This Review Along With 390 Others Is Available In My
SOUNDS GOOD E-Book on all Amazon sites
GET IT ON - 1971
Your All-Genres Guide To
Exceptional CD Reissues and Remasters
A HUGE 3,154 e-Pages
All Details and In-Depth Reviews From Discs
(No Cut and Paste Crap)
Just Click Below To Purchase
https://www.amazon.co.uk/THERES-SOMETHING-ABOUT-1971-All-Genre-ebook/dp/B06XFXCG47?crid=XQ282HAP6GR&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9._XhImcbm7DjMzoSHNOg-flLAseM5Yl2TFpyZ409wGcjXOvc-MbMKia1X2eKg9k4VeK9ofP296GyKraAtL19AT_m9jgC9_D8BnSFy5l-ItYPR_XHIBJL0F4UEV_LyrX3yn1CfxqQN4h1FWl_iNvsPnNKEoCBje8n_EztsrQicti86OhuzqOKzCAWFmrW-4jqp__pwi8QLCygSpXWkftAc174ay_sVyPZ92-DuSij-AWA.UP5Q9CvpRzpDLLQwuBjASHxl-zIhk1xTZt0yqOpRDro&dib_tag=se&keywords=get+it+on+1971&qid=1740370575&sprefix=get+it+on+1971%2Caps%2C87&sr=8-1&linkCode=ll1&tag=mabasreofcdbl-21&linkId=e58ef62bd67cf0dce1ad3a1a7181daae&language=en_GB&ref_=as_li_ss_tl
https://amzn.to/4u9AlX6
RATINGS:
Overall: ***
Presentation: ****
Audio: **** to *****
"….Winds Of Change…"
There are some artists who engender enormous affection even if their output doesn't realistically deliver (John Lennon jumps to mind).
The original Guitarist with Jethro Tull for the fab "This Was" debut album in 1968 on Island Records - I also loved the Mick Abrahams based Blodwyn Pig LPs from 1969 on Island ("Ahead Rings Out") and the 1970 follow-up on Chrysalis ("Getting To This"). Having jumped the Tull ship, Abrahams formed the witty and punky Blodwyn Pig (what a great name for a band), his new group of hirsute delinquents coming at you with a mixture of Rock and Prog and Bluesy elements all washed down with the occasional Flute and Saxophone (business as usual, I suppose).
So, buying the Mick Abrahams/Mick Abrahams Band solo LPs when they quickly turned up in 1971 and 1972 was a bit of a no-brainer for a lad like me (I'm 68 now and watching 55th, 56th, 57th etc Anniversaries of Seventies LPs accumulate like fluff on a tiled floor – if I see one more Super Deluxe Box Set at over £150, I will puke). But, and I say this with such a heavy heart (weighed down with guilt and Paraguay's National Debt and secret-agent stuff I dare not divulge) – I struggled with "Mick Abrahams" and "ATLAST" and still do (I know the second LP is referred to as At Last, but look at the cover and the original label and you will see it is deliberately spelt ATLAST in capitals as its title – maybe it was a pun on the word Atlas – not sure).
I wanted to like these albums and admittedly have returned to the first (especially Side 1) manys a time. But the May 1971 self-titled debut has that extended noodle on Side 2 called "Seasons" which goes on for fifteen minutes – Guitarist Abrahams and Keyboardist Bob Sargeant doing battle only to go back to the cliched vocal intro at the end. Sure, there are cool bits in it – the echoed guitars – up and down the frets with dexterity - but it tries my patience now. The songs were plodding compared to Zeppelin or Tull for that matter in the same time periods. Even as a dude who could suffer and enjoy side-long epics by Yes, ELP and Gentle Giant – the Mick Abrahams debut felt like half-an-album.
