The Sensational Alex Harvey Band was a really great band. I was born in the early 80s, but I mostly enjoy 60s and 70s rock. I had never even heard of them until maybe 5 years ago, now they are one of my favorites. They're hard to pin down because while they did have a characteristic sound, they also dabbled with a lot of different styles. They were actually the top-selling live band in the mid 70s in the UK, but in the states they were only well-known in certain pockets where they got radio play, Cleveland is a notable example. Every one of their albums is good, and the more you listen to them, the more you warm to the unique charms of Alex and his Sensational band. It's really a shame they aren't better known here in the States.
YEAH I am from Ohio and the Cleveland radio station was WMMS first song I heard from SHAB was on that station was Man in the Jar became instant fan and wanted to get my hands on everything they did WMMS also played Faith Healer Midnight Moses, and Next.
I Have been a fan of the band since the early '70's They were truly SENSATIONAL live . Getting to the song , I was in Louisiana about 5 years ago and took a ride on the swamp with a load of other Brits. I naturally stated to hum , then sing the song "Alex style" when the Captain of the boat joined in with me "Jerry Reed style". The rest of the boat wondered what was going on, but , myself and the captain had a ball.
Great band, and song, but this video cut out of the song early. What kind of music did SAHB play? What style would you like them to play? They could do it all from heavy rock to show tunes like Cheek to Cheek and various points in between. A further point of note, Alex was one of the first who made a point in singing in his native broad Scottish (and my home town Glasgow) accent which others have followed since but very few if any did then.
My All Time Favorite Band since I first heard them at 14, in 1976. Have a dozen albums on vinyl and a couple cd's. Favorite song changes, but The Man in the Jar was the first I heard and still a favorite. Part 2 of The Hot City Symphony.
I noticed this is the only rock style band where the band members, not singing, mouth the lyrics while the lead singer is singing! Usually, it's a faux pas to do this unless the other band members are actually singing backup vocals on a live microphone. Does that make sense? Because it takes away the attention from the lead singer. You don't take away from the lesd singer by mouthing the words next to him or behind him. Yet, you can see this in most every one of their performances! Probably they did that because Alex was so cool, didn't mind it all and probably encouraged them to do so!
Hi Retro ... As I had mentioned in my reaction, I remember seeing the albums in the record stores, but there was very little hype about the band. Even the record store owners knew very little about the band thus I personally did not buy their records. Thank goodness for TH-cam and bringing all this older music to a new generation. Enjoy ...
Well I did want follow up with you about this song and though I love seeing Alex and the band preform live. I kept feeling something wrong with this version but couldn't put my finger on it, so I went to listen to the studio version from the lp SAHB STORIES 1976 and where the video outro was a nice instrumental ending. Long story short live version is 4:05 minutes long, studio version has one more verse and is 5:19 long and I think you and me got cheated in a way because the end of the story is kinda comical, and if you don't mind, I will like to share that last verse. Well, the sheriff caught wind that Amos Was in the swamp trappin' alligator skins So he snuck in the swamp, gonna get the boy But he never come out again Well, I wonder where the Louisiana sheriff went to Well, you can sure get lost in the Louisiana bayou
loved your intro and comments before during and after the song. first time I heard Amos Moses from SHAB I didn't know it was a cover for years, then once at karaoke they had the song I got up there to do Alex version and it was all wrong pace of the music and the speed of the text threw me off later I heard the Jerry reed version and yeah way different. fun fact, the Jerry Reed version is featured on GTA 4 maybe GTA 5. In my opinion SHAB is grounded in rock but is very diverse in style, every song is different, only constant is the vocals, Tale of the Giant Stone Eater for instance go from rock has a part with country flavor, and just can't find the words to describe, you just have to listen to i,. The Man In the Jar again has a rock flavor but changes up in dramatic fashion. Midnight Moses ,Framed from 1972. Talk about album art Tomorrow Belongs to me, shows what must be the Giant Stone Eater from 1975 Other cover tunes Schools Out by Alice Cooper, Jumping Jack flash by the Stones. Guitarist Zal Cleminson played with Nazareth for a stretch. Rock Drill is the one lp Alex came back for in 1977 Song Rock Drill and Dolphins are solid and Water Beastie is about the Loch Ness monster
Hi 428chase ... I was surprised that a rock band covered Amos Moses. It's a fun song and SHAB took it down that road; very tongue in cheek. I will be doing more SAHB in the future. Probably in a week or so. Another new group for me to delve into. Thanks for the request!
Yeah baby !!! Another convert to the one and only MIGHTY SAHB .... join the happy group of disciples of the best live band of them all. 🐬
One of the best bands I saw at Dundee Caird Hall (Scotland).
Great version of this song and Alex Harvey was a complete genius, absolutely underrated.
The Sensational Alex Harvey Band was a really great band. I was born in the early 80s, but I mostly enjoy 60s and 70s rock. I had never even heard of them until maybe 5 years ago, now they are one of my favorites. They're hard to pin down because while they did have a characteristic sound, they also dabbled with a lot of different styles.
