Album review : FRIJID PINK – The Deram Recordings 1970-1971 (2 CDs)

Cherry Red [Release date 30.06.23]

A two CD package, comprising Detroit band, Frijid Pink’s first two albums.

Sometimes the movies crossover into popular music. One quote that rings true and often crops up is William Goldman’s “nobody knows anything”. Frequently, that includes record labels.

Frijid Pink’s label, Deram, had released two singles in 1970 from the band’s self titled debut album, which hadn’t done much, and were lining up a third when contacted by a local Radio DJ.

He exhorted them to release the band’s cover of The Animals’ ‘House Of The Rising Sun’, itself a reworking of an old folk/blues song, buried on side 2.

Surprisingly, the label followed suit. The single went Top Ten in the North American market and to no.1 in several European charts.

It was just right for the moment. A great song, dramatic, with fuzzed up, psychedelic stylings. Lifted out of the near past, and given a “modern” makeover, it hit a nerve.

The band’s own white boy blues, ‘Tell Me Why’ and ‘Drivin Blues’ coupled with the more commercialised bluesrock sound of ‘End Of The Line’ and ‘I Want To Be Your Lover’ were decent enough, but were sidelined by this hugely successful cover.

Naturally it helped elevate album sales, and in typical label fashion, the band were pushed into recording another album that same year. Their second album, Defrosted, was released six months later.

In much more of a hard rock vein, it proved the band were not just a one hit wonder. ‘Black Lace’ and ‘Bye Bye Blues’ stray way into heavy metal territory, both capturing a raw, live on stage sound. Clearly, the band knew that repeating the past was not the way forward.

The eight minute ‘Pain In My Heart’ (not that one) is the centrepiece, an across the Atlantic cousin of the stuff being released by Cream and Led Zeppelin (who opened for the band in Detroit’s Grand ballroom venue in 1970).

Arguably, Defrosted hinted that Frijid Pink were beginning to separate themselves from other bands in the genre. Their songcraft was undeniable. But the fickle finger of fate decided to point in another direction, and the album stiffed.

Band members left and new ones arrived, but Frijid Pink never regained its momentum. ***1/2

Review by Brian McGowan

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