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Size: 81.2 MB
Bitrate: 256
mp3
Ripped by: ChrisGoesRock
Artwork Included
Source: Japan 24-Bit Remaster

Kevin Lamb’s first album from 1973 with additional previously unreleased bonus material. Kevin Lamb hailed from Oldham and gained quite a bit of notoriety in the 1970’s.

Around the folk clubs and rock venues he was known as “Oldham’s Bob Dylan” and after the release of “Who Is The Hero” in 1973 the title track was selected to be covered by London band Rare Bird which led to Kevin becoming a member of Rare Bird for a while and appearing on two albums with them and penning some songs for the band.

Kevin’s other 1970’s album “Sailing Down the Years” gained him further notoriety as it featured guitar by Andy Summers from The Police, percussionist Ray Cooper, pedal steel by BJ Cole and guitar from Junior Marvin. A reviewer has said of the original version of the 11 track Who Is The Hero- “Most of the album is comprised of original songs, though Lamb does work in a nicely effective cover of Bob Dylan's "It's All Over Now, Baby Blue," featuring a very strong vocal performance, some memorably soulful organ, and tastefully understated guitar flourishes. But Lamb saves the best work for last: The bittersweet, melancholy (but catchy) "Far Between the Morning" and the gorgeous "Sad Lady," a ballad worthy of Dave Cousins” To the original album the Kevin’s Personal Tapes version of the album adds another six tracks of rare songs from Kevin.

Who Is the Hero is terrifically obscure, though it has gotten some exposure -- as a title, at least -- on Police discographies through the presence of Andy Summers on guitar. Kevin Lamb, who later passed through the lineup of Rare Bird and subsequently cut an album for Arista, has a satisfying mid-range voice and his repertory here is folk-based rock, not too far removed from the work of Alan Hull and Lindisfarne, Cat Stevens, or, at times, even Dave Cousins of the Strawbs from the same period, though he has a bit more wattage than Stevens. There's not a bad song here and there are several really good ones: in addition to the title track, which was later recorded by Rare Bird, there's "It's You and I," an extrovert singalong with a catchy chorus, and "Frost on the Pasture" is a hauntingly beautiful ballad, highlighted by elegant guitar work, electric and acoustic; and it is followed by the slightly more melodramatic but exquisitely arranged "All Change Now." Most of the album is comprised of original songs, though Lamb does work in a nicely effective cover of Bob Dylan's "It's All Over Now, Baby Blue," featuring a very strong vocal performance, some memorably soulful organ, and tastefully understated guitar flourishes. But Lamb saves the best work for last: The bittersweet, melancholy (but catchy) "Far Between the Morning" and the gorgeous "Sad Lady," a ballad worthy of Dave Cousins, which ought to have gotten a lot of airplay at the time on WNEW-FM and other open-format, progressive stations.

Kevin Lamb sadly passed away in Louisville Kentucky in March 2008

01.Who is The Hero
02.Road to Antibes
03.Last Farewell
04.Who Stole The Ice
05.It’s You and I
06.Frost on the pasture
07.All Change Now
08.Don’t Sing Me No Love Songs
09.It’s All Over now Baby Blue
10.Far Between The Morning
11.Sad Lady.. (Rare Bonus Tracks)