Search - Peter Green :: Clown

Title Cut A Contaminant

Kurt Harding | Boerne TX | 12/04/2008

(3 out of 5 stars)

"My musical journey with Peter Green began back in the days when he was playing for Fleetwood Mac. After he disappeared for a while, I would always search the record bins to see if he had resurfaced with anything new. I finally got lucky at a fine record store in Nacogdoches TX which I haunted in my spare time while I was working in the area and have followed his solo career ever since. But I never saw The Clown until about a decade ago when I found it on the shelf at a favorite Encinitas record store and snapped it up.

This CD, like many of Peter Green's post Fleetwood Mac works, is so obscure that many old FM fans are unaware that Green is playing and recording again. I was surprised to discover that it was recorded in 1977 with distinguished musicians like Robin Trower's drummer Reg Isadore and Camel's Peter Bardens on keyboards. Why was it not promoted?

The reason perhaps is that the title cut is such a contaminant that its acrid stench is hard to separate from the rest of the music, some of which is quite good. Indeed, it is the only song that really stinks.

My favorites are the instrumental cuts Proud Pinto, Bandit, and the galloping Tribal Dance. I also enjoy In the Skies, Last Train to San Antone, Momma Don't Cha Cry, and the obsessed Black Woman. Those left unmentioned aren't bad, just unremarkable.

I note that this CD is in bad need of remastering as the listener has to increase the volume quite a bit from a normal setting to get any real enjoyment at all. Peter Green completeists will want to own this because there are a few songs unattainable elsewhere but those who are casual Peter Green fans will be better served buying some of his other solo work or recordings he made with Splinter Group.

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