Search - Groundhogs :: Best of Groundhogs

A celebration of the UK's most experimental blues band

Gavin Wilson | 01/19/2001

(4 out of 5 stars)

"As one of those rare Amazon reviewers who has picked up fewer votes than the total number of reviews they've written, I never quite know whether or how I should review CDs that I don't like. So it's always a pleasure to re-discover a band that I enjoyed 25 years ago and still enjoy.My favourite non-compilation Groundhogs album is HOGWASH, but this compilation comes a close second. If you haven't heard 'Cherry Red' or 'You Had a Lesson', then you have a wonderful experience ahead of you. The Groundhogs line-up was reduced to a threesome in 1968, and no doubt encouraged by what Hendrix was achieving at the time with a trio, Tony McPhee never looked back. McPhee is another guitarissimo, although not as legendary as Hendrix.For those who've never heard the Groundhogs before, it's hard for me to make a comparison, because there is not other band in my CD collection that sounds remotely like them. Hendrix and Robin Trower are the closest bands I know, but that simply reveals my limited experience of the Groundhogs genre, whatever that was."

Classic British Blues Rock!

J. E FELL | Carterville, Illinois United States | 12/27/2003

(4 out of 5 stars)

"This bargain compilation provides a pretty good introduction to the Groundhogs. This disk was released to highlight the rerelease and remastering of many of the classic Groundhogs albums on compact disk. The "Best of the Groundhogs" covers material from the period 1968-72. The Groundhogs originally led by guitarist/vocalist Tony McPhee played reverential covers of classic blues tunes and even backed blues legend John Lee Hooker on an album. Examples of this include a version of Muddy Waters' "Still A Fool" and McPhee's solo piece "Groundhog". Eventually the group evolved into a blues/rock power trio with Pete Cruickshank on bass and Ken Pustelnik on drums. Great tracks include 3 of the four parts of "Split" from the album of the same name. The track deals with schizophrenia. Other favorites include "Cherry Red" and "Eccentric Man". McPhee is a good guitarist and remains faithful to his blues roots even while the band became more progressive. He is adept at both electric and acoustic guitar and can play slide guitar as well. While thw set provides a good primer of the work of the Groundhogs, it omits a number of key cuts like "Express Man", "Garden" and "3744 James Road" among others. It also does not cover any of their material from 1973 until 1976 when McPhee disbanded the group for the first time. Maybe someday a 2 disk set or box set will be released that contains material covering the entire period from 1968-1976 with some unissued and live tracks! If you want to dig further after hearing this disk I recommend the "Thank Christ For The Bomb", "Split" and "Hogwash" disks."

EVEN GROUNDHOGS GET THE BLUES

Patrick Earley | Edmond, Oklahoma USA | 02/18/2001

(4 out of 5 stars)

"This is a nice greatest hits CD from the very talented Tony Mcphee and company. The Groundhogs put out 6 albums between the years 1968-72. Three of those albums made the top 10 on the album charts. But for some reason this band never quite got the respect in the music business that they deserved. I think a big reason these guys were the Rodney Dangerfield's of rock is because even though they were labeled a progressive rock band, they were also deeply infused with the blues. And the blues pretty much went bust when the 70's started. But on this Best Of CD you get most of their best stuff off those 6 albums. The best songs on here are from their 3 classic albums "Thank Christ For The Bomb", "Split", and "Hogwash". Split Part 1,2, and 4 are great songs from their best selling album that are worth the price of this CD alone. Other great songs on here are the acoustic blues of "Groundhog", which really show off Tony Mcphee's talent on guitar. And "You Had A Lesson", from my favorite Groundhog album "Hogwash". All great, memorable, and very creative progressive rock songs. If they had added what I consider their 2 best songs: "3744 James Road", and "Garden" on here I would have knocked this up to 5 stars. But as it is, and with their old import albums so hard to get, this is a great introduction to the Groundhogs."