London’s Black Cat Bones were one of those bands from the late ’60s that served as an incubator for its various members’ later rock incarnations, in this case the bands Free, Foghat, and Bad Company, all of whom drew members from Black Cat Bones.
As an intact band, they only released a single album, Barbed Wire Sandwich, on Decca Records in 1970, and then splintered into the future. The album itself is a collection of rather generic period British blues pieces, a bit reminiscent of Cream in sou...
London’s Black Cat Bones were one of those bands from the late ’60s that served as an incubator for its various members’ later rock incarnations, in this case the bands Free, Foghat, and Bad Company, all of whom drew members from Black Cat Bones.
As an intact band, they only released a single album, Barbed Wire Sandwich, on Decca Records in 1970, and then splintered into the future. The album itself is a collection of rather generic period British blues pieces, a bit reminiscent of Cream in sound, although that doesn’t hinder cuts like “Chauffer” and the best track here, “Please Tell Me Baby,” from taking off into some interesting territory. But it’s straight British blues, however well executed, and there’s really nothing prog rock about it, although the band has been given that label in some circles. Barbed Wire Sandwich, like the band that recorded it, is straightforward and professional, but also like the band, it seems to suggest that more is down the road than has actually arrived yet. That said, collectors of British blues-rock are going to love the sound on this reissue, which sounds full, rich, and immediate.
- Steve Leggett, allmusic -
Simon Kirke (Free & Bad Company) and Paul Kossoff (Free) had already left before this was recorded. Brothers Stuart Brooks and Derek Brooks went on to form the fabulous Leaf Hound with singer Pete French (later with Atomic Rooster and still active with a new line-up Leafhound today) and recorded "Growers Of Mushroom," one of the great lost albums of the 70s.
Personnel:
Rod Price: lead guitar and vocal on “Good Lookin’ Woman”
Phil Lenoir: drums
Stu Brooks: bass guitar
Brian Short: vocals
Derek Brooks: rhythm guitar
Robin Sylvester: piano on “Please Tell Me Baby”
Steve Milliner: piano on “Feelin’ Good”
Recorded at Tangerine and Decca Studios
Produced by David Hitchcock
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