For the CDRWL I wrote a review that I don't fully agree with anymore. So the below is what I want to keep in and the ellipses sections either don't represent my current observations or are superfluous to what I want to convey. I think they call that changing the narrative.
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Like almost all major label US albums from 1970, San Francisco based Hammer is a completely hit and miss affair... It's mostly blues and soul based..., with some heavy organ and guitar sprinkled throughout... However, there are two gems here that must be heard. One is the fantastic 'Tuane', an obvious nod to fellow Bay Area stars Santana. The wordless vocals adding a unique flavor to the ripping guitar work and jazzy rhythms. But the real eye-opener has to be the closer 'Death to a King'. This composition's main melody and piano runs are almost exactly like Banco del Mutuo Succorso's 'Metamorfosi' from their 1972 debut! Could have Banco known of this obscure band known as Hammer?...
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So last night's listen resulted in a +2. What I didn't pick up on initial impact was the strength of the hard rock presented. Right from the opening 'Something Easy' I found myself immersed into that unique blend of Blue Cheer meets West Coast psych. There are two primary songwriters here, and they split duties 50/50: A) Guitarist Jack O'Brien and B) Keyboardist Norman Landsberg. It's the latter who provides the two great tracks called out originally. O'Brien's tracks are more straightforward but clearly of his era. And vocalist John de Roberts does a fine job bringing them to light with his raspy tone. Each composer throws in one clunker - A4 and B3 can be skipped, but the rest is fantastic hard rock.
After all these years, I seem to be the only one calling out the obvious BMS reference. Their version is verbatim to Hammer's from two years prior. I made a big deal out of it at the time 10 years ago, but it never caught on. Ah well, not so important, as its brilliant really. Had the States possessed any kind of progressive rock interest from the labels, Hammer could very well have been our finest export. But one and done it was, and they've long faded to the annals of history.
Ownership: LP: 1970 San Francisco. Single sleeve. Recent pickup from JL. No legit reissues exist, though there are many original pressings, and it's still quite affordable online. Of note, the San Francisco label only lasted for 2 years.
5/8/12 (CDRWL); 10/11/22 (new entry)
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