Chance meeting on a B3 of oblivion and an express
Let's with a happy 86th birthday to Brian Auger.
soul jazz psychedelic blues rock funk fusion
Born in London in 1939, Brian Auger emerged as a jazz pianist with a deep love for swing and bebop, but it was the mid-1960s to early '70s that truly defined his genre-bending legacy. In 1965, Auger played harpsichord on The Yardbirds’ hit “For Your Love,” a session that launched his reputation as a versatile and daring keyboardist. That same year, he co-founded The Steampacket, a powerhouse ensemble featuring Rod Stewart, Long John Baldry, and Julie Driscoll. Though short-lived, the group fused blues, jazz, and soul in a way that electrified British stages.
After Steampacket dissolved, Auger formed Brian Auger & The Trinity, with Driscoll as lead vocalist. Their psychedelic rendition of Bob Dylan’s “This Wheel’s on Fire” became a UK Top 5 hit in 1968, and their album Streetnoise showcased a fearless blend of rock, jazz, and avant-garde textures. Auger’s Trinity headlined the Montreux Jazz Festival in 1968—the first rock group to do so.
In 1970, Auger launched Oblivion Express, a jazz-rock fusion funk outfit that pushed boundaries even further.
The U.K.’s designated Hammond man is still melting minds today
https://jazztimes.com/features/profiles/brian-auger/
'A vital cog in 20th century music': Celebrating Brian Auger, the nexus of Swinging London
https://www.bigissue.com/culture/music/brian-auger-documentary-i-speak-music/
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brian_Auger
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| Kiko The Brian Auger Trinity [orig. Jimmy McGriff] - 7" - Columbia - 1965 |
| Straight Ahead Brian Auger's Oblivion Express - Straight Ahead - RCA Victor - 1974 |
| Bumpin' on Sunset Brian Auger & The Trinity [orig. Wes Montgomery] - Definitely What! - Marmalade/Atco - 1968 |
| A Better Land Brian Auger's Oblivion Express - A Better Land - RCA Victor - 1971 |
| Can I Get A Witness The Steampacket feat. Rod Stewart [orig. Marvin Gaye] - The First Supergroup - BYG - 1970 (rec. 1965) |
| Total Eclipse Brian Auger's Oblivion Express - Brian Auger's Oblivion Express - RCA Victor - 1971 |
| For Your Love The Yardbirds - For Your Love - Epic - 1965 |
| "For Your Love" was written by Graham Gouldman, later of 10cc fame. The majority of the song was recorded with singer Keith Relf and drummer Jim McCarty backed by session musicians.
Brian Auger was brought in to play organ, but the keyboard available was a harpsichord! At the conclusion of the session, Auger wondered, "Who, in their right mind, is going to buy a pop single with harpsichord on it?" The song was a departure from the group's blues roots in favour of a more commercial pop rock sound. Guitarist Eric Clapton disapproved of this change, and chose to leave the group shortly after the single was released, going to to form Cream. It was The Yardbirds' first top ten hit in the UK, and the US, and hit #1 in Canada. |
| Indian Rope Man Julie Driscoll, Brian Auger & The Trinity [orig. Richie Havens] - Streetnoise - Marmalade/Atco - 1969 |
| Freedom Jazz Dance Brian Auger's Oblivion Express [orig. Eddie Harris] - Second Wind - RCA Victor - 1972 |
| Walking Sonny Boy Williamson with Brian Auger & The Trinity, Joe Harriott, Alan Skidmore, Jimmy Page - Don't Send Me No Flowers - Marmalade - 1968 (rec. 1965) |
| Of the many obscure projects Jimmy Page was associated with prior to Led Zeppelin, one of the most notable was a studio session he recorded live alongside noted keyboardist Brian Auger, and famed bluesman, Sonny Boy Williamson.
The session took place at IBC Studios on January 28, 1965. Those present at the session included, Jimmy Page on guitar, Brian Auger on organ, Ricky Brown on bass Mickey Waller on drums along with jazz musician Joe Harriot & Alan Skidmore on saxophone, and Sonny Boy taking up vocal and harmonica. While doing press for the documentary film "It Might Get Loud" Jimmy Page also recalled the session with Sonny Boy Williamson: "The one that was done live with The Yardbirds hadn’t come out. It was our manager who called me. I was a studio musician, at the time, and Sonny Boy was living in his flat. Somebody told me once that they went to the house and they heard Sonny Boy plucking a live chicken. I don’t know how true that was. That didn’t happen when I was there. Sonny Boy and myself rehearsed these numbers in the manager’s flat and, by the time we got into the studio a couple days later, Sonny Boy had forgotten all of the arrangements of what we were going to do. It was cool. Good music comes out of that." |
| Dreams Of Glass And Sand Mogul Thrash - Mogul Thrash - RCA Victor - 1971 |
| Break It Up Julie Driscoll, Brian Auger & The Trinity - Open - Marmalade/Atco - 1967 |
| Fire In The Mind Brian Auger & The Trinity - Befour [expanded edition] - RCA Victor - 1970 |
| Happiness Is Just Around The Bend Brian Auger's Oblivion Express - Closer to It! - RCA Victor - 1973 |
| "Happiness Is Just Around The Bend" was composed and recorded by Brian Auger in 1973.
A year later, The Main Ingredient - with Cuba Gooding Sr. on vocals - offered their take. It does not suck. https://youtu.be/d892TYsia_k |
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