This live 1964 gig is one of Giorgio Gomelsky's innumerable tapes of British club acts of the period, several of which would be released many years later in attempts to cash in on some big names who were present. These historical documents, never intended for release, ranged from superb to... [+] Expand

This live 1964 gig is one of Giorgio Gomelsky's innumerable tapes of British club acts of the period, several of which would be released many years later in attempts to cash in on some big names who were present. These historical documents, never intended for release, ranged from superb to wretched. This LP (which, like most of these Gomelsky projects, has been reissued under numerous different covers and titles) falls about right in the middle of this scale. Bond led an erratic, interesting group that incorporated elements of jazz and improvisation into its blend of blues, R&B, and rock. Future Cream members Jack Bruce and Ginger Baker were his rhythm section in his prime, and Dick Heckstall-Smith handled horns; this is the lineup featured on this set. But it's not deathless stuff. The fidelity, for one, is muddy, especially the bottom, Bruce's bass suffering the most. The better tunes -- "Wade in the Water," "Early in the Morning," "Train Time," and "Spanish Blues" -- are available in better performances and much clearer fidelity on the group's first studio album, The Sound of 65. The rest is routine, even below average in spots, early British R&B. The Organisation may have been among the most accomplished players on the scene, but they couldn't hold a candle to the Stones or Yardbirds in terms of imagination and excitement. A better introduction to the sound of this lineup is the fine Edsel reissue of The Sound of 65 and There's a Bond Between Us, which have been combined into one package. ~ Richie Unterberger, All Music Guide [-] Collapse

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