I first came across Miller Anderson in the Ian Hunter fanaticism that I had in the 70s. Hunter mentioned him in an interview and I went on to investigate learning that he had been in both The Scenery and At Last The 1958 Rock And Roll Show. That friendship lives on to this day with Hunter recommending him for both Blood Sweat And Tears and Mountain.
Anderson played on two of Hunter's solo albums and had a reference on the song, All American Alien Boy, But he is most noted elsewhere, particularly as Vocalist and Guitarist in the Keef Hartley Band, which included an appearance at Woodstock, as well as being the Guitarist on the T Rex Dandy In The Underworld album.
It was the Hunter connection, that led me to buying this and the follow up album under the name Hemlock and what a revelation Bright City was. For someone noted as a Blues Rocker, there is such a variation across the seven original tracks. The opening, Alice Mercy (To Whom It Will Concern) is seven minutes of excellence.
The song takes in Blues Rock, Folk and Prog and features a great Guitar v Organ battle. The title track is half the length and features a wonderful arrangement, beautifully and gently sung, akin to a West Coast 60s Ballad, a little Glen Campbell at times. Grey Broken Morning is another big arrangement, Bacharach at times, all Piano, Brass and Orchestral.
High Tide High Water shows how different the default template was for Anderson, a belt it out Blues Rock vocal akin to Chris Farlowe. Nothing Is This World mirrors the Funky feel that Classic Rock was to endorse later in the 70s and The Age Of Progress adds Female Vocals to a song in Joe Cocker territory. A gentle verse leads into a blasting chorus.
The absolute gem is the magnificent original closer. Shadows 'Cross My Mind which is splendid Prog with Psych overtones. it is a monster of a song across its six minutes. Another Time Another Place is added which was the B Side to the Bright City 1971 single. Esoteric have doubled the length of the original album by adding two BBC Sessions recorded on the same day in September 1971.
The first four songs were a session for Sounds Of The Seventies Radio Show and includes a version of On A Ship To Nowhere that was to appear on the 1973 Hemlock album. The second four were for a John Peel In Concert. Lovingly Remastered with the bonus of the BBC Sessions, Bright City sounds as great as it did when I first bought the LP. Proff that there was far more to Miller Anderson than being a sideman.
You can buy the album here.
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