They were actually the top-selling live band in the mid 70s in the UK, but in the states they were only well-known in certain pockets where they got radio play, Cleveland is a notable example. Every one of their albums is good, and the more you listen to them, the more you warm to the unique charms of Alex and his Sensational band. It's really a shame they aren't better known here in the States.
YEAH I am from Ohio and the Cleveland radio station was WMMS first song I heard from SHAB was on that station was Man in the Jar became instant fan and wanted to get my hands on everything they did WMMS also played Faith Healer Midnight Moses, and Next.
I Have been a fan of the band since the early '70's They were truly SENSATIONAL live . Getting to the song , I was in Louisiana about 5 years ago and took a ride on the swamp with a load of other Brits. I naturally stated to hum , then sing the song "Alex style" when the Captain of the boat joined in with me "Jerry Reed style". The rest of the boat wondered what was going on, but , myself and the captain had a ball.
Great band, and song, but this video cut out of the song early. What kind of music did SAHB play? What style would you like them to play? They could do it all from heavy rock to show tunes like Cheek to Cheek and various points in between.
A further point of note, Alex was one of the first who made a point in singing in his native broad Scottish (and my home town Glasgow) accent which others have followed since but very few if any did then.
My All Time Favorite Band since I first heard them at 14, in 1976. Have a dozen albums on vinyl and a couple cd's. Favorite song changes, but The Man in the Jar was the first I heard and still a favorite. Part 2 of The Hot City Symphony.
If you want a 72/73 track then you need to listen to 'Faith Healer'.
Great Band, great reaction.
There is a remastered 2002 version with the last verse about the sherrif.
SAHB do not sound like anyone else.
Would love to hear that!
I noticed this is the only rock style band where the band members, not singing, mouth the lyrics while the lead singer is singing! Usually, it's a faux pas to do this unless the other band members are actually singing backup vocals on a live microphone. Does that make sense? Because it takes away the attention from the lead singer. You don't take away from the lesd singer by mouthing the words next to him or behind him. Yet, you can see this in most every one of their performances! Probably they did that because Alex was so cool, didn't mind it all and probably encouraged them to do so!
Apparently they were big in the Cleveland area
Hi Retro ... As I had mentioned in my reaction, I remember seeing the albums in the record stores, but there was very little hype about the band. Even the record store owners knew very little about the band thus I personally did not buy their records. Thank goodness for TH-cam and bringing all this older music to a new generation. Enjoy ...
Well I did want follow up with you about this song and though I love seeing Alex and the band preform live. I kept feeling something wrong with this version but couldn't put my finger on it, so I went to listen to the studio version from the lp SAHB STORIES 1976 and where the video outro was a nice instrumental ending. Long story short live version is 4:05 minutes long, studio version has one more verse and is 5:19 long and I think you and me got cheated in a way because the end of the story is kinda comical, and if you don't mind, I will like to share that last verse.
Well, the sheriff caught wind that Amos
Was in the swamp trappin' alligator skins
So he snuck in the swamp, gonna get the boy
But he never come out again
Well, I wonder where the Louisiana sheriff went to
Well, you can sure get lost in the Louisiana bayou
loved your intro and comments before during and after the song.
first time I heard Amos Moses from SHAB I didn't know it was a cover for years, then once at karaoke they had the song I got up there to do Alex version and it was all wrong pace of the music and the speed of the text threw me off later I heard the Jerry reed version and yeah way different. fun fact, the Jerry Reed version is featured on GTA 4 maybe GTA 5. In my opinion SHAB is grounded in rock but is very diverse in style, every song is different, only constant is the vocals, Tale of the Giant Stone Eater for instance go from rock has a part with country flavor, and just can't find the words to describe, you just have to listen to i,. The Man In the Jar again has a rock flavor but changes up in dramatic fashion. Midnight Moses ,Framed from 1972. Talk about album art Tomorrow Belongs to me, shows what must be the Giant Stone Eater from 1975 Other cover tunes Schools Out by Alice Cooper, Jumping Jack flash by the Stones. Guitarist Zal Cleminson played with Nazareth for a stretch. Rock Drill is the one lp Alex came back for in 1977 Song Rock Drill and Dolphins are solid and Water Beastie is about the Loch Ness monster
Hi 428chase ... I was surprised that a rock band covered Amos Moses. It's a fun song and SHAB took it down that road; very tongue in cheek. I will be doing more SAHB in the future. Probably in a week or so. Another new group for me to delve into. Thanks for the request!
Must do more SHAB
The SAHB always put a different slant on all of the covers they did, Listen to the Penthouse Tapes album.
More SHAB please maybe
Try something like Dolphins by them its a lot deeper.
They remind me of AC/DC
Similar boogie ish style music and a similar voice to bon Scott
AC/ DC were massive fans
Both born in Scotland so...?