[Review] PG&E (1971)
Shorter name, longer list of players, a good soul-funk-rock album by any measure.
Kronomyth 4.0: More power to ‘em.
Charlie Allen now found himself the frontman of a sprawling twelve-piece band (counting The Blackberries) with no original members. Re-christening the group as PG&E (in part to avoid legal action from the Pacific Gas & Electric company), this is an Allen solo album in all but name. He’s the star of the show and his voice is the engine that drives every song on PG&E. That’s not to take anything away from the honeyfied Blackberries or new guitarist Ken Utterback (who tears it up on When the Sun Shines), but you’re here for Charlie Allen. Highlights this time include a timeless version of One More River to Cross, the soulful Thank God for You Baby (which briefly charted), a reprise of the poignant Death Row #172, and the wild opening number, Rock and Roller’s Lament (arranged by Nilsson collaborator, George Tipton). Allen and the band cross comfortably between soul, funk, and rock without aligning themselves to one particular style. The original material seems a little darker this time; “Rock and Roller’s Lament” reveals the cracks in the rock & roll dream’s façade, while Short Dogs and Englishman bemoans the addictive power of cocaine (“I know my demon by name”). In that sense, the band is an accurate reflection of the times and the growing disillusionment with Richard Nixon and the Vietnam War (you know, back when America was great). There’s something real and restless in the music of PG&E that stirs you up to feel something. I suppose that applies to soul-funk music in general. If you’ve followed the band this far, there’s no reason to stop now. Unfortunately, Allen ended up scrapping the entire band and rebuilding it again for the next album, Pacific Gas & Electric Starring Charlie Allen.
Original elpee version
A1. Rock and Roller’s Lament (Charlie Allen) (3:15)
A2. Recall (Charlie Allen/Frank Petricca) (3:31)
A3. One More River to Cross (Daniel Moore) (2:42)
A4. Death Row #172 (Frank Cook/Charlie Allen/John Hill) (5:33)
A5. Short Dogs and Englishmen (Charlie Allen) (6:30)
B1. See the Monkey Run (Steve Beckmeier) (2:34)
B2. The Time Has Come (To Make Your Peace) (Ron Woods) (3:14)
B3. Thank God for You Baby (John Hill/Charlie Allen) (6:54)
B4. When the Sun Shines (Ken Utterback) (4:10)
The Players
Stanly Abernathy (trumpet), Jerry Aiello (organ), Charlie Allen (singer), The Blackberries (vocal background), Alfred Gallegos (tenor sax), Virgil Gonsalves (baritone sax), Joe Lala (conga and timbales), Frank Petricca (bass), Ken Utterback (lead guitar), Ron Woods (drums) with George Tipton (arranger on A1). Produced by Charlie Allen & Frank Cook except A3/B2 produced by Delaney Bramlett and B4 produced by John Hill; engineered by Alex Kazanegras & Mark Friedman.
The Pictures
Front cover photos by John Fieldman and Harry Langdon. Back cover photo by Jim McCrary. Cover design by Anne Blackford Garner.
The Plastic
Released on elpee in 1971 in the US (Columbia, C 30362) and the Netherlands (CBS, CBS S 64295). Reached #182 on the US charts.
- Re-issued on compact disc in 2007 in the US (Wounded Bird, WOU 3362).
