Scorpion - Scorpion (1969 us, awesome funky blues psych rock)
The only album the quartet from Detroit (Detroit, State of Michigan). Group created in 1968 vocalist Mike (Michael) Campbell and three session musicians of the Motown Studios (Ray (Raymond) Monette, Bob Babbitt (Robert Kreinar) and Andrew Smith). About the music - psychedelic soul-funk-rock. Ray Monette then joined the band Rare Earth, Bob Babbitt and Andrew Smith returned to session work (Babbitt played bass guitar for more than 200 Billboard 100 Hot), Mike Campbell, under the name Michael Champion sang in Detroit staged musical Hair, then become a rather a famous actor ...Self-produced, 1969's "Scorpion" stands as a surprisingly enjoyable addition to the small cadre of multi-racial bands willing to take a stab at cultivating a mix of hard rock and soul audience (think Black Merda, Hendrix, Purple Image). With a line up consisting of singer Mike Campbell, bassist Bob Babbitt Kreinar, guitarist Ray Monette and drummer Andrew Smith the band certainly wasn't lacking in the talent department.
By the time they released their debut album Kreinar and Monette had already made names for themselves as part of Motown's famed clique of sessions players. While the album's been wildly billed as psychedelic rock, showcasing nine group-penned compositions the set's actually far more diverse.
Propelled by Campbell's likeably gruff voice and Kreinar's nifty bass, tracks such as 'Running from Myself' (with it's goofy jungle intro), 'Wildflower' and 'Happy Blues Time' reflected a distinctive Hendrix fixation, while 'Great Day' showcased a clear Motown influence. Highlights include the earnest 'Make Love Not War' (far better than the obvious title would have you expect) and the atypical progressive number 'Take a Look At Yourself'. (The Roy Steyskal cover also stands as one of my favorites.)
Bad-Cat
Tracks:
All tracks by Mike Campbell, Ray Monette, Bob Kreinar, Andrew Smith.
01. Running From Myself - 0:00
02. Make Love Not War - 4:24
03. Great Day - 8:20
04. Standing In My Mind - 11:50
05. Wildflower - 15:55
06. Take A Look At Yourself - 19:41
07. Happy Blues Time - 25:46
08. Touched By An Angel - 30:11
09. Please Make My Mind Right - 34:58
Personnel:
- Mike (Michael) Campbell (aka Michael Champion) - lead vocals
- Ray (Raymond) Monette - lead guitar
- Bob Babbitt (Robert Kreinar) - bass
- Andrew Smith - drums
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