Killing Floor - killing floor

Debut 1969 offering from recently-reformed 12-bar masters

Unfortunately for Killing Floor, this album’s opener, Woman You Need Love, is the same Willie Dixon song Led Zeppelin simultaneously revamped as Whole Lotta Love. The comparison is startling, if unfair: Killing Floor may not have leaped into uncharted musical territory, but they do what they do with aplomb. There are occasional eyebrow-raising exceptions, notably harpsichord instrumental Sunday Morning and Lou’s Boogie, both showcases for pianist Lou Martin. He was clearly their stage star, but his key-thumping style clashes with the harmonica and guitar of Bill Thorndycraft and Mick Clarke. Ultimately, their instrumental voices prevailed and Martin didn’t feature on second album Out Of Uranus.

Best of the bunch is My Mind Can Ride Easy, grooving on a conga percussion track like The Yardbirds’ For Your Love. A later number sounds suspiciously like Billy Boy Arnold’s I Wish You Would, but that’s unsurprising, as most of these songs were adapted from blues standards (the record company wanted “originals” rather than covers).

Lou Martin went on to with with Rory Gallagher, while Mick Clarke worked the European circuit, leaving Killing Floor as a footnote in British blues history. They reconvened in 2005 for a third album, and have since played live. This handsomely packaged, limited reissue will find takers.

Repertoire | REPUK 1108

Reviewed by Michael Heatley
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