It’s hard to describe how big Ten Years After were. They had six big albums between ’67 and ’74, of which this and Cricklewood Green (both released in ’70) were top ten albums all over the world.
Alvin Lee’s performance at Woodstock made him a household name – he was just as good as Hendrix at that show. Whereas Jimi was a whole new approach to blues and rock, Alvin and Ten Years After trod a much more familiar path with their take on a more standard heavy blues sound. Although I’m sure Zeppelin were having a big influence on the band at this point.
It’s cool to hear Alvin play jazz on the track Gonna Run, and also the band’s take on Ennio Morricone’s western soundtracks with the instrumental The Band With No Name. However, it’s the heavier tracks that I like best, namely I’m Coming On and Think About The Times which reminds me of Procol Harem.
7.5/10 from The Grooveman.
