Product Review

In 1968, the Summer of Love was exerting it's influence on pop and fashion trends and, in the UK, many of the previous year's Mod movement were heeding the call to 'get your head together, man' and go 'progressive'. The Action had been one of the most respected of London's mod bands but in late '68, founder members guitarist Alan King, bassist Mike Evans and drummer Roger Powell were joined by pianist lan Whiteman and ex-Savoy Brown guitarist Martin Stone in a brand new band Mighty Baby. The group's 1969 debut album Mighty Baby was strong on melody and instrumental technique and Egyptian Tomb is a perfect summation of what the band's recorded music was all about. 'Live', they extended their performances, as did most groups of the era. Stone's guitar soloing being lauded for its imaginative approach. They cut a second album A Jug Of Love before disbanding. Stone later formed Chilli Willi And The Red Hot Peppers while King became a member of pub-rock band Ace. This CD reissue combines their first album with 5 tracks made when King, Evans and Powell were still The Action and the sleeve notes by Record Collector magazines John Reed chart the history of one of the best of the late 60s/early 70s 'head' bands.