The Alan Bown featuring Robert Palmer & Jess Roden

I must admit that I have a definite bias for bands that feature a horn section. My music collection is heavily weighted towards those types of groups. As a college student, I remember being a regular attendee at concerts at the Fillmore East seeing shows that featured such groups as Chicago, Blood, Sweat & Tears, Brian Auger & The Trinity and of course, Joe Cocker with the Mad Dogs & Englishmen Band. Perhaps it was the fact that I played Alto Sax in a band or that I simply enjoyed the full sound of horns intertwined with guitar solos, but my preference was always in this direction.

Recently, I was rummaging through the CD’s available in a record store in Paris when I came across a CD by an obscure 60’s group called The Alan Bown. Readers of my previous column will remember that when I reviewed the Butts Band, I stated that their lead singer was a guy named Jess Roden, who I consider to be one of the finest rock ‘n’ roll singers to ever step up to a microphone. Jess began his career with the Alan Bown while still in his teens. At the time, he was rated as one of the top singers in England. He later left the band and was replaced by someone who has enjoyed some recent popularity, Robert Palmer. The CD I am referring to is called, Kick Me Out by The Alan Bown and is produced by an English company on the See For Miles Record Co.label (# 393). Upon returning home, I played my vinyl copy of an Alan Bown record, called The Alan Bown (Music Factory # 12000) that I have owned for over 30 years.

As you know by now, a good litmus test in determining whether to buy an obscure groups’ album is their lineage.The fact that Jess Roden and Robert Palmer began in their careers with the Alan Bown is certainly a positive sign. At the time of their existence in England, a seven-piece group was somewhat unique. In essence, they were a party band that toured pubs all over England. Their sound can be described as a 60’s party rock garage band. The LP is pretty good, but not great. What strikes me most about the LP is that the original material written by the band does not stand the test of time. It may have sounded cool back then, but it loses something over the 30 years. On the other hand, on the album they cover a Dylan tune, All Along The Watchtower with incredible style. To me, this is one of the best versions of this famous tune. It is eerie and mystical in the way it is arranged. They also cover the Rascals; Love Is A Beautiful Thing in an excellent way. This success in playing other peoples’ material the midst of mediocrity is not surprising since being a bar band requires playing the hit tunes of the day recorded by others. They had to be a great bar band. I am sorry that I never got to see them.

The CD has different tunes from the LP. I can only surmise that it was taken from songs done later in the band’s career since Robert Palmer sings most of the material on the CD. What a pleasant surprise! The CD is excellent. When you consider that this material was recorded in 1969, it was way ahead of it’s time and still sounds good today. The mastering of the disc is first rate. I particularly like a tune co-written by Jess Roden called Elope. There are truly no losers in the twelve selections offered. In listening to the CD, it struck me that there are hints of the styles of people like Mick Jagger, Robert Plant, Steve Winwood, Manfred Mann and even Stevie Wonder. If you can find this CD, I urge you to buy it not only for the music, but to get a taste of what a successful English party band from the 60’s sounded like. It will be worth it.

Postscript to last month’s column:

Last month, I wrote about the Merry-Go Round. You can buy a CD version of the LP I reviewed by calling Al Wagenaar at Rare & Alive Records in Milwaukee at 414 282-1380 or e-mail him at Music56118@aol.com.