|
Text on the back
THE first time I met the Equals they were standing quietly in the office of
President Records in London's West End, waiting patiently while executives said
hello to the lovely Felice Taylor.
I thought no more until their photograph landed on my desk . . . d-j's began
heavy plugging on their first album, "Unequalled," . . . and then out of nowhere
it socked high up into the NME's LP Chart.
I've always had the belief that if a record is a poor one, no amount of plugging
will make people go out and buy.
In this case, they bought. Thousands went for their album "Unequalled"-and are
still buying-and overnight the Equals got some of the major recognition that
must surely come their way in 1968. Already the group's strong, lay-it-down hard
sound is in great demand on the Continent, both on personal appearances and with
hit singles like "Police On My Back." (one of the 12 exciting tracks on this
album).
Notice how many of the numbers on this piping-hot LP were penned by lead
guitarist Eddie Grant, who comes from Guyana and who so aptly manages to combine
poignancy and simplicity in his songs. Play one of his numbers twice and I defy
you not to be able to whistle or sing it straight away.
One of my own favorites in this set is "Give Love A "Try", a composition by
Eddie in which a gentle tune merges with words of truth. Listen to it with the
lights down. It's smooth, soft, and huskily peaceful.
Most of the other numbers move along brisk and beautifully and they make either
ideal party material or simply the kind of music you just like to rave to
nice-and-quietly. The beat is strong ... punchy ... intriguingly different.
Line-up of the EQUALS (incidentally, this second LP of theirs' is being rushed
out so quickly because the first is being snapped up so fast by people who want
to be one up on one of the big sounds of
1968!), consists of EDDIE GRANT (lead guitar and great songs); rhythm guitarists
LINCOLN GORDON (who also composes) and PAT LLOYD lead vocalist DERV GORDON, and
drummer JOHN HALL.
LINCOLN and DERV are temperamentally unalike twins from Jamaica; PAT AND JOHN
are Londoners.
EDDIE'S personal musical tastes run to Sonny Boy Williamson and Billie Holliday,
JOHN'S go from Dave Brubeck to Cilia Black, LINCOLN raves over James Brown, DERV
is a Brook Benton fan, and give PAT a Tony Bennett or Nancy Wilson LP any day.
In spite of this, you'll notice nobody else's influence on this album. The
EQUALS have a style all their own (listen out for those two rhythm guitars), and
I've a strong hunch that before long it will be a regular feature in the British
charts.
Meantime, grab a listen to the EQUALS yourself. Be one up.
ALAN SMITH, NEW MUSICAL EXPRESS
|
