One of the most significant, and memorable, stars of the 1960s is set to blaze again!
In 1968, the all-but unknown Crazy World Of Arthur Brown topped charts worldwide with “Fire,” a truly coruscating (not to mention incendiary) slice of art rock that both merged with the psychedelia barreling through the music scene of the day, and stood in direct opposition to all the peace, love and flowers that had hitherto characterized the era.
Now comes "Hush," a limited edition vinyl single, to prove that frontman Arthur Brown still boasts one of the most dynamic voices around.
Taken from the forthcoming Purple Storm tribute to Deep Purple, this stunning orange vinyl platter is released in a limited white label edition of 85 hand-numbered copies only, and features two additional tracks.
First, Brown's barnstorming version of "21st Century Schizoid Man" (King Crimson), recorded with Brian Auger (Trinity featuring Julie Driscoll, Oblivion Express), Chris Poland (Megadeth) and, on thunderous drums, Ian Paice (Deep Purple); and then The Beatles' Abbey Road epic "I Want You (She's So Heavy)," with Steve Stevens (Billy Idol) providing that mercurial, haunting guitar riff.
But "Hush" is the main attraction, and here's why. Written by Joe South and a 1967 hit for Billy Joe Royal, “Hush” is best remembered in many quarters as the first ever single by Deep Purple in 1968, at a time when the band was still finding its way across three early albums featuring future Captain Beyond vocalist Rod Evans and Johnny Kidd and Warhorse bassist Nick Simper alongside the expected Ritchie Blackmore, Jon Lord and Ian Paice.
A number 4 American hit (48 places higher than Billy Joe’s original), “Hush” might not be regarded as highly as some of the later Purple’s own compositions. It remains a stone-cold classic, however, and as Cleopatra Records’s upcoming Purple Storm tribute to Deep Purple came together, nobody doubted that it should be included. Nor that Brown was the person to voice it.
He didn’t make the record alone, of course. Behind Brown storms a dream team backing band featuring Joel Hoekstra (Whitesnake, Trans-Siberian Orchestra), Alan Davey (Hawkwind), Jürgen Engler and Chris Lietz (Die Krupps), Carmine Appice (Vanilla Fudge, Cactus, Rod Stewart), each of them determined to transform what was originally a fairly innocuous little song into a head banging hurricane.
Brown’s vocal sounds as though it could have been recorded way back when; Hoekstra’s guitar slashes as though the future’s on fire, and Appice’s drums have seldom received such punishment in the past. And then there’s that organ solo which comes straight out of the Jon Lord school of key-crunching virtuosity.
“Hush” has never sounded so heavy!
HUSH VINYL: https://cleorecs.com/products/arthur-brown-hush-orange-vinyl-lp
HUSH DIGITAL: https://orcd.co/arthurbrown_hush
PURPLE STORM CD/VINYL: https://cleorecs.com/search?q=purple+storm
PURPLE STORM DIGITAL: https://orcd.co/purplestorm
TRACK LISTING
SIDE A
1. Hush feat. Alan Davey, Joel Hoekstra, Carmine Appice, Jürgen Engler
SIDE B
1. 21st Century Schizoid Man feat. Brian Auger, Chris Poland, Ian Paice
2. I Want You (She's So Heavy) feat. Steve Stevens
