Killing Floor — Killing Floor 1969 (UK, Hard, Blues Rock)

Killing Floor — Killing Floor 1969 (UK, Hard, Blues Rock)

The debut album by a band from South London. The band's history began with vocalist Bill Thorndycraft and guitarist Mick Clarke meeting in the London band "Loop." After their first gig with the band, the guys sensed something was wrong and decided to form their own blues band. Bill suggested the name "Killing Floor," after a Howlin' Wolf song, and he also recruited drummer Bazz Smith. The band needed a bassist and keyboardist to complete the lineup, but this was easily resolved through an ad in Melody Maker, and Stuart MacDonald and Lou Martin became the missing links. Rehearsing in South London pubs, the quintet primarily focused on Chicago blues standards, but also tried to infuse them with a rock edge. Killing Floor's first gig was with Captain Beefheart, and later the band had the opportunity to work with The Nice and Yes. The band graced many of the capital's clubs, including the Marquee, but their favorite venue was the Blues Loft, where they could get the crowd going in no time. Almost from the very beginning, former Radio Caroline host and ardent blues fanatic John Edward offered the band his services as a manager. He had connections at the publishing company Southern Music and easily secured a spot for his protégés at the Spark label. John also produced Killing Floor's debut album, recorded in just 12 days at Pye Recording Studios. Although the band had written almost all of the tracks, most of the material was reworkings of Chicago classics. The only official cover on the album was a Willie Dixon rip-off of the famous track "Woman You Need Love," from which Led Zeppelin cobbled together "Whole Lotta Love." The album, licensed in the United States by Sire Records, received positive press and considerable airplay, and Killing Floor became a regular fixture on national radio shows. The band subsequently performed with Jethro Tull, Ten Years After, and other British icons, but their most prestigious assignment was backing visiting Texas blues star Freddie King. However, by the end of 1969, music business frustrations led to the band's dissolution, and its members began to pursue other projects. After a short time, four of them (except Martin) realized they needed to continue what they'd started and moved their activities from England (where the blues boom was fading) to the continent...

Tracks:
01. Woman You Need Love — 0:00

02. Nobody By My Side — 4:50

03. Come Home Baby — 9:47

04. Bedtime Blues — 13:53

05. Sunday Morning (Martin) — 21:25

06. Try To Understand — 22:29

07. My Mind Can Ride Easy — 25:10

08. Wet — 27:43

09. Keep On Walking — 28:28

10. Forget — 33:27

11. Lou's Blues (Martin) — 38:59

12. People Change Your Mind — 41:43


Personnel:

Mick (Michael) Clarke —lead guitar
Bill Thorndycraft - vocals, harp
Lou Martin - piano
Stuart MacDonald - bass
Bazz Smith – drums