A band that never gets real mention in too many quarters is the UK gem, The Climax Blues Band (early known as The Climax Chicago Blues Band, with a brilliant first album). I remember first hearing them on FM radio (WXRT – Chicago), and falling in love with them immediately. After Rich Man (1972), they released their FM Live (1973) album. I have to say that there were not too many nights that I didn’t close my night out with FM Live.
With the release of Sense Of Direction (1974), I was sure that this band would become great beyond great. There was not a bad song on the album. It was clear that the band was actually finding its true unique voice. The name given could not be any truer. Sense of Direction started with “Amerita”, a track with brilliant jazz/blues infusion. (Underrated) Pete Haycock’s guitars were extraordinary, mesmerizing me day and night. “Losin’ The Humbles”, with its slide guitars, pushed all of the right buttons. “Nogales”, the incredible, guitar-rich “Reaching Out” soul and funk, the bluesy “Right Now”, were anchors to a perfect album.
Sense of Direction performed well on the charts for the band leading into their Stamp Album (1975), and Gold Plated, which generated the hit everyone remembers, “Couldn’t Get It Right”, as well as “I Love You” from their Flying The Flag (1980) (yes, you know both of these songs) album. For me, while I enjoy the songs, they are a departure from their earlier experimental fusions.
As a result, their Sense of Direction still stands as their definitive album. While this may be an arguable point (and I would love to hear them), Sense of Direction is an album I effortless return to time and time again, years and decades later. It’s still as fresh as the days I used to lull myself to sleep listening to it.
If you haven’t heard Sense of Direction, or, for that matter, anything by Climax Blues Band, now is a great time to remedy that oversight. I suspect that you’ll be pleasantly surprised, especially if you have never heard of the band (even thought you may remember the hits mentioned above). Personally, I recommend back tracking from Sense of Direction for the best results. Others may recommend a forward movement. Either way, I doubt you’ll be disappointed.
(I have to say that I really dig the US cover (seen above) over the UK cover (seen below) of Sense of Direction.)
A compilation worth picking up is “25 Years: 1968-1993”. It’s two discs cover 32 tracks, and it was notable at the time for being the only CD release for “I Love You”.
Matt,
I had the same exact thought regarding the album covers.