RARE 1968 Orig CHICKEN SHACK OK KEN Hard UK Blues

$

36

1968 ORIGINAL RARE FIRST PRESSING VINYL                                    

                          OK KEN

                  CHICKEN SHACK       

\                                                   USA - BLUE HORIZON RECORDS - BH 7706

RARE 1968 first pressing on the legendary Blue Horizon label ...the very first Chicken Shack cooks up a blues rock storm, includes the equally outrageous Christine Perfect on organ/vocals who performs thrilling tracks in the vein of her '69 solo classic...of course the album is highlighted by Chicken Shack leader Stan Webb and his blues with feeling electrified guitar leads ... Standing next to Peter Green & Eric Clapton, the UK Blues Boom was a happening scene with Stan Webb's Chicken Shack up there in the top of the heap...

In keeping with the times, the album was basically recorded on two days in October 1968, with the Stan and Christine duet, 'A Woman Is The Blues', and her 'Get Like You Used To Be' coming from the previous June. As ever, Christine's songs provide a distinct contrast to Stan's pyrotechnic displays, including a manic version of Howlln' Wolf's 'Tell Me'. But it was still brave for Christine to sing Littie Walter's 'Mean Old World' with another harmonica virtuoso, Walter Horton, in the studio.

(from Stan Webb:) So why did you call the album 'O.K. Ken?' then, Stan? "It came from Chris wood, when we had Sounds Of Blue together. He told me, I can never remember people's names, so I call all the boys 'Ken' and all the girls 'Doris'. He used to have this mythical family that he'd talk about. He'd say, Sorry I'm late but Doris had a quinsy on the ironing-board and Ken had to look after her. And he'd say, 'OK Ken?' to everybody."

The most notable thing about 'O.K. Ken?' is the impressions of sundry popular icons of the day which introduce each track. Today, they are a source of embarrassment for Stan, who prides himself on his ability as a mimic, which has improved since 1968. "That was just mucking about. I did them one after the other, without stopping. It was a spur-of-the-moment thing in the studio, after euerybody had 7,000 gallons of lager. I started mucking about and Mike Vernon said, Why don't you do them on the record? At the time I thought, Oh, all right. However long they are, that's how long they took. It still quite amazed everyone, including me."

"Nobody else was putting blues together in the way that the songs on 'O.K. Ken?' were written. I had these sounds in my head but I wasn't mature enough to put them into action. I knew what I wanted but I couldn't explain it musically. I tried to avoid cliches because I didn't want to get into that rut of becoming just another blues player. And it stood me in good stead, because that's why people are coming to see me now. Some people say, you should be on stage at the Albert Hall, not Eric Clapton. And I think, Well, I don't agree with that but I should certainly be able to go on there as well. But I'm happy with what's happening now. I've done the years and I'm getting more respect than I ever did then. It's worked for me."

Baby's Got Me Crying
  Date Performance: 1968-10-22, Running Time: 2:35
  Comments: Intro: 0:09 Track: 2:26 Recorded at CBS Studio, New Bond Street, London

The Right Way Is My Way
  Date Performance: 1968-10-23, Running Time: 2:34
  Comments: Intro: 0:36 Track: 1:58 Recorded at CBS Studio, New Bond Street, London.

Get Like You Used To Be
  Date Performance: 1968-06-24, Running Time: 3:49
  Comments: Intro: 0:42 Track: 3:07 Recorded at CBS Studio, New Bond Street, London.

Pony And Trap
  Date Performance: 1968-10-23, Running Time: 3:21
  Comments: Intro: 0:20 Track: 3:01 Recorded at CBS Studio, New Bond Street, London.

Tell Me
  Date Performance: 1968-10-23, Running Time: 4:50
  Comments: Intro: 0:14 Track: 4:36 Recorded at CBS Studio, New Bond Street, London.

A Woman Is The Blues
  Date Performance: 1968-06-24, Running Time: 3:29
  Comments: Intro: 0:33 Track: 2:56 Recorded at CBS Studio, New Bond Street, London.

I Wanna See My Baby
  Date Performance: 1968-10-22, Running Time: 3:53
  Comments: Intro: 0:25 Track: 3:28 Recorded at CBS Studio, New Bond Street, London.

Remington Ride
  Date Performance: 1968-10-22, Running Time: 3:03
  Comments: Intro: 0:14 Track: 2:49 Recorded at CBS Studio, New Bond Street, London.

Fishing In Your River
  Date Performance: 1968-10-22, Running Time: 4:40
  Comments: Intro: 0:15 Track: 4:25 Recorded at CBS Studio, New Bond Street, London

Mean Old World
  Date Performance: 1968-10-23, Running Time: 3:45
  Comments: Intro: 0:33 Track: 3:12 Recorded at CBS Studio, New Bond Street, London.

Sweet Sixteen
  Date Performance: 1968-10-23, Running Time: 6:23
  Comments: Intro: 0:19 Track: 6:04 Recorded at CBS Studio, New Bond Street, London

CONDITION: The cover is very collectible VG++ & closer to "EX" (excellent) with such small shelf wear, it is hardly noticable. Promo sticker on back cover only enhances the value...strong seams (no splits) no bends and no writing...looks fine...

The vinyl is all glossy both sides, VG++ to "EX" (excellent) plays clean. 

      A cool addition to anyone's music library!

SEE: SELLERS OTher items for similar cool sounds for "head" people...

EFFICIENT/CAREFUL GRADING

All imperfections are noted both cover & record