One of New Zealand's most popular hard rock/psychedelic bands of the late 1960s and early 1970s, the Human Instinct never broke into the international market, despite a couple of concerted attempts to do so in England. The group evolved from the Four Fours, which had some hits in New Zealand in the mid-1960s, including "Moon Blues," the instrumental "Theme from an Empty Coffee Lounge," and "Go Go." The last of these was a fair beat number that made #12 in New Zealand in September 1966, the same year the Four Fours supported the Rolling Stones on the visiting superstars' second New Zealand tour. In August of that year, the Four Fours sailed to England to try and make an entree into the British pop scene, changing their name to the Human Instinct on the way. In London, the Human Instinct got to play under numerous star groups as a support act. After three Mercury singles stiffed in 1967, they recorded for Deram under producer Mike Hurst and made a couple more unsuccessful 45s. Some of these--the most renowned is "Day in My Mind's Mind"--have surfaced on specialist British sixties rock reissues, and show a competent but rather colorless psychedelic-sprinkled pop band with accomplished vocal harmonies. Drummer Maurice Greer, it has been written, declined a chance to play in Jeff Beck's group before the Human Instinct returned to New Zealand. Upon the band's return their personnel and sound were radically reorganized, with only Greer left from the UK lineup. The most significant addition was guitarist Billy Tekahika, who played under the name Billy TK. Partly because of Tekahika, the Human Instinct embarked on a far heavier psychedelic direction, influenced heavily by the wah-wah and distortion of Jimi Hendrix. Some of the material on their early 1970s albums on Pye was supplied by non-member Jesse Harper, a tape of whom allegedly impressed Hendrix himself. The later incarnation of the Human Instinct did go to England again to try and widen their audience, and again failed. The Human Instinct's cult reputation rests largely upon their first three albums in the 1970s, which have been reissued on CD by Ascension in Australia. Without denying the band's importance in New Zealand, where talented hard rock guitarists were rarer than they were in bigger countries, the records are so-so, or worse, blues-rock-psychedelia that offer little appeal or charm for the collector, despite Billy TK's abilities on guitar. Maurice Greer was still keeping a lineup of the Human Instinct going and recording in the late 1990s. ~ Richie Unterberger, All Music Guide http://www.mmguide.musicmatch.com/artist/artist.cgi?ARTISTID=802285&TMPL=LONG#bio
More info... http://www.wordworx.co.nz/Peg%20Leg%20release.htm
01 - Free Bird (9:16)
02 - All Time Loser (4:30)
03 - Find Your Heart (7:38)
04 - Peg Leg (3:05)
05 - For A Friend - Part 1 (5:25)
06 - For A Friend - Part 2 (3:42)
07 - Fallen Star (5:09)
08 - Hey You (4:11)
09 - Tight Rope Lover (4:46)
10 - Instinct (2:22)
Line-up
- Maurice Greer / Drums, Vocals
- Phil Whitehead / Guitar, Vocals
- Steve McDonald / Keyboards, Melotron, Vocals
- Glenn Mikkelson / Bass, Vocals
04 - Peg Leg ...
07 - Fallen Star ...
Link for download "Human Instinct - Peg Leg" in comments ...
Links:
ReplyDeletePart 1: http://tinyurl.com/yco7ox
Part 2: http://tinyurl.com/yxfyg3
Just wanted to thank you for all the great stuff you've turned me onto with your site - much appreciated!
ReplyDeleteHas the scans??
ReplyDeleteyes! with cover art :-)
ReplyDeleteThank you so much.
ReplyDeletePeace,
=RD=