Formed in Glasgow in 1969, Stone The Crows were quite a draw, both in the UK and Europe. However, after releasing 4 albums the band broke up early in 1973. Having suffered tragedy the year before when guitarist and founding member Leslie Harvey was electrocuted during a sound check, his replacement Jimmy McCullough left to join Paul McCartney's Wings. Vocalist Maggie Bell went on to release a couple of solo albums and performs to this day as part of the British Blues Quartet.

This 2 CD collection contains a number of radio sessions throughout the band's career, with disc 1 covering 1969-'70 and disc 2 1971- '72. As you would expect from a collection like this, there are a couple of tracks that are repeated but this takes nothing away from the quality of the performances.

With tracks such as 'Touch of Your Loving Hand', 'Friend' and 'Mad Dogs & Englishman' from the first disc, showcasing the band growing together, disc 2 contains a slicker, more confident blues based band. This is evident on tracks like 'Let It Down', 'Goin' Down' and 'On The Highway'. Three further tracks on this disc are performed by the band's final line-up.

The CD's accompanying booklet contains comprehensive notes from the band's drummer Colin Allen.

****

Review by Nikk Gunns

£12.99

Big Jim Salter

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