A genuine guitar hero whose 1982 joint effort with Glenn Hughes unexpectedly turned out hugely influential, Pat Trall has many more accolades than that one platter. After all, Pat had played played on Stomu Yamashta’s "Go!...Live From Paris" and co-penned “Snortin’ Whiskey” with, and for, his namesake Travers, and would go to record and tour with ASIA and Meat Loaf. Yet while most of the veteran’s works are available on compact disc, one did not get a digital mastering: the only album by his first group, COOKIN’ MAMA, which finally sees the long-overdue reissue.
Thrall joined the Alameda, California ensemble in 1969 but it wasn’t until 1972 that they released “New Day” – which also featured Pat’s brother Preston, who would go to perform with such musicians as Robert Berry, on percussion; a future Gregg Allman associate Paul Hahn on sax; and keyboard player Jesse Harms whose future employers would include Ry Cooder, John Hiatt, Sammy Hagar and David Lee Roth – just to see this folk rock gem bomb and get disbanded soon after. However, they recently reassessed the forgotten classic, remastered it, reordered the numbers and added a precious concert bonus cut, all the updates warranting a new title, “Warts & All: 1969-1972” – and a dedicated website where a lot of tales and images can be enjoyed. A great piece of history!
Warts & All: 1969-1972
1. This Time What Will You Do
2. I Don’t Fear No Evil
3. Dice Of Life
4. New Day
5. Two AM Jam
6. Feelin’ Good
7. Just To Pass The Day
8. Out The Door
9. Little Children
bonus track:
10. Frog Parade (live)
