This 2-CD set consists of Patto’s second album, Hold Your Fire which was originally
released in December of 1971 on the Vertigo label, and now reissued by Esoteric
Recordings. After the release of their sole self-titled debut album in 1970,
the album didn’t do that well and Vertigo wanted the band to do another album
as Muff Winwood was brought back to the studio to produce their next album.
The album was recorded at Island Studios in Basing Street as
the band decided that it was time to show some improvements of what they could
have done on their debut. What that meant was that it gave them time on both of
the arrangements and overdubs while it showed a self-confidential side to them
and building up their sound with both of the blues, jazz, and soul in their
roots.
Ollie channels his improvisations of Jazz Rock to keep the
essence flowing of Holdsworth’s technique like a train going at full speed with
the Air Raid Shelter while You, You Point Your Finger deals with
the struggle with fame and the price that is paid with it. With its haunting
melodies and social commentary, Mike pours his soul on the issue for its
powerful composition as Ollie’s melodic/harder edge, makes you feel as if he is
taking you to the dark side of the music industry.
See You At The Dance
Tonight is a mid-tempo piano blues rockin’ number. Not only that, but I
could tell it is an essence of Rod Stewart and the Faces almost as if they
could have written this song for them during the sessions for Ooh La La as Ollie shreds through the
midsection as John Halsey’s drumming follows beside him. The two bonus tracks
on the first CD features Beat the Drum which
at first starts off with a jazzy improvisation.
The first few minutes gives Clive Griffiths a chance to come
forward as his bass line brings it in. As he and John follow Ollie’s vibes, the
stop-and-go moments gives Mike’s vocals delve into some of the issues of what
was happening during that time period while Bad
News shows more of Ollie’s virtuosity. It shows that he’s more than just a
guitar player. He and Bernie Holland share together on their instruments in the
lead and rhythm guitar structures.
The second CD contains two performances that Patto did for
the BBC sessions including BBC Radio One’s In
Concert introduced by John Peel and the other three for a summer session
for Sounds of the 70s along with
alternate mixes of the last three tracks from the sessions at Island Studios. Listening to these sessions, makes you
want to close your eyes and imagine yourself being in the audience watching
this band going into town to deliver the goods during the time they were
promoting their debut album.
When Hold Your Fire was
released in December of that year, the album didn’t sell. And Vertigo dropped
the band. And soon they were still on the road for supporting acts including
Stackridge, Genesis, Bell & Arc, May Blitz, Van Der Graaf Generator, and
Genesis for a festival. Listening to their second album, it shows that this was
a band that was so far ahead of their time and often overlooked in the history
of the progressive rock genre.
The 20-page booklet contains liner notes done by Sid Smith
which included an interview with John Halsey about the making of the album. It
also contains posters, promos, reviews, including a picture of Centipede which
Mike Patto participated with Keith Tippett for the Septober Energy album and performances they did in London and
Europe. Pictures of the band, and of course the Lyceum Easter Festival they did
with some of the progressive bands they were on the bill with as I’ve mentioned
a second ago.
The band would later be with another label on Island Records
due to Muff’s connection with them as they would release their next album in
1972 entitled; Roll ‘em Smoke ‘em Put
Another Line Out.
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