Genre: rock
Rating: *** (3 stars)
Title: 'Ontinuous Performance
Company: Polydor
Catalog: PD 5037
Year: 1972
Grade (cover/record): VG+/VG+
Country/State: UK
Comments: white label promo; includes promotional insert
Available: 1
GEMM catalog ID:
Price: $20.00
In the wake of Les Harvey's untimely death, the band halfheartedly elected to continue onwards. Former Fleetwood Mac guitarist Peter Green was initially considered as a replacement, but proved too unreliable for the position. Ex-Thunderclap Newman guitarist Jimmy McCullouch was finally selected for the vacancy. Interestingly, we'd seen several
other references that describe this as a live set (reinforced by a quick look at the album cover). As such, 1972's
"Ontinuous Performance" came as a surprise. Tain't a live set, rather it was another studio set. As on earlier efforts, exemplified by tracks such as "On the Highway" (one of the final numbers written by Harvey) and "Penicillin Blues" (don'cha just love the title?), Bell's rough Joplin-styled voice remained the primary focus. While there wasn't any doubt as to Bell's talent, to our ears her lack of
subtlety (she seemed to have two singing styles - loud and louder), was a major source of irritation. At least to us, the real highlights were McCulloch's lead guitar.
While limited, his contributions throughout the LP were nothing less than stellar. Be sure to check out his beautiful solo on "One More Chance". While the swampy instrumental "King Tut" and the atypically melodic "One More Chance" were easily as good as anything they'd previously recorded, overall the band sounded somewhat flat and unmotivated (understandable given their recent history). While the album went top-40 in the UK, it did nothing in the States. Within a year Bell had struck out in search of a solo career, the rest of the band calling it quits.
"Ontinuous Performace" track listing:
1.) On the Highway (Les Harvey - Ron Leahy) -
2.) One More Chance (Ron Leahy) -
3.) Penicillin Blues (Terry - Maggie Bell) -
4.) King Tut (instrumental) (Les Harvey - Ron Leahy) -
5.) Good Time Girl (Colin Allen - Maggie Bell - Steve Thomson - Ron Leahy) -
6.) Niagra (Ron Leahy) -
7.) Sunset Cowboy (Colin Allen - Ron Leahy) -
In case anyone cares, Allen reappeared as a member of Focus, while McCulloch joined Paul McCartney and Wings. Sadly, he died of a drug overdose in 1979.