The second LP (which saw his old Blodwyn Pig mucker Jack Lancaster return to the fold with Saxophones, Flutes and Clarinets) followed almost exactly one year later in May 1972 (the first was 7 May 1971) was all gimmicky circular fold-out sleeve ala Ogden's Nutgone Flake and with three Sargeant tunes and one co-write with Abrahams. It was clear that the songs had already run out for our Blodwyn Pig hero (A&M Stateside didn't bother to release LP No.2 there probably based on the poor sales for the debut which appears to have more white-label copies in circulation that actual stock copies). The final insult for all us fans was the song-tutor budget-label LP in 1973 called "Have Fun Learning The Guitar with Mick Abrahams" (on SRT Records SRT 73312) that just made you stare in disbelief – and ask why – who needs this? You got a page addressed to students, strumming and tuning instructions, tips on plectrums and inbetween noodles - cover versions of oldies like Blue Moon and Blowin In The Wind? Abrahams would return in the 90s and make great Bluesy Rock/Prog Elements CD albums again (much like Leslie West of Mountain) and see a second coming where his style and personality were mucho re-appreciated (even did updated versions of Blodwyn Pig material).
Having had my whinge, up steps England's Esoteric Recordings and they say hooey – we are going to reissue both in one foldout digipak sexpot package and damn the moaning Paddies. There are no extras which is a shame and they could have included the split "Up And Down" track that appeared on all those European variants as a 9-track LP and not the British 8. But after years of 1990s CDs that kind-of sounded OK – it is a thrill to hear what Ben Wiseman has done to the master tapes in 2026. Clarity, power, presence – very tasty.
Lot to discuss then, time for yesterday's to become our today once again - here are the Winds Of Change for the Whole Wide World (and that's just my toiletries trolly)…
UK released Friday, 26 March 2026 - "Seasons: The Recordings 1971-1972" by MICK ABRAHAMS on Esoteric Recordings ECLEC22935 (Barcode 5013929473560) is a compilation that offers 2LPs from 1971 and 1972 on Chrysalis Records (UK) and A&M Records (USA) in Stereo Remastered onto 2CDs and it plays out as follows:
CD1 Mick Abrahams (45:07 minutes):
1. Greyhound Bus (4:52 minutes) [Side 1]
2. Awake (8:50 minutes)
3. Winds Of Change (4:51 minutes)
4. Why Do You Do Me This Way (3:32 minutes)
5. Big Queen (4:29 minutes) [Side 2]
6. Not To Rearrange (3:27 minutes)
7. Seasons (15:02 minutes)
Tracks 1 to 7 are his debut solo album "Mick Abrahams" – released 7 May 1971 in the UK on Chrysalis ILPS 9147 and May 1971 on A&M Records SP 4312 in the USA – both in a gatefold sleeve. Produced by CHRIS THOMAS – Musicians included Mick Abrahams on Guitar, Slide Guitar, Pedal Steel Guitar, Madolin and Lead Vocals [Original Guitarist with Jethro Tull and ex Blodwyn Pig] with Bob Sargeant on Organ, Piano, Second Guitar, Strings and Backing Vocals, Walt Monaghan on Bass and Backing Vocals with Ritchie Dharma on Drums, Congas and Backing Vocals. All songs written by Abrahams except "Not To Rearrange" which was co-written with Bob Sargeant
CD2 ATLAST (36:57 minutes):
1.When I Get Back (5:08 minutes) [Side 1]
2. Absent Friends (4:49 minutes)
3. Time Now To Decide (2:30 minutes)
4. Whole Wide World (3:53 minutes)
5. Maybe Because (8:06 minutes) [Side 2]
6. The Good Old Days (4:20 minutes)
7. Up And Down (4:25 minutes)
8. You'll Never Get It From Me (3:42 minutes)
Tracks 1 to 8 are his second album "ATLAST" credited as Mick Abrahams Band – released May 1972 on Chrysalis Records CHR 1005 in a Circular Fold-out Sleeve like Ogden's Nutgone Flake by Small Faces (no US issue). Tracks 3, 4, 5 and 7 written by Mick Abrhams, Track 1 co-written with Bob Sargeant and Tracks 2, 6 and 8 written by Bob Sargeant. Sargeant sings lead on Tracks 1, 2, 6 and 8 – Abrahams on the others.
