"Road Fever: The Complete Bearsville Recordings 1972-1975" by FOGHAT – Five Albums "Foghat"(July 1972), "Foghat [aka Rock And Roll]" (March 1973), "Energized" (January 1974), "Rock And Roll Outlaws" (October 1974), "Fool For The City" (September 1975) and an Exclusive Compilation "Single Versions 1972-1975" – Featuring Guitarists Lonesome Dave Peverett and Rod Price, Bassist Tony Stevens, Drummer Roger Earl and Bassist, Keyboardist and Producer Nick Jameson (March 2023 UK Cherry Red/HNE Recordings 6CD Clamshell Box Set Compilation – Tim Debney Masters Using 1990s WEA/Rhino Remasters) - A Review by Mark Barry...

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RATINGS: 

Material *** to ****

Presentation *****

Audio **** to *****

"…Slow Ride…"

Boogie, Boogie and more Boogie. You could not in a month of Sundays accuse England's FOGHAT of slacking on the let's-rock-until-we-puke front.

As you wade through these good-to-sometimes-great five albums at the start of their huge Blues Rock/Classic Rock career followed by a neatly compiled Single Versions 1972-1975 Bonus CD Companion with Rare Single and Promo-Only Edits – you are left both exhausted and exhilarated – much like one of their live shows I would imagine. 

This is Gee-Tar Rock in the same vein as Ten Years After or Savoy Brown or Status Quo - but with a very (somehow) American tint to it (Foghat were always much bigger in the States than at home in their native Blighty where buyers all but ignored them for decades).

I didn't (in honesty) pick up on Foghat until I heard the brill, catchy and radio friendly Slide Boogie of "Fool For The City" and bought the album of the same name in the Autumn of 1975. I went back and picked up their Bearsville catalogue on the cheap where their LPs were a staple in secondhand record emporiums. Which leads us to this rather cute and cuddly six-disc Clamshell Box Set with dinky Mini LP Repro Artwork Card Sleeves, a decent 20-page booklet and Tim Debney Masters that I swear are simply the Rhino Remasters of old (the 1990s) re-licensed. 

Time to ride people – and I don't mean Red Rum in the Epson Derby – more Fagash Lil in the Cheltenham Paddocks (the seedier end of the stalls, if you get my sack of hayseed)…to the details…

UK released 31 March 2023 - "Road Fever: The Complete Bearsville Recordings 1972-1975" by FOGHAT on Cherry Red/HNE Recordings QHNEBOX184 (Barcode 5013929928428) is a 6CD Clamshell Box Set (Five Albums and One Exclusive Single Versions Compilation) that plays out:

CD1 "Foghat" (38:09 minutes):
1. I Just Want To Make Love To You [Side 1]
2. Trouble, Trouble
3. Leavin' Again (Again!)
4. Fool's Hall Of Fame 
5. Sarah Lee
6. Highway (Killing Me) [Side 2]
7. Maybelline 
8. A Hole To Hide In
9. Gotta Get To Know You 
Tracks 1 to 9 are their debut album "Foghat" - released July 1972 in the USA on Bearsville BR 2077 and belatedly released June 1974 in the UK on Bearsville K 45503. Produced by DAVE EDMUNDS – peaked at No.127 on the US Billboard LP charts (didn't chart UK)

CD2 "Foghat" - aka "Rock And Roll" due to cover art - (38:37 minutes):
1. Ride, Ride, Ride [Side 1]
2. Feel So Bad 
3. Long Way To Go 
4. It's Too Late 
5. What A Shame [Side 2]
6. Helping Hand 
7. Road Fever 
8. She's Gone
9. Couldn't Make Her Stay
Tracks 10 to 18 are their 2nd album "Foghat (aka Rock And Roll)" released March 1973 in the USA on Bearsville BR 2136 and belated released July 1974 in the UK on Warner Brothers K 45514 . Produced by TIM DAWES – peaked at No.67 on the US Billboard LP charts (didn't chart UK)

CD3 "Energized" (40:02 minutes):
1. Honey Hush [Side 1]
2. Step Outside
3. Golden Arrow
4. Home In My Hand
5. Wild Cherry[Side 2]
6. That'll Be The Day
7. Fly By Night
8. Nothin' I Won't Do
Tracks 1 to 8 are their third studio album "Energized" - released January 1974 in the USA on Bearsville BR 6950 and belatedly released July 1974 in the UK on Bearsville K 55500. Produced by TOM DAWES - peaked at No.34 on the US Billboard LP charts (didn't chart UK)

