has the better sound, and music all around for my tastes.
 
"Crosscut Saw" is my favorite and then some, and some cuts on "Black Diamond" are unreal! ... But if you never heard his original guitar anthem that inspired Jimi to do his own at Woodstock, you haven't lived. "Amazing Grace" is probably just as important a piece as the other ... it just didn't have all the garbage for you to check out in front of you! And you all really have to hear "Live Right" from the Black Diamond album ... absolutely awesome music, writing and creativity.
Music is not just for listening ... it is for LIVING ... you got to feel it to know what's it about! Not being told!
www.pedrosena.com
Back to Top
Dean View Drop Down
Special Collaborator
Special Collaborator
Avatar
Retired Admin and Amateur Layabout

Joined: May 13 2007
Location: Europe
Status: Offline
Points: 37575
Direct Link To This Post Posted: March 24 2011 at 14:30
Originally posted by moshkito moshkito wrote:

Originally posted by cannon cannon wrote:

The Groundhogs were part of the 2nd. wave of the British blues revival and got thier start backing up John Lee Hooker in 1965. Entering the '70's the band left behind thier "traditional" blues influences are started to fuse prog, heavy psych, and hard rock. Your fav album from the band in the '70's?
 
Not so sure about that ... I think I read somewhere that Toni and Eric came from the same school or area ... and both are quite blues leaning ... but if I have a chance to make a call, I would take Toni any day of the week, because his music and playing is far more exciting and lively and talented than Eric's. Eric may have the biggest hit, but Toni has the better sound, and music all around for my tastes.
 
"Crosscut Saw" is my favorite and then some, and some cuts on "Black Diamond" are unreal! ... But if you never heard his original guitar anthem that inspired Jimi to do his own at Woodstock, you haven't lived. "Amazing Grace" is probably just as important a piece as the other ... it just didn't have all the garbage for you to check out in front of you! And you all really have to hear "Live Right" from the Black Diamond album ... absolutely awesome music, writing and creativity.
I've never heard of any link with Clapton & McPhee, they came from opposite ends of the country - it's possible, but unlikely. McPhee was asked to be Clapton's replacement in the Bluesbreakers in 1967 but turned the gig down. They certainly were aware of each other during the mid and late 60s since while even though McPhee wasn't "famous" he was well known to other musicians at the time.
What?
Back to Top
Nightfly View Drop Down
Special Collaborator
Special Collaborator
Avatar
Honorary Collaborator

Joined: August 01 2007
Location: United Kingdom
Status: Offline
Points: 3659
Direct Link To This Post Posted: March 24 2011 at 15:19
Always had a soft spot for Hogwash but Split just beats it for me.
Back to Top
A B Negative View Drop Down
Forum Senior Member
Forum Senior Member
Avatar

Joined: May 02 2006
Location: Methil Republic
Status: Offline
Points: 1594
Direct Link To This Post Posted: March 24 2011 at 15:59
Split is an excellent album. Cherry Red rocks!
"The disgusting stink of a too-loud electric guitar.... Now, that's my idea of a good time."
Back to Top
 Post Reply Post Reply Page  12>

Forum Jump Forum Permissions View Drop Down



This page was generated in 0.276 seconds.
Donate monthly and keep PA fast-loading and ad-free forever.