Search - Wizzard :: Wizzard Brew

Overlooked, Influential Rock Classic

Mike B. | 02/14/2008

(5 out of 5 stars)

"In the annals of rock history, little consideration is given to the importance and influence of Wizzard (in the U.S.,anyway). In their native Britain they cut a larger figure, but disbanded too quickly to be remembered among the greats. That's too bad, because they belong in the same upper echelon as contemporaries Mott the Hoople, Queen, Roxy Music, King Crimson, and Slade. This album contains traces of the sounds of all of these bands, and vice-versa. I can hear Wizzard influence on their recordings.



In interviews of the era, Bryan Ferry offered high praise for the group - and I think Queen's third album "Sheer Heart Attack" is hugely influenced by this record, which came out a year earlier. Suddenly Queen was recording harder-charging songs with less frippery and overt touches of 1950's rock - all Wizzard hallmarks. Hmmm. There was clearly a lot of cross-pollination going on in England at this time!



Wizzard itself was a rather schizophrenic aggregate, alternating raucous and fast loud rock (this album) with fussed over, Phil Spector-sounding pop singles. The year 1973 was their peak, which saw the release of this and 3 of their 4 biggest hit singles. Multi-instrumentalist (he plays A LOT of different instruments), band leader, and chief songwriter Roy Wood radically departs here from what fans may have expected of his earlier band The Move. This also is different from what followed later, which was his reputedly half-hearted involvement with the first Electric Light Orchestra album. I can't emphasize enough how much this thing rocks, or how loud it is - it's almost punk-ish at times ("Buffalo Station/Get On Down To Memphis" medley), yet isn't above featuring a long King Crimson-like instrumental passage in the middle of the rocking "Meet Me At The Jailhouse". It swings, it rocks, it's got it all! Includes their 4 fantastic biggest hit singles and their B-sides as a bonus, which helps give a very complete picture of the band.



This is my number one candidate for best early '70's "lost" album that no one knows about but should. British eccentricity and musicianship at its finest. Don't miss it.



P.S. - Goes well with the excellent Roy Wood compilation CD "Singles", which collects his main hits (including all of the British top-tenners) with The Move, Wizzard, and solo."

Not your daddy's rock 'n roll

Dustin Chapman | st. louis park, minnesota United States | 12/09/2006

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I owned the US version of this album in'73. Different cover (replicated inside the CD's booklet)and slightly different track lineup. I also owned the UK import vinyl. Problem for me was that I didn't appreciate or understand what Roy Wood was doing. Having revisited ELO through their excellent remaster series, I felt compelled to rediscover Wizzard. What a treat! Roy's influence on early ELO is so obvious on this great CD. 30 years ago I thought this sounded too 50's. Not at all. It's very cool Rock 'n Roll with cellos, horns and occasional oboe. Plus, all of the non-album singles and b sides are present and accounted for. I hope the Japanes do a mini lp cover version. I recall it had a cool textured conver. Anyway, if you like ELO give this a listen. 8/2/07 I just received the Japanese edition of this album. The mini lp cover is very cool and is textured and includes the original inserts that came with the lp. The CD face replicates the original Harvest label. Sound quality is a bit deeper with better definition than the Euro version. If you are into asthetics then the extra $ is worth paying for the Japanese version."

Roy Wood is God!!

C T | Houston, TX USA | 05/14/2007

(5 out of 5 stars)

"If you haven't acquainted yourself with the music of Roy Wood, do yourself a favor. Wizzard Brew is allready a great record, and this version with Ball Park Incident, See My Baby Jive, Angel Fingers, and I Wish It Could Be Christmas Everyday, is a pretty definitive Roy Wood and Wizzard statement.

This record is actual creativity and imagination. That's pretty rare."