CD4 "Rock And Roll Outlaws" (38:58 minutes):
1. Eight Days On The Road [Side 1]
2. Hate To See You Go
3. Dreamer
4. Trouble In My Way
5. Rock & Roll Outlaw [Side 2]
6. Shirley Jean
7. Blue Spruce Woman
8. Chateau LaFitte '59 Boogie
Tracks 1 to 8 are their fourth studio album "Rock And Roll Outlaws" - released October 1974 in the USA on Bearsville BR 6956 and October 1974 in the UK on Bearsville K 55502. Produced and Engineered by NICK JAMESON - peaked at No. 40 on the US Billboard LP charts (didn't chart UK)

CD5 "Fool For The City" (35:36 minutes):
1. Fool For The City [Side 1]
2. My Babe
3. Slow Ride
4. Terraplane Blues [Side 2]
5. Save Your Loving (For Me)
6. Drive Me Home
7. Take It Or Leave It
Tracks 1 to 7 are their fifth album "Fool For The City" released October 1975 in the USA on Bearsville BR 6959 and February 1976 in the UK on Bearsville K 55507. Produced and Engineered by NICK JAMESON – peaked at No.23 on the US Billboard LP charts (didn't chart UK)

CD6 "Single Versions 1972-1975" (46:17 minutes):
1. I Just Want To Make Love You (Mono Edit, 3:14 minutes)
2. I Just Want To Make Love You (Stereo Edit, 3:14 minutes)
3. What A Shame (Single Edit, 2:50 minutes)
4. A Hole To Hide In (Single Edit, 3:50 minutes)
5. What A Shame (Mono Edit, 3:24 minutes)
6. What A Shame (Stereo Edit, 3:24 minutes)
7. Ride, Ride, Ride (Stereo Edit, 2:59 minutes)
8. Long Way To Go (Stereo Edit, 4:06 minutes)
9. That'll Be The Day (Mono Edit, 2:52 minutes)
10. Step Outside (Stereo Edit, 3:12 minutes)
11. Slow Ride (Stereo Edit, 3:45 minutes)
12. Slow Ride (Stereo Edit, 5:55 minutes)
13. Fool For The City (Stereo Edit, 3:10 minutes)

Foghat fans have been here before when in March 2012 Edsel Records of England issued six twofer-CDs covering their catalogue from July 1972 to July 1983 – but they and the Complete Albums Box set that followed have long since been deleted and garnishing hefty price tags on auction sites. HNE Recordings (part of Cherry Red) have decided to close the gap with this March 2023 sixer – a good idea. The Mini LP Repro Artwork Card Sleeves appeal to all collectors – front and rear covers – all CDs with generic HNE Recordings logo and not the Bearsville labels of old. 

The 20-page booklet has all the album credits and Box Set details at the rear preceded by an in-depth article on the band by XAVIER RUSSELL that includes new and old interviews with Peverett, Price and Nick Jameson. Peppered between are rare Picture Sleeves of Euro 45s. Although it doesn't say so – TIM DEBNEY of Fluid Mastering has I suspect used the Rhino Remasters done in the 1990s (this set is licensed from WEA). But whatever way you look it – every album boogies – solid – punchy – and without doubt four and five having the input of Producer Nick Jameson – sound the most ballsy. 

"Lonesome" Dave Peverett (Guitar & Lead Vocals), Tony Stevens (Bass) and Roger Earl (Drums) came out of the ashes of British Rock-Blues band SAVOY BROWN while second slide-guitar specialist Rod Price was in BLACK CAT BONES who managed one highly collectable album on Decca-Nova in 1970 (featured members of Leafhound and Free guitarist Paul Kossoff). Working on his debut solo LP "Rockpile" at the time – DAVE EDMUNDS recorded Foghat's debut at Rockfield Studios in Wales also. Their aural brief was no-nonsense boogie – Rock and Roll – with maybe some blues and soulful rock in between the cracks. And as a British band they were famously huge in the USA (charted 13 albums there) but less so in their native land. 

