Well, sometime after Cactus released their most accomplished album in ‘71 it all kind of crumbled with both Jim McCarty and Rusty Day leaving the band. Instead of letting it all go, Appice and Bogert recruited new members for another run. Typically, the loss of the guitarist and singer for a heavy rock band equals death, but Cactus somehow delayed the inevitable, for at least one more cycle.
The roster was expanded to include new guitarist Werner Fritzschings, piano/keyboard player Duane Hitchings, and English singer Peter French who was previously in Atomic Rooster and legendary cult heavy rock band Leaf Hound. Another thing I have to mention about French is that he’s an outstanding singer and frontman! Not sure I could think of anyone who could step quite as good as he did. This album cooks!
The ‘Ot ‘N’ Sweaty is half live and have studio and both sides are ripping. All but the live opener “Swim” are brand new tracks and the band is killing it. Easy to see how fans would have passed on this at the time of release, but it’s waaay better than it has any right to be. French is a big part of that, the whole band brings it.
1972 original US pressing on Atco Records. Cover has a lot of visual wear, but record is clean.,
Comments
Post a Comment