Spooky Tooth Featuring Mike Harrison – "The Last Puff" (side 1) (1970) скачать в хорошем качестве

Spooky Tooth Featuring Mike Harrison – "The Last Puff" (side 1) (1970)

Spooky Tooth Featuring Mike Harrison – "The Last Puff" (side 1) (1970) *Spooky Tooth Featuring Mike Harrison – *The Last Puff** (1970) is less a standard Spooky Tooth album and more of a gritty, soul-infused hard rock project centered on the powerhouse vocals of **Mike Harrison**. Released in the wake of internal turmoil and the departure of co-frontman Gary Wright, this record finds the remaining core—Harrison, guitarist Luther Grosvenor, and drummer Mike Kellie—bolstered by a formidable session lineup, notably members of Joe Cocker's *Grease Band**: pianist/keyboardist **Chris Stainton* (who also co-produced), guitarist **Henry McCullough**, and bassist **Alan Spenner**. The album’s billing accurately shifts the focus, as the music leans heavily into a white-boy soul and blues-rock direction, often drawing comparisons to the powerful, gritty sound established by Joe Cocker and The Band. Key Tracks & Highlights The album is perhaps best known for its sensational opening track and cover: **"I Am the Walrus"**: The undisputed highlight and a perennial fan favorite. Spooky Tooth transforms The Beatles' psychedelic masterpiece into a **sludge-metal, heavy-rock epic**. It's a dark, lumbering, and incredibly powerful interpretation, driven by heavy organ and Mike Harrison's guttural, soulful wail. Many critics consider it one of the finest Beatles covers ever recorded. **"The Wrong Time"**: A standout original (co-written by the departed Gary Wright). It features a fantastic, nodding, funky central riff and showcases Harrison's commanding vocal presence, channeling a credible Robert Plant-like force. **"Something to Say"**: A co-write by Joe Cocker, this track delivers a hypnotic, soulful groove with gospel undertones, illustrating the strong influence of the Grease Band musicians on the album's sound. **"Son of Your Father"**: The band tackles an early Elton John/Bernie Taupin composition, injecting it with a metallic punch and rootsy, soulful conviction reminiscent of The Band's best work. Overall Assessment The Last Puff is generally considered a *good, solid effort* and a surprisingly cohesive project given the fractured state of the band at the time. It successfully navigates the transition away from the heavy-prog experimentation of previous records like Ceremony towards a more blues- and soul-driven hard rock sound. **The Vibe**: The album has a raw, "late-night, no-frills" quality. The musicianship is top-notch, with Chris Stainton's piano and organ work adding significant texture and Chris Blackwell's production providing a clean, immediate feel. **Mike Harrison**: Harrison is firmly in command, delivering a performance full of grit, soul, and emotional intensity. His vocals are the core strength of the entire record. *Legacy**: While it didn't match the enduring popularity of their classic *Spooky Two*, *The Last Puff enjoyed commercial success in the US, hitting the Billboard 200, and is still cherished by fans for its raw energy and, specifically, its magnificent take on "I Am the Walrus." ------------------------------------------------ tracklist A1 I Am The Walrus Written-By – Lennon/McCartney* A2 The Wrong Time Written-By – Wright*, McCracken* A3 Something To Say Written-By – Joe Cocker, P. Nichols* Bass Guitar – Alan Spenner Bass Guitar, Piano, Organ, Guitar – Chris Stainton Drums – Mike Kellie Guitar – Henry McCulloch*, Luther Grosvenor Vocals – Mike Harrison Label: A&M Records – SP 4266 Format: Vinyl, LP, Album Country: US Released: 1970 Genre: Rock Style: Blues Rock, Art Rock, Psychedelic Rock #spookytooth #bluesrock @artrock