Tais Awards - Indie Music Awards for Czech republic, Slovakia & Overseas Countries

An infamous album by London scene maker Screaming Lord Sutch, who, among other things, claimed to be a genuine Earl and to have started the long hair craze of the '60s, and ran for Parliament on the youth ticket. His infamy bought him some heavy friends indeed for his first LP. Jimmy Page (who produced and played), John Bonham, Jeff Beck, Nicky Hopkins and Noel Redding are all on hand to support Sutch's R&B retreads ("Baby Come Back" is a steal of Roy Head's "Treat Her Right"). The album is regarded as a kind of Plan 9 from Outer Space of rock LPs: it's bad, but endearingly so, with Sutch's growling vocals providing the laughs. Many Led Zeppelin fans -- who bought this album when it was released on the heels of the first two Zep records -- have never forgiven Page for it.

Jeff Beck Guitar
John Bonham Drums
Richard Brown Bass
Rick Brown Bass
Thom Caccetta Engineer
Tommy Caccetta Engineer
Daniel Edwards Bass, Guitar
Kent Henrey Guitar
Kent Henry Guitar
Nicky Hopkins Piano, Keyboards
Martin Kohl Bass
Carlo Little Drums
Bob Metke Drums
Jimmy Page Guitar, Producer
Noel Redding Bass
Lord Sutch Vocals

1. Wailing Sounds Page, Sutch 2:38
2. I Love You Bonham, Edwards, Page, Sutch 2:46
3. Flashing Lights Page, Sutch 3:14
4. Gutty Guitar Sutch 2:33
5. Would You Believe Cee 3:20
6. Smoke and Fire Sutch 2:38
7. Thumping Beat Page, Sutch 3:07
8. Union Jack Car Page, Sutch 3:03
9. One for You, Baby Sutch 2:44
10. L-O-N-D-O-N Sutch 2:56
11. Brightest Light Cee, Sutch 3:57

Lord Sutch was one of the goofiest, but undoubtedly most entertaining, shock rockers of his day. I like to think of him as the white boy version of Screaming Jay Hawkins. He was even known to emerge from coffins during his live performances, a move taken directly from Screaming Jay. I don't think he ever took himself very seriously as a "horror" entertainer, (as did his American counterpart, Alice Cooper). Sutch just lived for the times and rocked along with some of the greatest. It was a sad for rock and roll when he took his own life in London in 1999.
The "Heavy Friends" record was "heavily" panned. Regardless of the fact that he recruited some of the best names in rock, (Jimmy Page, John Bonham, Jeff Beck, and Noel Redding), most critics and listeners couldn't get past Sutch's raw vocals. Personally, I think only a fucking idiot would dis this record. This is not a legendary album in the way that "Houses of the Holy" or "Are You Experienced" is, but it easily stands as one of the greatest lost classics ever to be released from the late '60s/early '70s era of rock and roll. This is an album for someone who likes arena rock, (like Zep or Purple), but also digs groups like the Stooges or the MC5.
Jimmy Page and Ritchie Blackmore would probably rather be caught dead than be in a full time band with Sutch, however they seemed all too eager to tear out some of their rawest chops once they collaborated with the Lord. Songs like "Wailing Sounds" and "Flashing Lights" just absolutely kill. I would go as far to even say they rock harder than anything by Zep. The fact that Jimmy Page and John Bonham more than likely saw their time spent with Sutch as fun rather than an obligation, led to some bombastically rockin' results. The hair on the back of my neck stands up every time I put the needle to the groove.

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5.2.2012

LORD SUTCH AND HEAVY FRIENDS – 1970 (UK) hard rock

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