The Jack Hammond Group ~ USA ~ Chicago, Illinois

A Fatal Beauty (1982)

From Chicago comes The Jack Hammond Group, an inventive fusion band. On the double LP A Fatal Beauty, the album opens with a fantastic sequence of tracks, lead by guitarist Hammond, which is ultimately based in progressive rock, including a side long epic as found on Side 2 (of 4). Side 3 finds the group experimenting with many disparate styles (classical, blues, and funk primarily). Then they close strong on the final cut with the addition of horns. A solid album throughout, and a great find for US private press seekers. The cover is also quite suitably creepy.

Ownership: 1982 Fatal Beauty Records (2xLP)

9/7/12 (review)

Open the Doors (1980)

Chicago based guitarist Jack Hammond debuted with Open the Doors, an eclectic album with an anachronistic 1960s blues/psychedelic feel on some tracks, which is highly unusual for 1980. As well he seems to have adopted, or been a disciple of, John Fahey's American Primitive style of country blues finger picking. Nice but inessential album, for my tastes anyway.

Former ownership: 1980 private (LP)

8/28/10 (review); 9/13/12; 6/6/15; 1/3/23

Neither reissued as of 2/22/25.

8/28/10 (new entry)