Heavy Jelly — Take Me Down To The Water 1969-1970 (UK, Psychedelic, Blues Rock)

The band was formed in early 1969 in London by John Moorshead, a guitarist known for his work with the blues-rock band The Aynsley Dunbar Retaliation. Initially, the band also included another member of The Aynsley Dunbar Retaliation, bassist Alex Dmochowski, and drummer Carlo Little, who had played with Screaming Lord Sutch & The Savages. Later, members of the British band Traffic joined the band: Jim Capaldi on vocals and drums (replacing the departed Carlo Little), as well as saxophonist and flutist Chris Wood. Rounding out the lineup were Jackie Lomax, known for his work with The Undertakers and The Lomax Alliance, and Barry Jenkins, who had played with The Animals. In the summer of 1970, after further changes, the group consisted of Moorshead, Lomax, Steve Thompson, and Bruce Rowland. Lomax subsequently went to the USA and, after signing a contract with Warner Brothers, resumed his solo career. The group was associated with the small label Head, whose boss, John Curd, registered the name Heavy Jelly. As early as 1969, the group recorded the single "Time Out (The Long Wait)/Chewn In," and in late 1969 - early 1970, with a lineup far removed from the original, they recorded an album of the same name; however, distribution of this work was limited to promotional purposes. The official release took place only in 1984 thanks to the company Psycho, the album title was changed to "Take Me Down To The Water." After the dissolution of Heavy Jelly in 1970, John Moorshead collaborated with Graham Bond and Denny Laine. Dmochowski played with Bond, Peter Green, and Frank Zappa. Carlo Little appeared in the bands Hurricane, Flying Fox, and The Florida Sun, but is best known as a bread wholesaler; he died in 2005. Lomax not only continued his solo career but also played in the band Badger; he died on September 15, 2013. Capaldi and Wood returned to Traffic. Thompson began working with Spooky Tooth. Rowland worked with the Grease Band and Fairport Convention.

Tracks:

01. You Better Let Me Know - 0:00

02. Born For Something - 3:29

03. Too Complicated - 8:29

04. Just Don't Feel So Good - 11:59

05. F-F-F-Females - 17:51

06. Bio-Blues - 21:59

07. If You'd Like Too - 27:13

08. Take Me Down To The Water - 31:11


Personnel:

Alex Dmochowski (Alexander Zygmunt Stanislaw Dmochowski) – bass
Barry Jenkins (Bruce Jenkins) - drums
Jackie Lomax - vocals, guitar, piano
John Moorshead - lead guitar, vocals
Pete Ham & Tom Evans - harmony vocals (08)
Mike Kellie – drums (02, 06)
Bobby Keys - tenor sax (03)
Jim Price - trumpet, trombone (03)