Poobah - Steamroller. 1979 USA-Ohio

These notes go back to 2005 and were enhanced heavily on a listen 8 years later. Last night's revisit only underscored how great an album it is.

Not deterred after not being signed to a major label for US Rock (1976), Gustafson reformed Poobah again, and released one of the best hard rock albums for the entire 1970s in Steamroller. Not prog or psych or metal, just straight up hard rock. Power trio hard rock the way a band from Youngstown, Ohio oughta be. These guys just kick ass on the album from the beginning to the end. In reflection, there is a slight progressive rock angle added here, and tracks like 'Jump Thru the Golden Ring' recall Judas Priest's similar type efforts. Instrumental bonus track 'Atom Bomb' has piano introducing what ultimately becomes a proggy styled jam. The only track here that is superfluous is the Zep cover, otherwise it's all aces. If you at all have interest in the US Midwest private hard rock scene, this is the album to get.

Ownership: CD: 2005 Monster. Purchased new upon release. Fantastic reissue with full liner notes and 5 great bonus tracks. One is mentioned in the review above, the other 4 come from a live concert at Biggy's in Youngstown in 1979. If I could go back in time, I would love to go to a place called Biggy's and listen to Poobah. That might be a top 5 priority actually. Worth noting that the Monster CD altered the track order, much to its benefit I think, as it flows more natural than the LP proper.

11/05; 9/25/13 (new entry); 6/12/22 (update)