Embryo - Bad Heads and Bad Cats. 1975 Germany

Bad Heads and Bad Cats is the 8th studio album from Embryo, and the second of which bandleader Christian Burchard later referred to as their "commercial years". For Embryo perhaps that is an accurate assessment, for anyone else commercial is not the first word to enter one's mind. More accessible, maybe. I would like for someone to hear 'Nina Kupenda', 'After the Rain', or 'Klondyke Netti' and claim it's somehow music for the masses.

The mid 70s saw Embryo move from being Germany's number #1 export of Krautrock mixed with jazz, to that of pioneering jazz fusion with a bit of funk - while never forgetting their Krautrock roots. As is often the case with Embryo, they were the leaders not the followers. And plenty went down this road in Germany during the next few years, but few - if any - were as accomplished as the almighty Embryo. And even on the more traditional songs, no one could pen a meaner tune than guitarist/vocalist Roman Bunka. The soulful female vocals of Ghana born Maria Archer only adds to the exotic vibe. And how about that deep bass groove on 'Klondyke Netti'? Both of the CD versions contain a 16+ minute excellent period jam called 'Human Contact' that recalls the archival 'Invisible Documents' and shows Embryo in looser form.

For my tastes, Bad Heads and Bad Cats is essential Embryo. Those calling it "ordinary" seem to lack the context from which it was delivered.

Ownership: LP: 1977 April. I scored this LP way back in the beginning of 1988, and was one of 3 Embryo albums I found at a local Carrollton (Dallas) record store while first discovering the band (Rache and Reise being the other two). At the time Bad Heads was by far my least favorite, but as my review attests, I've really come around to this era of Embryo - and this era of German fusion in general. There's quite a debate going on right now on Discogs' about the very first pressing - including the Freeman's (of course). Mine is certainly the second press given the booklet is dated 1977 (and we corrected the entry on Discogs a couple of years back because of it). Apparently the first pressing should predate the Label Code era, and yet not one copy has been found without it. More to come I suspect.

CD: 1999 Disconforme (Andorra). The digi-pak CD on Disconforme was the first to market, and very well done. Has an essay from the label founder along with the family tree and an extracted review from noted Embryo expert Alan Freeman. I suspect the Garden of Delights version to be even better, and likely to flesh out the details further about the release, including the bonus track which did not have any detail on the Disconforme CD.

1//88; 9//09; 6/2/06; 5/4/19 (new entry)