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)

Poobah - U.S. Rock. 1976 USA-Ohio

Carrying on from the debut Let Me In, U.S. Rock adds in keyboards, and there’s a distinct move to an AOR / radio friendly sound. In fact, listening to these tracks with modern ears, it’s almost beyond belief that Poobah weren’t one of the big names of the day. Catchy melodies, powerful and technical guitars, and that sound that made every major band in the 1976 / 1977 a hit on FM radio. But due to a remarkable run of bad luck, they once again were resigned to releasing the album themselves (and one would presume a major label would advise against the hilariously bad cover).

Personal collection
CD: 2014 Ripple

The easiest to find and least expensive of the 3 original 70s Poobah albums. As one can see, it features a ridiculous cover, and one presumes it's honoring or making fun of the US Bicentennial that was all the rage in 1976. The CD is excellent, as is usual for Ripple. I had to laugh at the photos, which reminded me of my own high school's yearbook! There are an additional 23 minutes of fine live material added as bonus tracks. Still no liner notes though, which is a pity.

Poobah - Let Me In. 1972 USA-Ohio

Poobah are perhaps the best example of the hard working, musically competent – but unsigned – 1970s Midwest rock group. Hailing from Youngstown, OH, Poobah possessed a rare talent in guitarist Jim Gustafson, who could jam with the best of them. They managed 3 self-released albums spanning from 1972 through to 1979 (though they recorded even more in the interim periods). Let Me In is a raw, but very powerful, hard rock album and can easily be seen as the blueprint for which most Midwest rock albums sound like. The sketch of a drunk puking across the bathroom is the perfect metaphor for the “life of an Ohioan rock n roller”.

Favorite track: 'Bowleen'
Favorite bonus track from the Ripple CD: 'Make a Man Outta You'

Personal collection
CD: 2010 Ripple

The CD is a good one with 12 bonus tracks, lyrics, and previously unseen photos from the high quality Ripple label. And what a cover, eh?