Climax Blues Band- The Albums 1973-1976 (4 CD, 2019/FLAC)

Climax Blues Band - The Albums 1973-1976 is the second collection of Climax Blues Band albums and features their work issued between 1973 and 1976, a period of commercial and concert success for the group which saw the release of the albums FM Live, Sense Of Direction, Stamp Album and Gold Plated. Formed in Stafford in 1968 by Colin Cooper, the band (originally known as the Climax Chicago Blues Band) recorded their first live album, FM Live, in New York City at the Academy of Music with a line-up of Colin Cooper (vocals, saxophones, harmonica), Pete Haycock (guitar, vocals), Derek Holt (bass, guitar, vocals) and John Cuffley (drums). The album was originally released as a single LP in the UK by Polydor Records, but issued as an entire performance by Sire Records in the USA. The version in this set is the original US double album running order (with the full version of 'Goin' to New York').

Climax Blues Band - The Albums 1969-1972 (5 CD, 2019/FLAC)

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. 

Climax Blues Band - Live, Rare & Raw 1973-1979 [4 CD, 2014]

 

Led by Colin Cooper, the former frontman of the R&B unit the Hipster Image, the Stafford, England-based Climax Chicago Blues Band were one of the leading lights of the late-'60s blues boom. A sextet also comprised of guitarists Derek Holt and Peter Haycock, keyboardist Arthur Wood, bassist Richard Jones, and drummer George Newsome, the group debuted in 1969 with a self-titled effort recalling the work of John Mayall. Prior to the release of 1969's Plays On, Jones left the group, prompting Holt to move to bass. In 1970 the Climax Chicago Blues Band moved to the Harvest label, at the same time shifting toward a more rock-oriented sound on the LP A Lot of Bottle. Around the release of 1971's Tightly Knit, Newsome was replaced by drummer John Holt; upon Wood's exit in the wake of 1972's Rich Man, the unit decided to continue on as a quartet, also dropping the "Chicago" portion of its moniker to avoid confusion with the American band of the same name. In 1974 the Climax Blues Band issued FM Live, a document of a New York radio concert. Released in 1975, Stamp was their commercial breakthrough, and 1976's Gold Plated fared even better, spurred on by the success of the hit "Couldn't Get It Right." However, the rise of punk effectively stopped the Climax Blues Band in their tracks, although they continued recording prolifically well into the 1980s; after 1988's Drastic Steps, the group was silent for a number of years, but resurfaced in 1994 with Blues from the Attic.

CD 1:
01. All the Time in the World (Live at the Marquee Club London 1973) ( 6:32)
02. I Am Constant (Live at the Marquee Club London 1973) ( 4:50)
03. Seventh Son (Live at the Marquee Club London 1973) ( 5:45)
04. Mesopopmania (Live at the Marquee Club London 1973) (10:21)
05. So Many Roads (Live at the Marquee Club London 1973) (16:05)
06. Shake Your Love /That's All (Live at the Marquee Club London 1973) ( 7:03)

CD 2:
01. All The Time In The World (Live In New Jersey 1974) ( 7:22)
02. Seventh Son (Live In New Jersey 1974) ( 5:02)
03. Flight (Live In New Jersey 1974) (15:50)
04. So Many Roads (Live In New Jersey 1974) (13:45)
05. Country Hat (Live In New Jersey 1974) ( 9:06)
06. Shake Your Love (Live In New Jersey 1974) ( 4:03)
07. Going To New York (Live In New Jersey 1974) (10:45)
08. Let's Work Together (Live In New Jersey 1974) ( 7:45)
09. One More Time/Stormy Monday (Live In New Jersey 1974) ( 7:02)

CD 3:
01. Together And Free (Live In Guildford 1976) (3:02)
02. Amerita Sense Of Direction (Live In Guildford 1976) (6:22)
03. Chasing Change (Live In Guildford 1976) (4:58)
04. Using The Power (Live In Guildford 1976) (4:22)
05. Couldn't Get It Right (Live In Guildford 1976) (3:16)
06. Going To New York (Live In Guildford 1976) (7:48)
07. All The Time In The World (Live In Guildford 1976) (2:29)
08. Get Back (Live In Guildford 1976) (2:44)

CD 4:
01. Money In Your Pocket (Live From Miami 1979) (4:39)
02. Summer Rain (Live From Miami 1979) (5:44)
03. Amerita Sense Of Direction (Live From Miami 1979) (7:40)
04. Evil (Live From Miami 1979) (5:09)
05. Fallen In Love (For The Very Last Time) [Live From Miami 1979] (4:45)
06. Seventh Son Got My Mojo Workin' (Live From Miami 1979) (9:22)
07. Whatcha Feel (Live From Miami 1979) (9:42)
08. All The Time In The World Get Back (Live From Miami 1979) (6:01)