Highlights on the debut include the lead-off single that got them noticed – a great boogie version of the Willie Dixon penned/Muddy Waters classic "I Just Want To Make Love To You". There's a fast-as-we-can–go cover of Chuck Berry's "Maybelline" – but there's also the opposite – a very soulful near eight-minute take on Bobby "Blue" Bland's "Gotta Get To Know You" which finishes the album in great style. But the other 6 originals mainly written by Peverett and Price are just as impressive – especially "Leavin' Again (Again!)" where Edmunds treats the vocals and guitars to phasing which gives it such a "Rockpile" sound. "Sarah Lee" is excellent too while the rocking 'money-worries' song "A Hole To Hide In" was a B-side of their debut 7" single in the USA. "Highway (Killing Me)" is gritty too – boogie about life on the road.

Things heat up considerably on the 2nd LP as it opens with "Ride, Ride, Ride" which along with their 2nd US 45 "What A Shame” set down the template for their trademark rocking sound for years to come. But best of all for me is the legendary drummer Bernard Purdie and the Brass section on the blistering "Road Fever" (lyrics above) – they combine with Peverett and the band to incredible effect - rocking like mad men and then Peverett losing it with vocal enthusiasm as the tracks rushes to a manic finish.

By the time Foghat hit studio album number three "Energized" released on the US market in January 1974 – they were on a very definite Rock and Roll upward trajectory (in America at least). The album became their first to finally break the top 50 settling at a peak of No.34 on a very healthy 30-week run. And when you hear the bashing drums and twin-guitar attack of stuff like "Wild Cherry" which Bearsville put on the flipside of their cover of the Buddy Holly 50ts classic "That'll Be The Day" - it is hardly surprising. They also bolstered up that 2:52-minute cover with (uncredited) girly backing singers and brass arrangements to give it more muscle – and it worked. 

Speaking of cool cover choices, Foghat opened the "Energized" album with a rapido Rawk version of the old Joe Turner tune "Honey Hush" – their manic guitar assault resembling the way Fleetwood Mac of the 1970 "Kiln House" line-up did up – just amped up ten-fold. It is also easy to hear why Bearsville chose the catchy sung-chorus of "Step Outside" as the second 45 from their third album platter hooking it up with the Chuck Berry cover "Maybelline" from their debut as its flipside. For me (at least) far better is the fast train song "Golden Arrow" – the distorted vocals of Peverett sounding like a choo-choo a-chuggin' down the line just before a blistering guitar solo. 

The 8-track no-nonsense Brassed-Up Boogie Rock of "Energized" with tracks like (paying my debt with my) "Home In My Hand" song structure worked – so album number four "Rock And Roll Outlaws" followed suit and again broke the Top 50 although this time slipping down a few notches to No.40 and staying only 10-weeks on the US Billboard chart. Opening accounts on Side 1 is another pinging ZZ Top-type boogie cover version that hammers down for 6:08 minutes – this time from a 60ts Howard Tate R&B number on Verve Forecast Records. Their version of "Eight Days On The Road" does the absolute business - Nick Jameson now more involved and arranging guitar parts too – dig that fantastic solo. That is followed by another great slice of riffage "Hate To See You Go" that could easily have been a single too. I also like the acoustic and slide of "Trouble In My Way" – a ballad for Foghat that ended Side 1. 

Another outsider with a six-string gun shows up for the LP title track "Rock & Roll Outlaw" – back to Boogie – itself followed by the very R&R shuffling "Shirley Jean" purring like a wasted movie queen – their trick of singing with the guitar lines making the basic Chuck Berry backbeat feel new. Another impressive gal shows up (this time out of the woods) in the shape of "Blue Spruce Woman" – the lecherous pre-Black Crowes guitars soon joined by Drums and Tambourine. They end their fab fourth with an all-out slide attack – the real-good-time Boogie of "Chateau LaFitte '59 Boogie" – the boys rolling all night long with not-so-cheap booze. For my money – it ends an overlooked album in their cannon. For sure "Fool For The City" is always going to be the LP they will be cited for – but "Rock And Roll Outlaws" is far better than its naff band-and-jet artwork would suggest. Going in my I Saw The Light e-book of over 500 Overlooked Albums between 1955 and 1979. 