1.When I Get Back (5:08 minutes) [Side 1]
2. Absent Friends (4:49 minutes)
3. Time Now To Decide (2:30 minutes)
4. Whole Wide World (3:53 minutes)
5. Maybe Because (8:06 minutes) [Side 2]
6. The Good Old Days (4:20 minutes)
7. Up And Down (4:25 minutes)
8. You'll Never Get It From Me (3:42 minutes)
Tracks 1 to 8 are his second album "ATLAST" credited as Mick Abrahams Band – released May 1972 on Chrysalis Records CHR 1005 in a Circular Fold-out Sleeve like Ogden's Nutgone Flake by Small Faces (no US issue). Tracks 3, 4, 5 and 7 written by Mick Abrhams, Track 1 co-written with Bob Sargeant and Tracks 2, 6 and 8 written by Bob Sargeant. Sargeant sings lead on Tracks 1, 2, 6 and 8 – Abrahams on the others.
Despite simply saying Mick Abrahams on the front sleeve, the debut was The Mick Abrahams Band (there is a notice on the wall of the front that announces An Evening With The Mick Abrahams Band) and indeed some early copies of the LP credit that on the label. The other three band members – Keyboardist Bob Sargeant, Bassist Mick Monaghan and Drummer Ritchie Dharma – were pictured on the inner gatefold and so those photos turn up on Page 7 of the 16-page booklet that features new liner notes from a sympathetic ear STEVE PILKINGTON (dated December 2025 - he did the Tracks book for Led Zeppelin published by SonicBond). That pixelated small-squares rear artwork is pictured on Page 9 – the artwork to the elaborate sleeve of the second LP on Pages 10, 13, 14 and 15. Pilkington gives a potted history of his career (highs and long downs) up the Nineties and Naughties comebacks where a CD generation were only-too-eager to hear more of the same just in better audio. The booklet is good without being great – does the job so to speak – the fold-out card digipak using that squares rear-sleeve of "Mick Abrahams" to fill in flaps. But there is naught beneath the see-through trays – no memorabilia - nor the full-page NME and Sounds adverts Chrysalis used to advertise the album in May 1971 – the now rare 2008 autobiography – as I say – good but not great.
But what is kicking is the BEN WISEMAN Remasters – fulsome and powerful and clear – loving the brass opening to "Absent Friends" on the second 1972 LP (not the strongest of songs mind) or that echoed guitar passage three-and-a-half-minutes into the "Seasons" 15-minute monster on the 1971 debut. To the music…
The "Mick Abrahams" debut opens with a strong funky groove that feels like Blodwyn Pig Part 2 - "Greyhound Bus" – a cracking starter for ten that could have been an off-the-cuff 45-single in several Euro territories prepared to give that kind of Rock shuffle a chance. Followed by 8:50 minutes of the more Prog-leaning "Awake" – an exercise is showing off guitar chops that still stands up. I remember liking this after a lot of plays. Prettier and more affecting is the largely acoustic "Winds Of Change" – a very cool feel to it – but Side 1 is let down by a sort of cod Rock and Roll ditty called "Why Do You Do Me This Way" that feels like an old-time boogie conjured up as filler. Way better is the Side 2 opener "Big Queen" – another Blodwyn Pig-type groove that had it ended Side 1, would have made a perfect Side to the album for me. That is unfortunately dampened by the Country-ish Pedal Steel wimp that is "Not To Rearrange" – a co-write with Bob Sargeant that feels completely out of place. Side 2 ends with a beast – 15-minutes of "Seasons". After a nondescript Rock intro of 3:28 minutes (which is returned to in the final minutes) – things quiet to an echoed electric guitar on its own and some serious fretboard racing, bending of notes etc (impressive stuff too) – but about 6:33 the band kicks in again – Sargeant getting his chance to Deep Purple that organ solo. And on it goes, being interesting Rock until it starts to overstay its welcome.
The second LP "ATLAST" from May 1972 has an oddity in the fade-in song "Up And Down". British and German issues kept the tune as one song at 4:25 minutes and as Track 3 on Side 2 of an 8-track LP. However, European albums split the song into two parts (Dutch, Danish and French issues) and spread them across two sides of the LP thereby creating a 9-track album (Part 1 at 2:00 minutes and Part 2 at 2:25 minutes). The first Part was placed at the end of Side 1 - while Part 2 opened Side 2. The September 1991 Edsel CD reissue used that European 9-Track configuration – Esoteric have returned it to its single-song status and only on Side 2 as Track 7.
