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BRIAN AUGER - DALLAS 1974

January 28, 2021 – 5:33 am

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BRIAN AUGER’S OBLIVION EXPRESS
Dallas 1974 [no label, 1CD]
Live at the January Sound Studio, Dallas, TX; May 1974. Very good FM broadcast.

Thanks to AmazingPudding for sharing the show at The Traders’ Den.

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English jazz and rock keyboardist Brian Auger specialised in playing the Hammond organ. He has played or toured with artists such as Rod Stewart, Tony Williams, Jimi Hendrix, John McLaughlin, Sonny Boy Williamson, Led Zeppelin, Eric Burdon and others. He is 78.

In 1970, he formed the jazz fusion ensemble Brian Auger’s Oblivion Express shortly after abandoning the abortive “Wassenaar Arrangement” jazz rock commune in a small suburb of The Hague. Oblivion Express cultivated the talents of several notable musicians, including future Average White Band drummers Robbie McIntosh and Steve Ferrone, as well as guitarist Jim Mullen. Likewise, in 1971 he produced and appeared on Mogul Thrash’s only album, Mogul Thrash. Two members of that band, Roger Ball and Malcolm Duncan, would go on to form the Average White Band.

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While 1974 was maybe a few years past what critics might call their collective “prime”, in 1974 Brian Auger and his Oblivion Express were still breaking new ground on a nightly basis. The mod-ish leanings of earlier incarnations of the group are gone in lieu of a nod to the funky sounds of Motown that were permeating pop music of the day. Overall, this is a much earthier, much funkier version of the OE than was around five years prior. Even though almost all of the tunes feature vocals from Alex Ligertwood (who would go on and sing with Santana later in the 70’s), the arrangements are still ever expansive, and serve as a steady, burning flame upon which Auger and Co. can bring the music to a boil. - alovesurreal.blogspot

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Lineage:
FM Simulcast > Maxell XL2S > Sony HX Pro > Philips CDR775 > EAC > FLAC 8

Click on the highlighted tracks to download the MP3s (320 kbps). As far as we can ascertain, these tracks have never been officially released on CD.

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Track 01. Intro 1:05
Track 02. Back to the Beginning 7:52
Track 03. Inner City Blues 9:44
Track 04. Straight Ahead 6:17
Track 05. Freedom Jazz Dance 8:13
Track 06. Maiden Voyage 8:53
Track 07. Truth 10:09
Track 08. Compared to What (cut) 4:09
57 mins

Lineup:
Brian Auger - organ, electric piano, vocals
Alex Ligertwood - vocals, percussion
Barry Dean - bass
Jack Mills - electric guitar
Stephen Ferrone - drums

Click here to order Brian Auger releases.