That was Blodwyn Pig. The Mick Abrahams legacy gets another polish with a collection of Pig recordings.

AND SO TO THE PIG

So, after departing Tull and with sol ventures plotted in between (check our review of the ’71/’72 albums on the Seasons compilation), Mick Abrahams flirted with Blodwyn Pig. The Recordings 1969-1974 does the job of filling in the gaps with a collection that pulls together all the albums and singles recorded by the bandg for Chrysalis Records in 1969 and 1970, along with the all the surviving sessions in the BBC archives recorded between 1969 and 1974.

While the reason behind Mick leaving Tull was the ambition of Ian Anderson in developing their new prog/Rock/Folk directions that might not have fit with his blues leanings, there’s a case for him following a similar path in terms of journeying beyond his trademark sound.

Teaming up with Jack Lancaster  (saxophones, flute & violin), Andy Pyle (bass, vocals) and Ron Berg (drums), Blodwyn Pig  was all about fusing jazzier elements with blues and rock and swiftly became one of the most popular bands  on the UK underground circuit.

RINGING OUT

The Ahead Rings Out set from 1969 offers more than just he chance to admire the guitar and lovely slide work. It will inevitably have fans again looking for the space where Blodwyn/Mick and Tull might cross over. A question of could you see Tull doing this one. Sing Me A Song That I Know might have a touch of the swing of Tull’s A Song For Jeffrey

The jazzier side courtesy of Lancaster coming through on The Modern Alchemist as he trades lines with Mick and there’s quite a cabaret club vibe that starts to take a hold via Leave It With Me as the band follow their noses. A bit of flute here and there sparking those Tull notions.

The album includes BBC sessions from ’69, album sessions and B-sides. The live excerpts are where Mick could be almost mistaken for Anderson in his vocal on The Change Song and It’s Only Love gets a thorough live roasting. The Walk On The Water non album single isn’t ‘far from…’ either and paired with Summer Day show BP full of vim and vigour. Well worth owning as a piece of 7″ plastic. In crossing the t’s and dotting the i’s, we get the inclusion of the bizarre diversion of the extra terrestrial knockabout of McGregor’s Muckabout.

BRASS AND SASS

Another top ten album came with 1970’s Getting To This which also spawned a hit single with Same Old Story. 

The flutey Tull crossovers are still present and correct. Variations On Nainnos with a cute retro vibe that perfectly captures the era. The Blues of which Mick is so well acquainted seem a little less obvious in favour of arrangements which err towards a jazzier and experimental bent or even some acoustic relaxation complete with easy slide working up and down the neck.. When he does head to the home comforts of the Blues, we get a rustic plunk in Long Bomb Blues and even a Cockney/Mockney knees up with a questionable Jamaican patois in To Rassman.

Eight minutes of their four part San Francisco Sketches adds a progressive bent to a combo of soulful brass and funky meanderings, with See My Way doing similar with a brief Latino excursion. The Squirreling Must Go On – no relation to Cat’s Squirrel – is a charge of Rock electricity with a busy bassline and has Mick soloing away intently and then a sniff of nNon album add ons continue to model a rocking vibes and RnB intent.

ABOVE & BEYOND

In 1974, Mick  Abrahams briefly reformed the group, and they recorded a BBC session for John Peel and a  memorable performance for the In Concert programme as well as featuring in the Sounds Of The Seventies show. No new album from the reformed band but interesting to hear, some years on, their sounds of the seventies. These recordings are included on a third disc that also gathers some ’69/’70 Sounds Of The Seventies and Top Gear appearances.

You can almost anticipate the “we’re a live band” quotes as The Pig knock out a succession of live takes that include Mr Green’s Blues that acknowledges the inspiration and influence and a pocketful of other non album tracks. The March ’70 tracks see them plugging Getting To This yet by their return in September they’ve moved on and two new tracks surface. Moon Gone all busy and brassy; The Lady Of Liberty a pastoral flowery powery diversion.

And the live collection kind of sums up Blodwyn Pig and Mick Abrahams. Blues guitarist extraordinaire for sure, but with so much more in his musical makeup. Plus, with the Blues Of A Dunstable Truck Driver, dare we say an Anderson-esque sense of humour.

Here’s a sample of The Pig:

At The Barrier: Facebook / Instagram / X