British Invasion All-Stars - British Invasion All-Stars

British Invasion All-Stars - British Invasion All-Stars - 2002

by Alex Henderson from AMG

The British Invasion All-Stars are a 21st century band with a '60s sound, which isn't surprising because all of its members are veteran rockers who belonged to various '60s bands (some more prominent than others). In rock circles, the term British Invasion is used to describe the wave of British rock bands that made its presence felt in the '60s. Rock was born in the United States, but when the Beatles and many other British acts hit big in the '60s, it was clear that England had become a major player in the rock & roll field.

Formed in 2001, the British Invasion All-Stars boasts former-Yardbird Jim McCarty on drums and lead vocals, ex-Procol Harum member Matthew Fisher on electric Hammond organ, and Eddie Phillips (formerly of the Creation) on lead guitar. The three other members are Ray Phillips, of the Nashville Teens fame, on lead vocals, and two ex-members of the Downliners Sect: rhythm guitarist Don Craine and bassist Keith Grand (who contributes background vocals and shares the lead vocals with Phillips and McCarty). The British Invasion All-Stars' self-titled debut album, which was released on the independent Mooreland Street label in 2002, shows no awareness of the alternative rock sounds of the early 2000s; the band is totally unaffected by any of the punk, new wave, post-punk, pop-metal, or alternative rock that came after the '60s. From covers of well-known songs by the Yardbirds ("Shapes of Things") and the Who ("Shakin' All Over"), to new material, everything on the British Invasion All-Stars' first album is unapologetically '60s-minded. The CD boasts several guest musicians who have strong '60s credentials, including bassist Noel Redding (who was one-third of the Jimi Hendrix Experience) and two ex-members of the Pretty Things: Dick Taylor and Phil May.

This self-titled debut album by the British Invasion All-Stars was released in 2002, but if you didn't know better, you might assume that it was recorded in the mid- to late '60s. That's because their music is a celebration of '60s British Invasion rock, and all of them know a lot about that subject - they were members of bands like the Yardbirds, Procol Harum, and the Nashville Teens. All of the material sounds dated, and that is true of new songs (including the moody "Heavy Weather") as well as covers of '60s hits like the Yardbirds' "Shapes of Things," the Who's "Shakin' All Over," and Booker T. & the M.G.'s "Green Onions" (which ends up with a British blues-rock outlook rather than a Stax/Volt outlook). Even the production sounds dated; if producer/arranger Mike Ober wanted to make this CD as '60s-sounding as possible, he accomplished his goal. But dated isn't necessarily a bad thing if you are a die-hard fan of a particular era; in fact, it can actually be a plus. And for fans of '60s British Invasion rock, this release is dated in a good sense - dated as in being an enjoyable celebration of an era that gave fans great bands like the Beatles, the Yardbirds, the Zombies, the Who, and the Kinks. The British Invasion All-Stars' performances fall short of mind-blowing; none of their covers are superior to the original versions. But the album is generally decent, and it is worth hearing if you are a serious admirer of '60s rock.

01. Shapes of Things
02. United
03. White Knight
04. Gimme Some Lovin'
05. Bad Penny
06. Heavy Weather
07. Tobacco Road

08. Shakin' All Over
09. Green Onions
10. Glimpses of God
11. Lavender Down
12. Mona
13. I'm a Man
14. How Does It Feel


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