Hard to believe that it’s some fifty years since Babe Ruth’s glorious debut album was issued. They were generally more hard rock than progressive rock and with a twist of jazz fusion and flamenco sprinkled in they had something of a unique sound.
Cherry Red have put together one of their excellent clamshell box sets with Babe Ruth’s first three albums – First Base, Amar Caballero and their self-titled third album. There’s also a nice thirty-odd page booklet of the band’s history making for a meaty package overall.
Babe Ruth featured to phenomenal vocal talents of Jenny Haan. What a voice, what a range. She belts out the powerful stuff and the more soulful stuff effortlessly. Add to this Alan Shacklock’s superb guitar and as solid a rhythm section as you’ll hear anywhere it’s a wonder the band didn’t achieve more than they did in terms of sales.
First Base is a marvellous debut. Wells Fargo a thumping opener with a simple, thumping repeated riff, Haan’s powerful vocals and superb fluid soloing from Shacklock. Superb.
There’s a rollicking cover of Frank Zappa’s King Kong all jazzed up. The Mexican is arguably the best known song on the album all about the Alamo from the Mexican perspective and is wide in terms of scope and different styles. Inventive stuff.
Joker brings First Base to a close with a jaw-dropping rocker with Shacklock going nuts on guitar and Haan effortlessly showing her full vocal range. Remarkable. Have a listen:
Despite such a spectacular debut, the follow-up – Amar Caballero – is something of a let down. Generally toothless with an uncoordinated feel to it which goes nowhere. Lady is a pleasant enough opener and Broken Cloud isn’t too bad then it falls apart quickly with some poor stuff such as Gimmie Some Leg, Baby Pride and Cool Jerk easily skipped over.
For me the only saving grace is the title track. A three-part song bringing in a sort of mixture of prog/jazz/flamenco styles well composed.
They’d come back with their self-titled album which is a much, much better effort which is generally harder-edged with the use of sythns coming in to prog it up as bit whilst leaning to the heavier stuff.
That’s evident on Dancer. A fine pulsing rocker with the synths edging it towards early Uriah Heep territory. Would have been at home on Look at Yourself or Magician’s Birthday.
Other highlights include a riotous cover of the theme to A Fistful Of Dollars, a thumping Jack O’ Lantern, a sweeping Private Number and the The Duchess of Orleans with it’s twisting and turning and Haan’s emotive vocals.
It’s up there with First Base and a fine recovery from the oddity of Amar Caballero.
Babe Ruth offered up something different. A supremely talented. This box set of their first three albums shows how good they were.
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