(RPM) Catalog no: RPM BC 317
The Attack - ' About Time '
(RPM) Catalog no: RPM BC 317
From Aural Innovations #36 (May 2007)
A superbly assembled nineteen track compilation of The Attack's unreleased cuts,
radio sessions and Decca singles. If you're a fan of late ' 60's UK psychedelia,
'About Time' is simply one of the best releases I've seen in sometime now. Best
tunes here are "Any More Than I Do", "Feel Like Flying",
"Try It" (also like the Standell's version, I saw the Grassroots play
the oldies circuit in the ' 80's performing this song ), the awesome "Go
Your Way", the total grooving "Colour Of My Mind", "Lady
Orange Peel" (fantastic guitar licks), their well played Stones cover "Sympathy
For The Devil", the uptempo "Neville Thumbcatch" and the band's
hefty rocker "Strange House". Also was impressed with the more familiar
"Mr. Pinnodmy's Dilemma" - a tale of a boy who cannot hear or speak,
"Hi Ho Silver Lining", "Anything" and a couple of their
live on-air radio sessions, the somewhat corny "Created By Clive"
and "Come On Up". The Attack experienced several line-up changes through
out their brief existence, 1967-68 but their most vital personnel appears to
have been the following: Richard Shirman - vocals, Geoff Richardson - guitar,
George Watt - organ, Kenny Harold - bass and Chris Allen - drums. Previously,
I had thought that John DuCann (Atomic Rooster, Andromeda) was the main stay
of The Attack but it's a fact that DuCann merely sat in just a few of their
studio sessions. It's noted in this CD's 14-page booklet that around the time
these songs were recorded, The Attack was among four much-appreciated UK psych
bands. The other three were The Who, The Creation and The Action. I envy anyone
that got to attend any live gigs by any or all of these four groups. More than
likely to appeal to fans of Tomorrow, Q 65, The La De Da's, early Who, Five
Day Week Straw People and possibly The Deviants. Simply, a M-U-S-T have. Long
live psychedelia!
Reviewed by Mike Reed