BEGGARS CAN'T BE CHOOSERS

Scottish band Beggar's Opera started out as an organ based proto-prog unit, sounding similar to ELP or The Nice, thanks to Alan Park's Hammond histrionics. Their first 3 albums are all highly recommended, but something happened and the direction of the band changed radically, for the worse unfortunately, in terms of progressive music anyway. What the band (now consisting of Clem Cattini - drums, Pete Scott - vocals, Ricky Gardiner - guitars/bass and Virginia Gardiner (once Scott, she married Ricky, I guess) - piano, moog & organ) is giving us here is a set of poppy, almost bar-room-like ditties with simplistic arrangements and quirky lyrics. The opening track 'I'm A Roadie' is actually a killer hard edged track with cool lyrics and some great synthesiser playing but at the other end of the scale, the track 'Death' clocks in at 9:35 and I had faith - sadly, it's a folky ramble with a dull progression that doesn't change at all during it's entire length. Filler, perhaps ?? There is very little to recommend this album ; it's quite a rare item on the obscure 'Jupiter Records' label, and I was lucky (or was it unlucky ??) to have come across a mint copy for $12. Definitely one for collectors/fans.