Climax Blues Band | The Remastered Albums 1969-1972 in a 5CD Boxset

Esoteric Recordings is pleased to announce the release of “The Albums 1969 – 1972” by the Climax Blues Band; a new 5 CD set comprising the band’s first five albums, originally issued on EMI’s Parlophone and Harvest labels between 1969 and 1972, namely The Climax Chicago Blues Band, Plays On, A Lot of Bottle, Tightly Knit and Rich Man.

Pre-Order “The Albums 1969 – 1972” here.

Formed in Stafford in 1968 by Colin Cooper, the band (originally known as the CLIMAX CHICAGO BLUES BAND) recorded their debut album in September & November 1968 with a line up of COLIN COOPER (Vocals, Harmonica), PETE HAYCOCK (Guitar, Slide Guitar, Vocals), ARTHUR WOOD (Keyboards), DEREK HOLT (Rhythm Guitar, Bass, Organ), RICHARD JONES (Bass) and GEORGE NEWSOME (Drums). Issued early the following year on EMI’s Parlophone label, the album saw the band gain a wider audience. Shortening their name to the Climax Blues Band, the group recorded and released their excellent follow-up album, Plays On, later that year. By 1970 the band had moved to EMI’s “progressive” label, Harvest, and issued their third album A Lot of Bottle later that year. The 1971 album Tightly Knit was arguably their best of this period. The band’s final album for Harvest was Rich Man, issued in 1972. The album made commercial inroads in the United States and was the launching platform for their success in that country over the next few years.

This official 5CD clamshell boxed set celebrates the early years of this much loved British band and features each album in a replica card sleeve wallet and includes an illustrated poster.

Pre-Order “The Albums 1969 – 1972” here.

TRACKLIST

DISC ONE

THE CLIMAX CHICAGO BLUES BAND (1969)

1. MEAN OLD WORLD
2. INSURANCE
3. GOING DOWN THIS ROAD
4. YOU’VE BEEN DRINKING
5. DON’T START ME TALKIN’
6. WEE BABY BLUES
7. TWENTY PAST ONE
8. A STRANGER IN YOUR TOWN
9. HOW MANY MORE YEARS
10. LOOKING FOR MY BABY
11. AND LONELY
12. THE ENTERTAINER
BONUS TRACKS
13. CHECKING ON MY BABY (BONUS TRACK)
14. ARTHUR’S BOOGIE (BONUS TRACK)
15. STORMY MONDAY (BONUS TRACK)
16. DON’T START ME TALKIN’ (TAKE ONE) (BONUS TRACK)
17. ANYBODY’S BOOGIE (BONUS TRACK)
18. YOU’VE BEEN DRINKING (TAKE ONE) (BONUS TRACK)
19. AND LONELY (TAKE FIVE) (BONUS TRACK)

DISC TWO

PLAYS ON (1969)

1. FLIGHT
2. HEY BABY, EVERYTHING’S GONNA BE ALRIGHT, YEH YEH YEH
3. CUBANO CHANT
4. LITTLE GIRL
5. MUM’S THE WORD
6. TWENTY PAST TWO / TEMPTATION RAG
7. SO MANY ROADS, SO MANY TRAINS
8. CITY WAYS
9. CRAZY ‘BOUT MY BABY
BONUS TRACKS
10. LIKE UNCLE CHARLIE (A-SIDE OF SINGLE) (BONUS TRACK)
11. LOVING MACHINE (B-SIDE OF SINGLE) (BONUS TRACK)
12. DANCE OF THE MOUNTAIN KING’S DAUGHTER (BONUS TRACK)
13. FLIGHT (FIRST MIX) (BONUS TRACK)

DISC THREE

A LOT OF BOTTLE (1970)

1. COUNTRY HAT
2. EVERY DAY
3. REAP WHAT I’VE SOWED
4. BRIEF CASE
5. ALRIGHT BLUE?
6. COUNTRY HAT (REPRISE)
7. SEVENTH SON
8. PLEASE DON’T HELP ME
9. MORNING NOON AND NIGHT
10. LONG LOVIN’ MAN
11. LOUISIANA BLUES
12. CUT YOU LOOSE
BONUS TRACKS
13. FLIGHT (LIVE AT THE BLOW UP CLUB, LONDON 1971) (BONUS TRACK)
14. SEVENTH SON (LIVE AT THE BLOW UP CLUB, LONDON 1971) (BONUS TRACK)
15. REAP WHAT I HAVE SOWED (LIVE AT THE BLOW UP CLUB, LONDON 1971) (BONUS TRACK)

DISC FOUR
TIGHTLY KNIT (1971)

1. HEY MAMA
2. SHOOT HER IF SHE RUNS
3. TOWARDS THE SUN
4. COME ON IN MY KITCHEN
5. WHO KILLED MCSWIGGIN
6. LITTLE LINK
7. ST. MICHAEL’S BLUES
8. BIDE MY TIME
9. THAT’S ALL
BONUS TRACKS
10. HEY MAMA (LIVE AT THE BLOW UP CLUB, LONDON 1971) (BONUS TRACK)
11. SHOOT HER IF SHE RUNS (LIVE AT THE BLOW UP CLUB, LONDON 1971) (BONUS TRACK)
12. SPOONFUL (LIVE AT THE BLOW UP CLUB, LONDON 1971) (BONUS TRACK)

DISC FIVE

RICH MAN (1972)

1. RICH MAN
2. MOLE ON THE DOLE
3. YOU MAKE ME SICK
4. STANDING BY A RIVER
5. SHAKE YOUR LOVE
6. ALL THE TIME IN THE WORLD
7. IF YOU WANNA KNOW
8. DON’T YOU MIND PEOPLE GRINNING IN YOUR FACE
BONUS TRACK
9. MOLE ON THE DOLE (SINGLE VERSION) (BONUS TRACK)

Pre-Order “The Albums 1969 – 1972” here.

Also on the way in July…

Climax Blues Band: The Albums 1973-1976, 4CD Remastered Boxset Edition