This under-the-radar British outfit had connections to both Deep Purple (some of their albums were released on the group’s record label) and Rolling Stones’ bassist Bill Wyman (who produced all of their studio albums), but despite these links they never quite made the big time, for one reason or another. The group morphed from a late 60’s psychedelic act called The End, whose music I have not heard one note of. Beyond the odd name, I guess you could say Tucky Buzzard shared something in common with quite a few other cult acts from this era – they were talented, but seemed to suffer from a lack of direction, and ended up churned in the backwash of their supposed betters. The debut appears to have the strongest link to the previous psychedelic era, although towards the end of the album there are serious messages of the band going in another direction already. The album starts with “Time Will Be Your Doctor”, a jaunty organ-guitar rocker which was brought to the band by original drummer Paul Francis, who had already left the band by the time the debut record was released – which is why you will hear the same song on Fuzzy Duck’s debut album (recorded the same year) as well, as Francis played in that band, too. It’s a good song to kick the album off, but the group harmonies and song structure date it to 2-3 years before ’70, in my opinion. And I feel much the same way as the first half of the album progresses. Running through “Stainless Steel Lady”, the pastoral “Sally Shotgun” (which segues into the darker “Gu Gu Gu”), and “My Friend”, what I am hearing are decent psychedelic pop songs…but then I look at the year the album was released and do a double-take. The second side is certainly not anymore original than the first, but I feel like I am getting a more distinctive sound, in the very least. The last four tracks, especially, are moderate improvements. Instead of the sweet-sounding harmonies and Zombies-ish keyboard playing, we get some actual gruff attitude, mean guitar riffs, and singer Jimmy Henderson stepping to the forefront, finally, like a lead singer is supposed to. Probably my favorite track here is “Whiskey Eyes”, which is quite reminiscent of a Guess Who track but given an extra dose of venomous attitude since the subject matter is about a malicious, drunken woman bent on revenge. Overall, a choppy debut but it has its’ merits, and in the very least it is fairly listenable.
Comments