Ten Years After

There were a great number of British blues bands to choose from in the ‘60s. Ten Years After had their singer-guitarist Alvin Lee as their most dangerous weapon, but his performances are surprisingly subtle and laid back on their 1967 debut album, considering he became known as a manic, hyper-charged guitarist. The ensemble playing on this debut makes a case for each member’s importance. It also shows the band had more of a jazz edge than most of their peers. Drummer Ric Lee keeps things loose and flowing throughout the cover of Al Kooper’s “I Can’t Keep From Crying, Sometimes.” Chick Churchill breaks into a jazzy workout on “Adventures of a Young Organ” while the band raid the Willie Dixon songbook for “Spoonful” (also covered to more notice by Cream) and Sonny Boy Williamson’s for “Help Me.” This “expanded” edition of the album includes Woody Herman’s “(At the) Woodchopper’s Ball” from Undead as well as the 1968 “Portable People” single that’s a slice of country rock.