This is about as essential вЂњJesus MusicвЂќ as has ever been released. But despite his name headlining the marquee, the band was really the brainchild of controversial hippy-Pastor Larry Hill and Joe Markko. Schwartz was late of Pacific Gas & Electric and could play with the best of them. Harpsichord, dulcimer, piano, woodwinds and the amazing Glenn Schwartz on guitar. by Mike RimmerвЂ¦.~Дescribed as a collection of dysfunctional misfits with musical taste ranging from psychedelic hillbilly soul and zydeco influenced reefer garage rock. Driven by the bandвЂ™s fervour, they released three more albums before they folded in 1981вЂ¦. So highlights for me are the swamp rock of вЂњDaughter Of ZionвЂќ and вЂњGreat VictoryвЂќ, the blues of вЂњElder WhiteвЂќ though the gentle acoustic вЂњThere Is Still Hope In JesusвЂќ is a fabulous period piece with its uncompromising gospel message. At times though, this sounds like two different bands sharing a record. Personally it feels as though the bluesy material has travelled better over time and in Scwartz, they had a master. Musically, this is a mixture of bluesy boogie and drifting, earnest, folky songs. The title cut effectively critiques whatвЂ™s going on whilst вЂњTom MillerвЂќ pays tribute to the former band member killed in a car accident after he was made famous during the Kent student slayings where national guardsmen shot demonstrators. The band were sold out in reaching others and the songs reflect the issues around them.

This is very much an album of its time where radical ideas, politics, hippie ideals and Jesus all created a potent mix. Most prominent was blues guitarist Glenn Schwartz, the original guitarist with rock band The James Gang who quit mainstream rock success to play Jesus rock and to minister. They were also quite a fluid line up but effectively were a five piece at the time of making this album. Like many freaks who got saved back then, the band lived communally and played just about everywhere.

Re-released on expanded compact disc on Apin the UK (Big Beat, CDWIKD-272) with 9 bonus tracks (The Kent Records Sessions).Glenn Schwartz And The All Saved Freak Band вЂњMy Poor GenerationвЂќ 1973 US Private Xian Psych Folk Rock (Pacific Gas & Electric,James Gang-member)ДЄlthough this band were formed at the height of the Jesus Movement in the late вЂ60s, it wasnвЂ™t until 1973 that they recorded this debut album.

Re-issued on elpee in France (BYG, 529 207) with unique cover.

Re-issued on elpee in the US (United, US 7762).

Re-issued on elpee in 1970 in the US (Power, P-701) with gatefold cover.

Re-issued on elpee in 1969 in Canada (Quality, SV-1825).

Released on elpee in 1968 in the US (Brightorange, BO-701) with gatefold cover. The PicturesДЇront cover art by Ben Talbert. Produced by Freddy DeMann & Frank Cook engineered by Bill Halverson, Bill Cooper. Long Handled Shovel (Pacific Gas & Electric) (3:31)ДЄll tunes in this album arranged by The PG&E.Д¬harlie Allen (vocals), Brent Block (bass & fuzz-bass), Frank Cook (drums), Tom Marshall (rhythm guitar), Glenn Schwartz (lead guitar) with Joe Sample (organ on A3, piano on B3). Jones/Carl Wells/Al Jackson Jr./Donald Dunn/Steve Cropper) (3:21)Д«2. Motor CityвЂ™s Burning (Al Smith) (6:45)Д«1. Wade in the Water (arranged by Frank Cook/Freddy DeMann) (6:11)ДЄ2. If you enjoy the electric blues, you need to plug into Pacific Gas & ElectricвЂ™s Get It On.ДЄ1.

The rest of the band completely nails it, and Glenn SchwartzвЂ™ solos must have left The James Gang kicking themselves for letting him go. He has to be the best drummer-turned-singer in the history of rock & roll. That Charlie Allen didnвЂ™t become a household name, well, I couldnвЂ™t tell you why. PG&E were clearly destined for big things, including a new contract with Columbia Records. Cry, Cry, Cry (Bobby Bland), The Hunter (Albert King), Motor CityвЂ™s Burning (MC5) and Jelly Jelly (James Cotton) are just dead-center on. I never thought IвЂ™d hear a version of Wade in the Water that could hold a candle to The Graham Bond Organisation, but Pacific Gas & Electric come real close. The cover material, however, is a different story. TheyвЂ™re good, but none of them have stuck with me over the years. There are only a few original tracks on the album: Long Handled Shovel, Stormy Times and Live Love. I hung on every solo from Schwartz, and Allen owned every word. Every groove of that album bled molten fire. A decade later, I tuned into it again and Get It On blew me away. No doubt, Charlie Allen was a force and Glenn Schwartz was as good a lead guitarist as you could hope for, but the material didnвЂ™t set my soul on fire. The first time I reviewed this album, I wasnвЂ™t that impressed.

Electric blues rock powered by the vocals of Charlie Allen and the guitar of Glenn Schwartz.

Glenn schwartz james gang