CAPTAIN BEYOND

CAPTAIN BEYOND's debut album is something very special and one of those album that is just plain ol "gritty", "crunchy" and wonderfully psychedelic. CAPTAIN BEYOND were really kind of a "supergroup" with IRON BUTTERFLY members Larry Reinhardt "Rhino" (lead guitar) and Lee Dorman (bass) , DEEP PURPLE's Rod Evans (lead vocals) and Johnny Winter's drummer Bobby Caldwell. The end product was one of my personal favourite album of 1972 and a definite pick for the ol' desert island conversation. Without a question CAPTAIN BEYOND's debut album was clearly ahead of its time and although is 20+ years later bands like PORCUPINE TREE obviously heard this album! Overall the album hits many high points and covers a tremendously wide range of pieces... hard rock, but not metal... spacey but not too "druggy"... acoustic without being too tranquil... jazzy without being jazz... conceptual without being a "concept album" (although each song flows into the next).