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General Information
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Artist...............: Babe Ruth
Album................: First Base
Year.................: 1972
Genre................: Heavy Prog
Source...............: CD
Number of Songs......: 8
Duration.............: 00:47:58 min
Audio Format.........: MP3
Bitrate..............: CBR 192 HQ
Channels.............: Stereo / 44,100 hz
Tags.................: ID3 v1.1, ID3 v2.3
Included.............: Covers
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Release Notes
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Track Listing:
01. Wells Fargo (Alan Shacklock) - 06:17
02. The Runaways (Alan Shacklock, David Whiting) - 07:28
03. King Kong (Frank Zappa) - 06:44
'This track was recorded "straight" with no overdubbing or electronic trickery - the
spontaneity and live feel are set off by Dick's comment at the end!'
04. Black Dog (Jesse Winchester) - 08:03
05. The Mexican (Alan Shacklock) - 05:49
this track interpolates from "Per Qualche Dollaro in Piu" by Ennio Morricone - he seems
to be a favourite of the band - A Fistful Of Dollars appears on the Babe Ruth album.
06. Joker (Alan Shacklock) - 07:43
07. Wells Fargo, 7 Inch Version (Alan Shacklock) - 03:35
08. Theme from "For a Few Dollars More" (Ennio Morricone) - 2:19
Biography / Album Review:
Babe Ruth was a band that formed in Hatfield, Hertfordshire, England, in 1971.
Guitarist Alan Shacklock founded this progressive rock band.
They had a rhythmic, bluesy, guitar orientated sound capped off by the blistering vocals of Jenny Hahn.
Rounded out by Chris Holmes (keyboards and organ), Dave Punshon (piano), Dave Hewitt, (bass) and Dick Powell,
(drums) this British band always put on a great live show.
Jennie Hahn's raw powerful vocals, along with Alan Shacklock's
magnificent guitar work made for their true signature sound.
With very varied eclectic tastes they covered songs like
Frank Zappa's "King Kong", and Curtis Mayfield's "We People Darker Than Blue".
They enjoyed moderate commercial success in Britain, Canada, and the States, but were plagued by
personnel problems, and lack of radio airplay.
When vocalist Jennie Hahn left the band for parts unknown, the band lost direction and never regained
its initial success. I became aware of them through Boston progressive radio where their great song
"The Mexican" became a minor hit.
Their 1972 album "First Base", with its cover art by famed Yes artist, Roger Dean, remains one of my most
favorite albums to this day. I suggest you give this album a listen, because it is simply one of the
best rock albums of all time.
On a side note the song "The Mexican" became a favorite of hip hoppers like Grand Master Flash who often sampled the song.
Babe Ruth should never be forgotten as one of the best rock bands to ever come out of England.
Now this is real music! Jenny (Janita) Haan is credited on the original
album sleeve as 'vocal power' and that's an accurate description.
She belts out the songs incredibly powerfully and her voice never
seems to even approach the limits of her range. The rest of the band are
accomplished and solid musicians. Something that they are obviously
proud of since the sleeve notes announce that the cover of the
Frank Zappa 'King Kong' is done in one take with no overdubs.
They are:
Dave Hewitt on bass and vocals
Dick Powell on drums and percussion
Dave Punshon on electric piano and piano
Alan Shacklock on guitars, vocals, organ and percussion
Alan Shacklock is responsible for the string arrangements that underpin 'The Runaways'.
The cover is by Roger Dean
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