Time Will Be Your Doctor

In the '60s and '70s, Bill Wyman split his duties as the bass player for the Rolling Stones with managing and producing a handful of up-and-coming bands. One of those groups, Tucky Buzzard, came awfully close to breaking through, recording three albums of progressive/hard rock/boogie that remain highly sought-after relics of the early-'70s British art rock scene. Part Little Feat, part Caravan, and a whole lot of Deep Purple, Buzzard could go from blistering grooves ("Time Will Be Your Doctor") to full on prog ("Suite") to deep midnight soul ("Whiskey Eys"), the latter given some added depth by Stones horn section Bobby Keys and Jim Price. Rhino's Rare Recordings 1971-1972 features all three of the band's releases, from the alternately pastoral/riff-heavy debut and follow-up, Warm Slash, to Coming on Again, their ambitious project with the Madrid Philharmonic Orchestra. Listeners who thought that Emerson, Lake & Palmer were too indulgent, Focus too goofy, and Procol Harum just too damn serious will find Tucky Buzzard's blend of Zombies harmonies, Allman Brothers rootsiness, and Mountain-esque riffing the perfect tonic. ~ James Christopher Monger|