Skin Alley – Skin Alley – Mother Please Help Your Child

(Review from progressiveworld.net)

In 1969 there were few bands playing jazz-rock fusion. The musicians that inhabited these out of the ordinary groups played a highly developed style of music well beyond their years. They in fact sounded light-years ahead of their contemporaries. When I think of 1969, the first thought that comes to mind is not jazz-rock fusion. Music like this just does not seem to fit in to that timeframe and that is the very reason why many of you have probably never heard of this band and their music.

With a brilliant combination of keyboard arrangements, a well-timed rhythm section, flawlessly positioned guitar, vocals that grab your attention and a touch of the divine with the flute, Skin Alley defined the term progressive. This was the beginning of the jazz-rock fusion sound, yet it sounds like it is so knew and fresh even today. This album is a glorious blend of rock and jazz with a dollop of classical for taste. Anyone that can appreciate artistry that is beyond exceptional would praise this recording. There are necessarily any prerequisites for listening to music that is so interesting. If you happen to like rock with just about every other style fused into it you will certainly embrace this great album more than the casual less particular listener would.

Line-up :
* Thomas Crimble – bass, mellotron, vocals
* Bob James – guitar, alto saxophone, flute, vocals
* Krzysztof Henryk Justkiewicz – organ, piano, harpsichord, mellotron, vocals
* Alvin Pope – drums, congas, timpani

Track List :
01. Living In Sin (4:39)
02. Tell Me (4:40)
03. Mother Please Help Your Child (4:13)
04. Marsha (7:25)
05. Country Aire (2:15)
06. All Alone (8:17)
07. Night Time (5:37)
08. Concerto Grosso (Take Heed) (0:28)
09. Highway (4:19)