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| Sounds Good |
| ART GALLERY by The Artwoods Reviewed by Uncle Festa Question 1�.. Have you anything by The Artwoods in your record/CD collection? If the answer is no please go to question two. If the answer is yes, you can stop reading now. Question 2�. Have you a spare �12 to �15 to spend? If the answer is yes please read on. If the answer is no please start saving & return when you have the said amount to add this album to your collection. This album consists of 26 tracks covering the full spectrum of work from this five piece British R & B band from the time the band formed in 1963 through 1967 when they split and were re-born as �St Valentines Day Massacre� in a short lived attempt at psychedelia. The band consisted of Arthur Wood (elder brother of Ronnie Wood) on vocals, Derek Griffiths on guitar, Malcolm Pool on bass, Keef Hartley �drums & Jon Lord organ. My first reaction as I listened to the album was "Wow!". I wanted to be dancing in a poorly-lit, smoky club. They seemed to have encompassed the full spectrum of sixties sounds into a mere 79 minutes. I felt strangely excited, as though I had discovered something new. The fact of the matter was that I had actually missed out on The Artwoods for all these years. I dare anyone with a modicum of musical taste to listen to this album without feeling the urge to get up & groove. From the Steve Cropper compositions �Things Get Better�and �Be my Lady�, through an outstanding version of �Walk On The Wild Side� (original recorded by jazz organist Jimmy Smith), to the theme from �A Taste of Honey�. From what I gather, The Artwoods were one of the hardest working bands on the circuit at the time and had a big following on the London scene. So why didn�t they hit the big time ? Not enough original material, how things have changed�� |
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