ONE LIVE BADGER

I thought about this one before giving it 5 stars. The only reason I almost selected four was beacuse I really don't consider this to be a typical progressive band unless you can label Joe Cocker as progressive..

Of all my albums this has been the top of the list for energy and inspiration. What I find amazing is the timing of the coruses and solo parts. For a live album and being their first album, the timing is outstanding for these long intervals. Few albums have me trying to picture what each menber is doing on stage. There is a moment on Wheel of Fortune where kaye is shaking a rattle and playing some notes on the mellotron, but wait - there was hammond at the same time and the drums were going at it while Parish and Foster are hiping it out. Kaye is really the master of arrangements. Foster's voice has you convinced of his finger pointing passionate lyrics.

I own a mellotron and the audio is remarkable being live. Mellotrons are not easy to get that sound unless he miked it from an isolated room. And Kaye didn't over use it either.

The gutar parts on The River are one of those few moments a keyboard player considers tosing out the keys for a gutar of his own. The moe you listen it becomes a standard riff then you realize it's uniquely Badger. The end of The River has some great over saturated hammond w/ tron which has you banging out the rhythm section on the steering wheel.

Listen to "Wind of Change" and just imagine you are standing on a hill seeing the band play that live. Again the bass and gutar solo is a true improvised melody while Dyke never tires on the durms. After Tony takes his 30 second water break, he's back solid with all drawbars pulled, full pedal down, chours on C3, grinding the Hammond through the Leslie enough to make acid jazz legend Groove Holmes jeaious. Then come On My Way Home. I wold do anything to know who wrote which part of this one. Why isn't there video of this somewhere? One of the best hammond - Gospel rock songs ever played by non-Americans. How could a band like this break apart.

I did read somewhere that there was thought of Kay putting together a reunion of Badger but now I can't find it. Well, anyway I reccomend you buy this one. I now have a reason to look forward to driving across Kansas. This CD plays constantly with a few Bruford and stride (1920's) breaks... Come on Tony, Brian, David and Dyke - Pull your selves together and hang loose.