Chrysalis [Release date 28.08.26]

Ten Years After are a British blues rock group who really don’t get enough love. After several breaks, reunions and line-up changes, they’re still going strong, after their formation in the mid 60s. With their roots dating back to the early 60s, Ten Years After released their eponymous debut in 1967, and Cricklewood Greed, the band’s 4th studio album, was released in 1970, becoming one of their most successful. The band featured guitarist/vocalist Alvin Lee, bassist Leo Lyons, keyboard player Chick Churchill and drummer Ric Lee.

This expanded reissue opens disc 1 with the original album, and a few bonuses. Opener Sugar On The Road showcases the band’s rhythm ’n’ blues roots, a nod to the likes of the Rolling Stones, there are influences of both the British Invasion and British Blues Boom. A solid track with some neat guitar work, as is Working On The Road.

The 7 minute 50,000 Miles Beneath My Brain opens more whimsically, and picks up into more epic blues hard rock. The guitar solo verges on more blistering. The kind of work out that the band became best known for. Year 3000 Blues had a more 60s feel, but uplifting. Me And My Baby has a Savoy Brown touch, quite catchy too.

Check out the single Love Like A Man, the album version stretching to over 7 minutes. A lovely track. The band apparently objected to the edit for the single release, so put the full live version on the B-side. One of the first singles to play at 45rpm on one side, 33 1/3 on the other. A hypnotically great song.

The whole album is a classic, it swings equally in other directions, giving hints of country, hard rock, fold and the lighter side of the British Invasion. The sound is great, and a couple of bonus tracks (including the single edit and a previously unreleased demo) round things off perfectly.

Disc 2 is the live second set from the Filmore East, 27 February 1970. More of a natural and solid feel, it’s live that the band really made their mark and this recording demonstrates that perfectly. If I’d know better, I would have bypassed disc 1 and gone straight for this. A powerful version of Love Like A Man opens. Good Morning Little School Girl follows, a blues standard recorded originally by Sonny Boy Williamson.

Another highlight is I Can’t Keep From Crying Sometimes, which runs to 18 minutes, and the more rock’n’roll I’m Going Home to over 10 minutes of pleasure.

Two CDs in a digibook, bonus material and a very informative notes, there are more albums that need this kind of treatment. ****1/2

Review by Joe Geesin

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KING FALCON Hourglass (indie)
SHAKRA Wasteland Warriors (Frontiers)
JAMES KENNEDY & THE UNDERDOGS – Revolution (Konic Records)
BLACKLIST UNION Madame Butterfly (BLU Records)
DIAMOND RAIN I Need Love (Pride & Joy Music)

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12:00-13:00 The Best of 2003 – 2025 (Melodic Hard Rock)
14:00-16:00 The Best of 2003 – 2025 (Singer Songwriter)

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