Produced to perfection by Nick Jameson - "Fool For The City" opens with a title-track killer. It was edited down from its album length of 4:33 minutes to 3:28 minutes and put out as a 45 in March 1976 in the USA (Bearsville BSS 0307) with “Take It Or Leave It” as its flip. What a killer tune – to this day it elicits a grin and is an oldies playlist regular. But it was the Side 1 monster "Slow Ride" that blew everyone away. Its stunning eight-minutes of slide Blues Boogie was also edited down a more manageable 3:59 minutes and in January 1976 it broke into the US singles chart peaking at a respectable 20 on Bearsville BSS 0306 (the UK variant is on K 15522). CD6 also provides us with a 5:55 minute Stereo Edit of "Slow Ride".

Their take on The Righteous Brothers hit "My Babe" gets a truly fantastic kick-ass makeover as does the Robert Johnson Side 2 opener "Terraplane Blues". The girls and cars "Drive Me Home" goes all barroom Honky Tonk with its sloppy piano backing supporting rocking guitars. It ends on the rather sappy "Take It Or Leave It" – a stab at MOR keyboard schlock – but by that time the rest of the album has boogied its way into your heart.

To sum up – none of these FOGHAT albums are masterpieces of the genre by any stretch of the imagination despite what 5-star reviews may say (and sadly both Peverett and Price passed on in 2000 and 2005). 

But Foghat are remembered with affection for a reason and there are truly great moments of Rock meets the Blues meets Rock 'n' Roll on each one of these Mini LP CD reissues. And now it won't cost the Terraplane or Jet Stream to get them either. Nicely done…

US 7" 45-Singles Covering 1972-1975 Albums:
"I Just Want To Make Love To You" (Single Edit) b/w "Hole To Hide In" (Single Edit)
July 1972, Bearsville BSV 008 (Track 2 on CD6 and 8 on CD1)
July 1972, Bearsville BSV 008 (Promo Only Version of the A-side only - 3:15 Single Edit Version MONO on the A and same timings STEREO on the B – Tracks 1 & 2 on CD6

"What A Shame" (Single Edit, 3:24 minutes) b/w "Helping Hand" (Single Edit)
April 1973, Bearsville BSV 0014 (Tracks 6 on CD6 and 6 on CD2)
April 1973, Bearsville BSV 0014 (Promo Only Version of the A-side only – 3:24 minute edit in MONO on the A and same times STEREO on the B – Tracks 5 & 6 on CD6

"Ride, Ride, Ride" (Single Edit) b/w "It's Too Late" (5:38 minutes)
June 1973, Bearsville BSV 0016 (Track 7 on CD6 and 4 on CD2)
"That'll Be The Day" (2:52 minutes) b/w "Wild Cherry" (5:27 minutes)
January 1974, Bearsville BSV 0019 (Tracks 6& 5 on CD3)
January 1974, Bearsville BSV 0019 (Promo-Only of the A-side – MONO and STEREO Version on the A&B-sides – MONO Mix at 2:52 minutes was exclusive to this release (Track 9 on CD6)

"Step Outside" (Single Edit, 3:12 minutes) b/w "Maybelline"
April 1974, Bearsville BSV 0021 (Track 10 on CD6 and 7 on CD1)
April 1974, Bearsville BSV 0021 (Promo-Only of the A-side – MONO and STEREO Version on the A&B-sides – MONO Mix was exclusive but is not on this set

"Slow Ride" (Single Edit, 3:45 minutes) b/w "Save Your Loving (For Me)"
November 1975, Bearsville BSV 0306 (Track 11 on CD6 and 5 on CD5) 
November 1975 Promo-Only Version of the A-side also had an edit at 5:55 minutes of the seven-minute song – Track 12 on CD6

"Fool For The City" (Single Edit, 3:10 minutes) b/w "Take It Or Leave It"
May 1976, Bearsville BSV 0307 (Track 13 on CD6 and 7 on CD5) 

UK 7" 45-Singles Covering 1972-1975 Albums:
"What A Shame" (Single Edit) b/w "Hole To Hide In" (Single Edit)
June 1972, Bearsville K 15501 (Tracks 3 & 4 on CD6)

"Long Way To Go" (Single Edit) b/w "Ride, Ride, Ride" (Single Edit) 
February 1974, Bearsville K 15511 (Tracks 8 & 7 on CD6)

"Step Outside" (Single Edit) b/w "Maybelline" 
July 1974, Bearsville K 15517 (Track 10 on CD6 and 7 on CD1)

"Slow Ride" (Single Edit, 3:45) b/w "Save Your Loving (For Me)"
January 1976, Bearsville K 15522 (Track 11 on CD6 and 5 on CD5)