Biography
Vinegar Joe were an English R&B band, formed in 1971 in London. They released three albums on Island Records, but were best known for their live shows and launching the solo careers of Elkie Brooks and Robert Palmer. During recording of their second album, Rock’n Roll Gypsies, also released in 1972, Keef Hartley played drums. Guitarist Jim Mullen also joined the band for this record and stayed played on the US tour.
Album & Cover
Vinegar Joe’s second album was workmanlike, early-’70s mainstream British rock, though with more of a soul and rock & roll influence than the usual such band of the era, due to the one-two punch of lead vocalists Robert Palmer and Elkie Brooks.Palmer and Brooks both singing together and taking individual leads of their own. The original material tends toward the commonplace good-time rock & roll vibe, though it gets a bit more interesting on Palmer’s two original compositions, “Falling” (which clearly points toward the reggae-funk of his early solo career) and “Forgive Us” (which is a decent facsimile of rootsy southern Californian country-folk-rock). As for the three covers, it’s doubtful anyone needed a version of Jerry Lee Lewis’ classic “Whole Lotta Shakin’ Goin’ On.” But they showed better taste on Jimi Hendrix’s “Angel” (Brooks’ most impressive vocal on the record) and the obscure American folk-rock tune “Rock & Roll Gypsies,” originally done by the Gypsy Trips and Hearts & Flowers in the 1960s. http://www.allmusic.com/album/rock-n-roll-gypsies
Cover Location:
Who Did What: Photography A. Powell. Cover Design – Hipgnosis/Laurie Lewis
Label: Island Records ILPS 9214 (UK), ATCO SD7016(US, 1973)
Source: Vinyl. Album. Cover. Art, The Complete Hipgnosis Catalogue: Aubrey Powell
Tracklist
| Side One So Long Charley’s Horse Rock ‘N Roll Gypsies Falling It’s Gettin’ To The Point |
Side Two Whole Lotta Shakin’ Going On Buddy Can You Spare Me A Line? Angel No One Ever Do Forgive Us |
Credits
Bass – Steve York
Drums – John Woods, Keef Hartley
Guitar – Jim Mullen
Guitar – Pete Gage
Keyboards – Mike Deacon
Producer – Vic Smith
Vocals – Elkie Brooks, Robert Palmer
Engineer – Vic Coppersmith-Heaven
Producer – Pete Gage, Vic Coppersmith-Heaven
