Stone The Crows
Radio Sessions 1969-72 Double-CD set
(Angel Air)
Two different STC lineups and each with their own air of authority, creativity and of course, soul. Disc 1 has the formidable vocal pairing of Maggie Bell and the late great Jimmy Dewar, next to be vocalist in Robin Trower’s trio. Robin has often stressed to me the importance of Dewar’s soulful singing in breaking his act in the States, quite apart from the great friendship he and James had. Stone The Crows were fabulous live, as I can attest. Very powerful and bluesy, yet up with the nascent prog rockers for musical skill and adventure.
Witness Freedom Road which Colosseum would struggle to match and then five minutes in that gritty vocal from Maggie. The lovely chording on Friends is a credit to Les Harvey, as is the heavy fuzzed axework on Love 74. Mad Dogs shows that this crew were up there with Delaney & Bonnie for impact. Over here the only other act with that dual vocal punch were Vinegar Joe, featuring my old friend Robert Palmer and Elkie Brooks, no less.
The last three tracks on CD2 include both new bassist Steve Thompson and guitar man Jimmy McCullough…probably eating his last bacon sandwiches before joining Wings’ strict regime?
Pete Sargeant
