Judas Jump - "Scorch" {UK} [1970] (Heavy Progressive Rock)

Judas Jump was a heavy progressive rock band, with lots of Mellotron, flutes, and sax in their sound and who had the distinction of inaugurating Parlophone Records' new numbering sequence with their first (and only) album, Scorch, as PAS 10001. Their members made them a kind of U.K.-level super-group with guitarist/keyboardman Andy Bown and drummer Henry Spinetti having come from the Herd and woodwind player Alan Jones an alumnus from the Amen Corner. A trio of singles in 1969 and 1970 was followed by a rather ornately designed album that didn't get a U.S. release until 1972, when the group was already on its way into history. Their music was on the bombastic side of progressive rock, which may be one reason why it didn't succeed, as well as explain why they didn't get signed to EMI's progressive rock imprint Harvest Records. After attracting a decent amount of press, the records proved lacking and the group faded away, with Bown passing through the band Storyteller before joining Status Quo for a time. ~ Bruce Eder, All Music Guide. http://www.mmguide.musicmatch.com/artist/artist.cgi?ARTISTID=782753&TMPL=LONG#bio

"Something of a 'supergroup' since Jones came from Amen Corner and Bown and Spinetti from The Herd. Like most 'supergroups', they manifestly failed to live up to all the hype and only
lasted for a couple of years. Their album was basically heavy progressive rock with lots of guitar, flute, sax and mellotrons. Bown later joined Storyteller before embarking on a solo career. He later joined Status Quo. Spinetti went into session work although he was later in several other bands. Taken from The Tapestry of Delights - The Comprehensive Guide to British Music of the Beat, R&B, Psychedelic and Progressive Eras 1963-1976, Vernon Joynson ISBN 1 899855 04 1" http://www.alexgitlin.com/npp/jjump.htm

Judas Jump were apparently considered something of a supergroup at the time, with mainman/guitarist/keyboard player Andrew/Andy Bown and drummer Henry Spinetti being ex-The Herd (with Peter Frampton), while other members had played with various minor British '60s pop outfits. Their sound was that very of-its-time mixture of barroom boogie, hard rock and prog (!), that hasn't really dated very well. Scorch was their sole album, and actually isn't at all bad, though their attempts at barrelhouse stuff (Beer Drinking Woman) or countryish material (Mississippi Turnpike) would probably, with hindsight, have been better left on the cutting-room floor. Bown plays plenty of Mellotron (presumably MkII) on the album, to the point where sometimes you wonder if it's slightly overdone, although much of it is obviously an attempt to replicate string and brass sections, rather than using it for its own sound. Strings on John Brown's Body, then brass (alongside real sax), plus more strings on Rockin' Chair, with more of the same across the other highlighted tracks, with the most minor use being about three seconds of faint strings at the end of the first part of the second medley, Primrose Lady. For some strange reason, the US issue appeared in 1972, after the band has split up, and removed the last track, Private Holiday Camp. It's this version I've reviewed here, so I've no idea whether or not there's any 'Tron on it; more info should I ever source the UK version. Anyway, a reasonable enough album, if rather unexciting, but with a fair bit of the ol' 'Tron, though more for proto-prog completists than the general listening public, I suspect. Oh, and if you weren't aware (assuming you care), Bown went on to become Status Quo's onstage keyboard player, before finally being accepted as a full band member many years later, well after they'd gone down the pan. http://www.planetmellotron.com/revj2.htm

01 - John's Brown Body

02 - Rockin' Chair

03 - Beer Drinking Woman

04 - 49 Fingers Purple God

05 - Bossa Jump

06 - Cry-De-Cry

07 - Run For Your Life

08 - Cully

09 - This Feeling We Feel

10 - Hangman's Playing

11 - The Right To Live My Life

EXTRA: Private Holiday Camp

Line-up

-Andy Bown - Keyboards, Guitar

-Charlie Harrison - Bass

-Alan Jones - Woodwind

-Henry Spinetti - Drums

-Adrian Williams -Vocals

-Trevor Williams - Guitar

02 - Rockin' Chair ...

Thanks to yesterdey for the rip and LLOYDSURFER for track extra "Private Holiday Camp"

Link for download "Judas Jump - Scorch" in comments ...