The Alan Bown The Alan Bown!

Alan Bown is most known - certainly in the United States - for his late '60s recordings as leader of a group (actually called the Alan Bown) that played psychedelic pop. The trumpeter had already been recording since 1965, however, with a group called the Alan Bown Set from 1965-1967 in a far more soul-influenced style. This compilation gathers both sides of all five singles the Alan Bown Set released on Pye in the U.K. during that time, along with the seven live songs from the London Swings: Live at the Marquee Club LP they shared with Jimmy James & the Vagabonds, and the French-only single "Jeu De Massacre (The Killing Game)," from the soundtrack of the French film of the same name. The group were in the same general territory as other British combiners of soul, jazz, and blues from the period, such as Georgie Fame and Zoot Money…

The Alan Bown Set was formed as R&B/soul band in 1965, but two years later they shortened their name to The Alan Bown! and switched to pop-psych-rock, but with some rhythm and blues elements (inc. powerful trumpet/saxophone section) still present in their sound. After three great but rather unsuccessful singles, their debut LP finally appeared in October 1968 on Music Factory label. This stylistically varied, exceptionally well-played and cleverly arranged pop-rock masterpiece contained imaginative, short, but complex tracks full of compelling ideas, memorable hooks and great vocals by criminally underrated Jess Roden. Unfortunately, the album went completely unnoticed. This expanded CD edition contains 14 rare bonus tracks, including 10 amazing rarities from the BBC archives.

The Alan Bown Set was formed as R&B/soul band in 1965, but two years later they shortened their name to The Alan Bown! and switched to pop-psych-rock, but with some rhythm and blues elements (inc. powerful trumpet/saxophone section) still present in their sound. After three great but rather unsuccessful singles, their debut LP finally appeared in October 1968 on Music Factory label. This stylistically varied, exceptionally well-played and cleverly arranged pop-rock masterpiece contained imaginative, short, but complex tracks full of compelling ideas, memorable hooks and great vocals by criminally underrated Jess Roden. Unfortunately, the album went completely unnoticed. This expanded CD edition contains 14 rare bonus tracks, including 10 amazing rarities from the BBC archives.

Alan Bown is most known – certainly in the United States – for his late '60s recordings as leader of a group (actually called the Alan Bown) that played psychedelic pop. The trumpeter had already been recording since 1965, however, with a group called the Alan Bown Set from 1965-1967 in a far more soul-influenced style. This compilation gathers both sides of all five singles the Alan Bown Set released on Pye in the U.K. during that time, along with the seven live songs from the London Swings: Live at the Marquee Club LP they shared with Jimmy James & the Vagabonds, and the French-only single "Jeu De Massacre (The Killing Game)," from the soundtrack of the French film of the same name.

The Alan Bown Set was formed as R&B/soul band in 1965, but two years later they shortened their name to The Alan Bown! and switched to pop-psych-rock, but with some rhythm and blues elements (inc. powerful trumpet/saxophone section) still present in their sound. After three great but rather unsuccessful singles, their debut LP finally appeared in October 1968 on Music Factory label. This stylistically varied, exceptionally well-played and cleverly arranged pop-rock masterpiece contained imaginative, short, but complex tracks full of compelling ideas, memorable hooks and great vocals by criminally underrated Jess Roden. Unfortunately, the album went completely unnoticed. This expanded CD edition contains 14 rare bonus tracks, including 10 amazing rarities from the BBC archives.

Singer/guitarist Jess Roden was born in Kidderminster in England's West Midlands, and his first band was the Shakedown Sounds. In 1967, he joined the Alan Bown Set as their new lead singer. Although their records never charted nationally, he did pick up a fandom in London (and belatedly became something of a star on the Northern Soul scene) with the release of their single "Emergency 999." He remained with the Bown group through 1970, after which he formed the band Bronco, and later worked on Wildlife, the third Mott the Hoople album, and with Keef Hartley on the album Lancashire Hustler…