"ATLAST" has a fatal flaw for me, not only does it not have tunes, Bob Sargeant sings on many of them instead of Abrahams. Abrahams had a great turn to his voice, Sargeant did not. Sargeant lyrics were bad rhymes too. The opening cliched cod-rocker about women being the problem "When I Get Back" has a nice guitar break for sure but is not a song I want on my Marantz ever again. Despite a cool brass intro, the opener is followed by worse, "Absent Friends". The doomy leave you on the ground "Absent Friends" is so bad. Abrahams finally weighs in with "Time Now To Decide" – a jaunty all-lend-a-hand acoustic upbeat foot-tapper where flanged vocals unfortunately do little to rescue its dated oom-pah feel and 2:30 minute playing time. That signature Pig sound finally shows with "Whole Wide World" – the Remaster making those in the back of a shop vocals come to the fore a little more – the Jack Lancaster Saxophone and Sargeant keyboard solos punching good and hard. Things finally start to feel good with "Maybe Because" – a cool Funky Rock groove with treated Abrahams Lead Vocals and a clever slowed section in the centre that brings out MA and his guitar-playing. Slow, Bluesy and Barroom lonely is "The Good Old Days" – a things-that-I'm-going through moaner with added strings – but neither it nor the ambling "Up And Down" that follows it amount to much. Old Blodwyn Pig mucker Jack Lancaster joins the band for the final song "You'll Never Get It From Me" with his distinctive Saxophone jabs – but it's a half-assed Sargeant rocker that feels like poor Roxy Music and not helped by Bob Sargeant's straining vocals (never do find out who the lady backing singers are) – good Abrahams guitar work though. A patchy end to say the least to a band with potential – the second LP is a real plodder – and that gimmicky packaging a way of selling a turd.
Released in November 2008, "What Is A Wommett: The Autobiography of Mick Abrahams" by Apex Publishing (ISBN 1906358486 hardback with a foreword by Whispering Bob Harris) tells us that a wommet is British military slang for a useless cadet or possibly an overly fruity one (keep those buttons closed lad). Before settling for the simpler Mick Abrahams Band, Abrahams even considered Wommet as a group name. As you can glean from all this, Abrahams had a self-deprecating wit and a prickly honesty that put him at loggerheads with other band-alphas. But he is remembered with affection for a reason.
Like Robin Trower when he was chord-blasting with Procol Harum before going solo in 1973 or Kim Simmonds at the guitar helm of Blues Rockers Savoy Brown or Mick Ronson giving it the necessary riffage with The Spiders for David Bowie or Laurie Wisefield with late Seventies Wishbone Ash making fret dexterity look easy (and this is with a band that has Andy Powell and Martin Turner in it) – Mick Abrahams occupied that hallowed ground of great British Guitar Players that many (if not all but the uninitiated) just didn’t know were there. Maybe you knew the faces, the outfits, the neck skills, but not the name. In 2025 and 2026, there are now TV programmes enlightening us on Backing Singers – Arrangers – Axemen - and too damn right. Abrahams passed in December 2025 as Pilkington was penning the liner notes (aged 82).
For sure here in the spring of 2026 – this kind of Seventies Rock by MICK ABRAHAMS and his band pals will be seen by newer generations as second-tier. But for those of us wommetts who were there, who poured over that first gatefold with its stippled pixelated effect rear photo and that second let's take on Thick As A Brick four-way fold-out card sleeve of the second – we worshipped at the tennis racket feet of such music - pings and things on your Garrard Stereogram and muddied Dustbuster.
An overall three-stars or no - once again congrats to Mark Powell and Esoteric Recordings (part of Cherry Red) for having done a passed-over hero an audio restoration solid with "Seasons: The Recordings 1971-1972" (they are to be praised for that). But for all others, I advise a listen first...
