Formed in Stafford in 1968 by Colin Cooper, the band (originally known as the Climax Chicago Blues Band) recorded their debut album in September & November 1968 with a line up of Colin Cooper (Vocals, Harmonica), Pete Haycock (Guitar, Slide Guitar, Vocals), Arthur Wood (Keyboards), Derek Holt (Rhythm Guitar, Bass, Organ), Richard Jones (Bass) and George Newsome (Drums). Issued early the following year on EMIs Parlophone label, the album saw the band gain a wider audience. Shortening their name to the Climax Blues Band, the group recorded and released their excellent follow-up album, Plays On, later that year. By 1970 the band had moved to EMIs progressive label, Harvest, and issued their third album A Lot of Bottle later that year. The 1971 album Tightly Knit was arguably their best of this period. The bands final album for Harvest was Rich Man, issued in 1972. The album made commercial inroads in the United States and was the launching platform for their success in that country over the next few years. This official 5CD clamshell boxed set celebrates the early years of this much loved British band and features each album in a replica card sleeve wallet and includes an illustrated poster.
The Albums 1969 – 1972
1969 – The Climax Chicago Blues Band
01. Mean Old World
02. Insurance
03. Going Down This Road
04. You’ve Been Drinking
05. Don’t Start Me Talkin’
06. Wee Baby Blues
07. Twenty Past One
08. A Stranger In Your Town
09. How Many More Years
10. Looking For My Baby
11. And Lonely
12. The Entertainer
Bonus Tracks:
13. Checking On My Baby
14. Arthur’s Boogie
15. Stormy Monday
16. Don’t Start Me Talkin’ (Take One)
17. Anybody’s Boogie
18. You’ve Been Drinking (Take One)
19. And Lonely (Take Five)
1969 – Plays On
01. Flight
02. Hey Baby, Everything’s Gonna Be Alrigh, Yeh Yeh Yeh
03. Cubano Chant
04. Little Girl
05. Mum’s The Word
06. Twenty Past Two / Temptation Rag
07. So Many Roads
08. City Ways
09. Crazy ‘Bout My Baby
Bonus Tracks:
10. Like Uncle Charlie
11. Loving Machine
12. Dance Of The Mountain King’s Daughter
13. Flight (First Mix)
1970 – A Lot Of Bottle
01. Country Hat
02. Every Day
03. Reap What I’ve Sowed
04. Brief Case
05. Alright Blue? / Country Hat (Reprise)
06. Seventh Son
07. Please Don’t Help Me
08. Morning Noon And Night
09. Long Lovin’ Man
10. Louisiana Blues
11. Cut You Loose
Live Bonus Tracks:
12. Flight
13. Seventh Son
14. Reap What I’ve Sowed
1971 – Tightly Knit
01. Hey Mama
02. Shoot Her If She Runs
03. Towards The Sun
04. Come On In My Kitchen
05. Who Killed McSwiggin
06. Little Link
07. St. Michael’s Blues
08. Bide My Time
09. That’s All
Live Bonus Tracks:
10. Hey Mama
11. Shoot Her If She Runs
12. Spoonfu
1972 – Rich Man
01. Rich Man
02. Mole On The Dole
03. You Make Me Sick
04. Standng By The River
05. Shake Your Love
06. All The Time In The World
07. If You Wanna Know
08. Don’t You Mind People Grinning In Your Face
Bonus Track:
09. Mole On The Dole (Single Version)
The Albums 1969 – 1972
1969 – The Climax Chicago Blues Band
01. Mean Old World
02. Insurance
03. Going Down This Road
04. You’ve Been Drinking
05. Don’t Start Me Talkin’
06. Wee Baby Blues
07. Twenty Past One
08. A Stranger In Your Town
09. How Many More Years
10. Looking For My Baby
11. And Lonely
12. The Entertainer
Bonus Tracks:
13. Checking On My Baby
14. Arthur’s Boogie
15. Stormy Monday
16. Don’t Start Me Talkin’ (Take One)
17. Anybody’s Boogie
18. You’ve Been Drinking (Take One)
19. And Lonely (Take Five)
1969 – Plays On
01. Flight
02. Hey Baby, Everything’s Gonna Be Alrigh, Yeh Yeh Yeh
03. Cubano Chant
04. Little Girl
05. Mum’s The Word
06. Twenty Past Two / Temptation Rag
07. So Many Roads
08. City Ways
09. Crazy ‘Bout My Baby
Bonus Tracks:
10. Like Uncle Charlie
11. Loving Machine
12. Dance Of The Mountain King’s Daughter
13. Flight (First Mix)
1970 – A Lot Of Bottle
01. Country Hat
02. Every Day
03. Reap What I’ve Sowed
04. Brief Case
05. Alright Blue? / Country Hat (Reprise)
06. Seventh Son
07. Please Don’t Help Me
08. Morning Noon And Night
09. Long Lovin’ Man
10. Louisiana Blues
11. Cut You Loose
Live Bonus Tracks:
12. Flight
13. Seventh Son
14. Reap What I’ve Sowed
1971 – Tightly Knit
01. Hey Mama
02. Shoot Her If She Runs
03. Towards The Sun
04. Come On In My Kitchen
05. Who Killed McSwiggin
06. Little Link
07. St. Michael’s Blues
08. Bide My Time
09. That’s All
Live Bonus Tracks:
10. Hey Mama
11. Shoot Her If She Runs
12. Spoonfu
1972 – Rich Man
01. Rich Man
02. Mole On The Dole
03. You Make Me Sick
04. Standng By The River
05. Shake Your Love
06. All The Time In The World
07. If You Wanna Know
08. Don’t You Mind People Grinning In Your Face
Bonus Track:
09. Mole On The Dole (Single Version)
