The pedigree of the band should have guaranteed success, but the fickle finger of fate moved on, and Natural Gas broke up after a year and an album.
Joey (Badfinger) Molland, Jerry (Humble Pie) Shirley, Mark (Uriah Heep) Clark and Peter (Sutherland Brothers) Wood recorded and released this outstandingly good eponymous debut in 1976, with producer Felix (Mountain) Pappalardi.
What the album has in abundance is good songs.
While Pete Ham and Tom Evans were the writing forces behind Badfinger, Joey Molland proves himself to be a considerable talent. He penned most of the songs here, collaborating both with Clark and Shirley.
'
Once Again, A Love Song', '
I Believe In Love' and '
Christmas Song' all hint at the clear sighted, effortlessly propulsive power pop prototypes recorded by Molland's previous band, while the thudding bass pulse, scratchy guitars and Hammond Organ drive of '
The Right Time' and '
St Louis Blues' owe something to the hard rock boogie of Clark's and Shirley's previous employment.
It's also great to note that this reissue label's remastering job is absolutely superb, putting the previous Renaissance reissue to shame.
It's like seeing a grainy, black and white movie in HiDef colour.
Recommended.
Style: classic pop/rock
Rating: 7/10Posted by
Brian - Sunday, March 13, 2011
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