This album is the where
for all for the creation of Mott’s column
“Forgotten Classics”, because this album
has definitely been forgotten as the day
has not arrived when it had it’s release
on C.D, but let me assure you, it still
definitely comes under the title of classic.
Nutz heralded from Liverpool and should
have been hard rocks answer to the Beatles.
By the time of this album Nutz had become
a quintet, keyboard maestro Kenny Newton
having been added to the original four
of red haired vocalist and front man extraordinaire
David Lloyd, the heavy metal thunder of
Keith Mulholland on bass, power house
drummer John Mylett and the ultimate star
of the band, Mick Devonport who’s trade
mark guitar gave the band their own uniqueness.
Mick’s capabilities were often compared
to Jeff Beck, except that Mick was a better
showman, more Rock ‘n’ Roll orientated,
and could write better songs.
If all this is possibly true, what happened?
I can only surmise that the patrons of
rock move in a very mysterious way. The
usual problems with managers, record companies,
bad publicity agents, being in the wrong
place at the wrong time, punk rock, all
seem to scupper these scousers.
After 3 wonderful studio albums, which
also have never been released on C.D,
a tour of Britain and the U.S.A., where
they were finally taken off as the headlines
couldn’t follow them. An appearance at
the prestigious Reading festival amid
scenes of near Beatle mania. They released
this sensational live album to complete
their commitments to A and M records,
who then kept them under contract for
three more years, not allowing them to
play or record for anyone else.
Just one listen to the music will make
you realize what a terrible waste this
was to us, “The Rock Fans”. Perennial
opener “Seeing is Believing” is first
up allowing all members of the band to
loosen up, very similar in feel to “Jumpin’
Jack Flash” from the Stones “Get Yer Ya-Ya’s
Out”, next up is the incredibly heavy
“Loser” I just hope David Lloyd is not
singing from experience, the line “Take
me to your leader, I want out” has always
appealed.
There are certainly no fillers amongst
this lot even the drum solo number sounds
like something most band would give their
eye teeth for, the best way to describe
Nutz is perhaps Black Sabbath with the
energy of punk and a decent lead singer.
It is only when the band roar into their
theme song “Wallbanger” that you realize
for sure your in Rock ‘n’ Roll heaven,
as the band pull all the stops and go
for the jugular, 11 minutes of absolute
Mayhem, with each member of the band soloing,
only not soloing as their all doing it
at the same time.
A brilliant slab of Rock ‘n’ Roll, I just
hope somebody gets it together and puts
it out on C.D, in fact all four albums.
So everybody has a chance of listening
to the wondrous roar of Nutz. The original
quartet tried again as “Rage” many years
later, but I shall leave that for another
day.
Pawed by Mott The Dog
Remastered by Ella Crew
E-mail: review@mott-the-dog.com
