One of the most intense ensembles to emerge on the wave of the late ’60s British blues boom, STEAMHAMMER might be one of the least celebrated teams – despite delivering four brilliant albums between 1969 and 1972 and fading away, after briefly reimagining their agenda as AXIS, the following year. Their buzz was picked up by ARMAGEDDON who featured one that band’s founders, guitarist Martin Pugh, and bassist Louis Cennamo, while the other axman, Martin Quittenton, took their melodicism to Rod Stewart, co-penning the likes of “Maggie May” with the singer, but no attempt would be made to revive the old group, what with a few members no longer alive. However, September 30th is the date when the veterans’ new record is to see the light of day.
Wailing Again
Titled “Wailing Again” – a reference to their classic “Junior’s Wailing” that’s been cut afresh now to become the platter’s coda, alongside “Twenty Four Hours” and opener “I Wouldn’t Have Thought” – it was laid down by Pugh, together with the legendary bass and keyboards player Pete Sears who played on the band’s debut LP, drummer John Lingwood, who worked with a lot of prominent line-ups, including STEAMHAMMER, and is currently with MANFRED MANN EARTH BAND, and singer Phil Colombatto from LOUISIANA LOVE ACT that Sears is also a part of. Whether this quartet recaptured the erstwhile magic remains to be seen, but the hope is there; as for their history, the forthcoming box set should tell it all. As of now, read the review.
1. I Wouldn’t Have Thought
2. High Low Jick Jack Johnny
3. Fool For You
4. Wailing Once Again
5. Midnight Blues Train
6. Man In The Blue Suede Shoes (Megan’s Song)
7. Twenty Four Hours
8. Junior’s Wailing
