RARE UK PSYCH - PAUSE FOR A HOARSE HORSE - HOME - NM

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HOME -- PAUSE FOR A HOARSE HORSE -- MADE IN ENGLAND -- 1971 CBS RECORDS ORANGE LABEL -- S 64356 STEREO     This is a A CRISP EX PLUS/NM FOLDOUT COVER WITH UNPLAYED VINYL COPY OF THE ORIGINAL ISSUE OF THIS CLASSIC PSYCH GEM -- VERY SOUGHT AFTER -- AUCTION RANGE $50-100.00   Home's "Pause For A Hoarse Horse" is an unexpected delight.     The genre description of this band, under their heading, is both "progressive rock" and "British country rock" and that basically covers the bases of what this band does musically, although the "progressive" element lies more in the eccentricity of the songs structures and sometimes the lyrical whimsy than any actual prog "sound". RYM user rcslee, who gave this a mere two stars and dismissively states, "Poor songs", in his terse review, obviously doesn't like that previously mentioned eccentricity, because these are FAR from poor in any way.

This is often, from a purely instrumental angle, very like a black sheep offspring of a union between Family and Badfinger, even though I imagine they were aspiring for a sound closer to that of The Band. I like The Band but I'm glad Home's sound is closer to the former two groups. I suppose there is the occasional C.C.R.-ish touch here and there too which was probably hard to avoid considering they do this shit so well.

A main attraction is the brilliant duel guitar interplay of Mick Stubbs (who also contributes a good amount of 12-string guitar here) and Laury Wisefield, who of course would subsequently go on to work with Wishbone Ash. They are tirelessly creative, on one song subtle and introspective and then on the next tearing it up in a race to the finishing line. Wisefield's guitar sound is instantly identifiable and he deserves a wider recognition. He contributes some amazingly nimble and fleet fingered picking here, bringing to mind that American Southern edge that brought an injection of adrenaline and atmosphere to such Wishbone Ash albums as, "Locked In", "New England" and "Just Testing". I should also mention that this Mick Stubbs guy, who I had never heard of before, is quite a talented bloke. Besides his stellar guitar contributions he carries the lead vocal chores (gotta use the word 'chores' with a band like this) off with great conviction and authority.

Stuff like the ode to the death of a dependable horse, which is the title track, "Pause For A Hoarse Horse", the quirkily catchy "In My Time", "Red E. Lewis And The Red Caps", and "Tramp" grab your attention and get you singing along with a new found twang in your voice. "Welwyn Garden City Blues" is a real countryfied guitar rave up and it's too bad it's not a couple of minutes longer 'cause it gets ones pulse a racin'. Funnily enough, while writing this review I noticed that the contemporaneous Family violinist, Johnny 'Willie' Weider plays on the tracks, "Mother" and "You're No Good", so that partly explains the Family feel to some of this--but not completely, as he only appears on those couple of songs. You know, the influence is mostly just because Family were kicking ass at the time and these guys obviously just took notice. Album closer, "You're No Good", is one of those feel good songs that's so contagious it's silly. Your feet WILL tap to this I tell you--or if your paralyzed a finger or even an eyelid (a tapping eyelid?) will unconsciously pick up the beat until your released!

Clive John's addition of Mellotron on "Bad Days"and "Red E. Lewis.." blends nicely with the guitars of Stubbs and Wisefield and provides worthwhile sidetrips. And on another subject completely, maybe Stubbs isn't remembered because of that painfully un-rock and roll surname. Think about, Jimmy Page, Jimi Hendrix, Rory Gallagher, Ritchie Blackmore or even Roine Stolt. There's just something about those names that seems, you know, ROCK AND ROLL, while Stubbs seems like the name of a boxer or some mate from down the pub. Just a thought. For all you AC/DC and fact fans out there, you might be interested to find Cliff Williams as the bassist on this album and any thoughts of his rather limited and straight forward (read simplistic) contributions on those AC/DC albums is swept away by some, if not amazing, at least more diverse playing here.

This is just one of those obscure but great surprises you sometimes stumble across. And since I have stumbled across it (thanks redfish365) YOU can stumble across it accidentally on purpose! This will be perfect summer, cracking a beer and settin' on the front porch music and you'll feel mighty justified in your beer drinkin' with this floatin' from your speakers. Just don't start a one person hoedown--that will just look stupid.   Songs / Tracks Listing

1. Tramp (3:30)
2. Family (4:30)
3. Pause for a hoarse horse (3:00)
4. Red E. Lewis and the red caps (4:30)
5. In my time (4:15)
6. How would it feel (3:25)
7. Bad days (4:10)
8. Mother (4:05)

Line-up / Musicians

- Laurie Wisefield / Electric guitar (lead), vocals
- Mick Stubbs / Electric guitar, 12 string guitar, lead vocals
- Mick Cook / Drums, Percussion
- Cliff Williams / Bass guitar, vocals

- Clive John / keyboards, mellotron
- Johnny (Willie) Weider / violin

9. Moses (5:10)
10. Welwyn Garden City Blues (1:30)
11. You're no good (3:00)

Total time - 41:05