Wild Turkey – Battle Hymn ( 1972 UK Hard Rock, Prog Rock ) Full lp

After playing for Jethro Tull from 1967 to 1970 (he recorded three albums), bassist Glenn Cornick left the band and formed Wild Turkey with the following musicians: Glenn Cornick (Bass), Graham Hedley Williams (Guitar), Tweke Lewis ( Guitar), John Weathers (Drums) and Gary Pickford-Hopkins (vocals). After a short period of time, the line-up was changed, Weathers and Williams left, replaced by [Invalid Artist] (Guitar and Voice) and Jeff Jones (2) (Drums). This line-up features the album “Battle Hymn“ on Chrysalis Music, dated 1971 in Hard-Rock style with Progressive and Blues-Rock veins. The electric guitar and vocals are the protagonists, supported by a solid rhythm section and the record alternates more pushed tracks with other more melodic. The feedback is positive for both critics and audiences, thanks in part to their excellent live performances supporting bands such as Jethro Tull, Black Sabbath, Procol Harum, Yes, Ten Years After and Zz Top. Despite the success of the first album and the live band changed again, Blackmore left the group replaced by Mick Dyche (Slide Guitar, Guitar and vocals) and Steve Gurl (Piano) added to the five. The sextet released a single called “Good old days“, containing an unreleased B-side: “Life Is a Symphony“, before the album “Turkey“ also in 1972, in the hope of confirming and improving the success of the first work, but it was not so. The record is less incisive than the previous one, despite the excellent technical skills of the musicians and the addition of keyboards, they churn out a good record but that has a lesser impact than the pfirst. After a couple of years without any new record production and having had other changes in the line-up, Bernie Marsden (Guitar) replaces Dyche and Kevin Currie (Drums) takes Jones’s place and in the mid of 1974 Wild Turkey disband, each member takes different musical path. Until 1996, when Glenn Cornick, supported by the band’s historical members, give Life at the Wild Turkey’s second era, reforming the group and recording the third album 22 years after their dissolution. The reunion of “Stealer of Years“ on HTD Records involves: Gary Pickford-Hopkins (Vocals, Acoustic Guitar, Harmonica), Glenn Cornick (Bass, Mandolin, Penny Whistle), Tweke Lewis (Electric guitar and acoustics, Backing Vocals), Brian Thomas (25) (Drums) and Lee Morris (10) (Keyboards) as guest. The sound differs from the 70s Turkey, oriented more towards blues-rock than the hard-rock of the first records. Well arranged and performed, more melodic tracks alternate with others more in the Rock vein for a pleasant return on the scene. The band seems to be ready to walk the stage again, instead the following studio album takes another 10 years, during which only two albums containing live recordings from the previous period are released: “Final Performance“ in 2000 and “Live in Edinburgh“ in 2001 by Audio Archives label. In 2002, a collection containing a repertoire of studio recordings from the 1970s was released by the same label. In 2006 they came out “You & Me In The Jungle“ produced on Wild Turkey Music Ltd and the artists involved are: Glenn Cornick (Bass), Gary Pickford-Hopkins (Vocals, Harmonic), Mick Dyche (Guitar, Bass, Voice), Steve Gurl (Keyboards), Clive Bunker (Drums), Graham Williams (Guitar), John Weathers (Percussions, Vocals). Again the sound of the album differs from the first two, the tracks are different from one to another by genre, some more Blues, others more Rock, passing through Boogie moments or more Melodics, always maintaining an high-level technique in the performance. The latest album released by Wild Turkey is the “Live at Wellington 1973“ also on Audio Archives. Butterfly 00:00 Twelve Streets Of Cobbled Black 05:04 Dulwich Fox 09:27 Easter Psalm 12:33 To The Stars 16:17 Sanctuary 19:57 One Sole Survivor 23:46 Battle Hymn 28:24 Gentle Rain 31:33 Sentinel 36:08 Bass Guitar, Guitar, Keyboards – Glenn Cornick Guitar, Vocals – Jon Blackmore Lead Guitar – ’Tweke’ Lewis* Vocals, Acoustic Guitar – Gary Pickford-Hopkins