Feelin' Alright - Mod, Rock, Funky Prog & Heavy Jazz 1967-1972 (Clamshell Box)

As the late 60s rolled unsteadily into the early 70s, the U.K. music scene was in understandable flux. The last stages of psychedelia were burning out, and musicians were looking for new sounds to fill the void. Some turned to the freedoms of jazz, others looked to the countryside for laid-back vibes, while some rocked up the blues or started heading in the direction of prog. A few intrepid explorers even tried to meld it all together into something new and magical, though most bands just seemed happy to be free of the influence of the Beatles and Carnaby Street. Strawberrys 2025 collection Feelin Alright: Mod Rock, Funky Prog & Heavy Jazz 1967-1972 is a fun and educational survey of groups and artists who tried one or more of these paths. Quite often they created sounds that were forward-looking and quite exhilarating; of course, those are the highlights of the set. Slot well-known bands like Traffic ("Feelin Alright"), Mighty Baby ("Egyptian Tomb"), Jeff Beck -- featuring the dulcet tones of Rod Stewart -- ("Let Me Love You"), Manfred Mann Chapter Three ("One Way Glass"), and Brian Augers Oblivion Express ("Fill Your Head with Laughter") into that category along with a few lesser-knowns giving it their all. Blonde on Blonde give the rambling blues a twist on "Conversationally Making the Grade," Ace Kefford Stand give "For Your Love" a lo-fi blues prog workout, and the Lion Tamers mix harmony pop and jazz quite nicely on "Speak Your Mind." Just as much fun are the songs that reach for interesting territory and end up in places nobody could have imagined. The Shadows cover of "My Babe" shifts from standard blues shuffle to a backwards-tracked, post-psych nightmare, Pussys "G.E.A.B." whips up a heady brew of library funk and hard rock thud, and Wynder K. Frog turn "Jumping Jack Flash" into a rumbling organ-and-horns-led groover. In between these two poles are a whole bunch of groups who sound like they would have been fun to see live, like the Norman Haines Band ("I Really Need a Friend"), Blodwyn Pig ("Sing Me a Song That I Know"), Fuzzy Duck ("More Than I Am"), and Walrus, whose "Who Can I Trust" has more swagger than Bad Company and more horns than Chicago. The mix of classic tracks, unknown gems, and solid rockers make the set a rollicking good time as well as a vital document for anyone who wants a good overview of an exciting transitional time. ~ Tim Sendra