TEN YEARS AFTER “CRICKLEWOOD GREEN” GREAT ALBUM!

TEN YEARS AFTER “CRICKLEWOOD GREEN” (U.S.DERAM) 1970
CVR VG+ STAINING BEG SEAM SPLIT DISC VG+ COUPLE SCRATCHES PLAYS WELL
By the time Cricklewood Green showed up, Ten Years After already had three stunning albums defining who they were, what they were capable of, and then accelerated into hyperdrive with driving rhythms, effortless sounding blues based songs, a few studio tricks and some soloing that laid Cricklewood Green on top of the pile, showing that everything the band had done prior was only leading to this moment in time.Nearly every song on this album blossoms with their endeavors, where Ten Years After appeared to be creating an album composed of singles that were just right for the new progressive FM radio format. Tucked away on this release was the blistering and bewildering number “50,000 Miles Beneath My Brain,” a monster of a song, flowing and ebbing, building into a sustained and tremendous jam no one walking the planet at the time didn’t want just two more minutes of, a song destined to become the standard all blues based rock would be measured against, and one that would redefine the future sound of Ten Years After. I realize that it sounds strange to think of the richly layered lyrical fabric that’s woven throughout this album, especially with the emphasis being on those relentless guitar licks … yet even against the palpable instrumentation, there is a tapestry of lyrics that unfold once you’ve gotten past the music, and yes, that may require some time, where Lee talks almost spiritually about turning away from the the riches of this world, about freedom, love, and what’s actually responsible for happiness.
Track listingShow track credits
A1
Sugar the Road3:46
A2
Working on the Road4:15
A3
50,000 Miles Beneath My Brain7:37
A4
Year 3,000 Blues2:17
B1
Me and My Baby4:12
B2
Love Like a Man7:13
B3
Circles3:55
B4
As the Sun Still Burns Away4:42
Total length: 37:57