Bakerloo (previously The Bakerloo Blues Line) was an English heavy blues-rock trio, established by Staffordshire guitarist David "Clem" Clempson, Terry Poole and others in the late 1960s, at the high point of the influence of The Jimi Hendrix Experience and Cream. Although the group was prominent only for around a year (1968-9) and released only one album it played an important part in the history of the genre, especially in view of its members' subsequent involvement with Colosseum, Humble Pie, May Blitz, Graham Bond, Vinegar Joe, Judas Priest and Uriah Heep.
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The Bakerloo Blues Line was formed in February 1968 by David "Clem" Clempson and Terry Poole, who worked with several drummers, including John Hinch, before settling with Keith Baker. Managed by Jim Simpson, as were Earth (the future Black Sabbath), they joined his U.K. 'Big Bear Ffolly' tour with Earth, Locomotive and Tea And Symphony. The group appeared as support group at Led Zeppelin's debut on 18 October 1968 at the Marquee Club, London.
After simplifying the name to "Bakerloo" the group signed to Harvest Records in mid 1969. Their first release was a single, "Drivin' Bachwards"/"Once Upon a Time" (HAR 5004) that July. The A-side is an arrangement of the J.S. Bach tune Bourrée in E minor. This record appeared just prior to the release of a similar song, Bourrée, by Jethro Tull, on their second album Stand Up in August 1969.
The single A-side also appeared on their self-titled album in December.[1] The album Bakerloo (Harvest SHVL 762) was further promoted by the inclusion of the long, heavy slow blues "This Worried Feeling" on the Harvest double sampler album Picnic - A Breath of Fresh Air and by BBC recordings for radio. The album was produced by Gus Dudgeon. Last Blues was a heavy rocker, Son of Moonshine a driving metal blues. Other tracks contained "progressive" classical and jazz elements.[2]
The group's progress, though, was cut short when Clempson accepted the post of guitarist in Colosseum. At that point Poole and Baker also moved on, forming May Blitz with Jamie Black on vocals and guitar, then joining other bands, including Graham Bond and Vinegar Joe in Pooles' case and Uriah Heep in Baker's, leaving the signed name with no band. A new band was formed but this eventually signed to another label under another name.
All songs written and composed by David "Clem" Clempson & Terry Poole except as noted.
| Bakerloo released December 1969, Harvest Records SHVL76; reissued 2000, Repertoire Records REP 4358 | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length | ||||||
| 1. | "Big Bear Ffolly" | 3:55 | |||||||
| 2. | "Bring It on Home" | Willie Dixon (uncredited) | 4:16 | ||||||
| 3. | "Drivin' Bachwards" | Johann Sebastian Bach, arranged by Clempson/Poole | 2:06 | ||||||
| 4. | "Last Blues" | 7:04 | |||||||
| 5. | "Gang Bang" | Keith Baker | 6:15 | ||||||
| 6. | "This Worried Feeling" | 7:03 | |||||||
| 7. | "Son of Moonshine" | 14:52 | |||||||
| 8. | "Once Upon a Time" (reissue bonus track) (B-side of single HAR 5004) | 3:37 | |||||||
| 9. | "This Worried Feeling (alternate)" (reissue bonus track) (previously unreleased) | 5:45 | |||||||