Pacific Gas & Electric - Get It On

Multi-racial LA blues-rockers’ debut now doubled in length

Pacific Gas & Electric brought a bit of bluesy grit to the sunshine and acid upheaval of 1967 Los Angeles, along with being one of the city’s first multi-racial outfits. They were formed by guitarist Tom Marshall and bassist Brent Block before moving Charlie Allen up from the drum-stool to become a powerfully distinctive lead singer who later turned the group into his own project as original members fell away.

PG&E’s debut album appeared in 1968, first on Kent, then Power and Big Orange. As was often the case, it was weighted with cover versions, spanning the blues spectrum with standards such as The Hunter, Wade In The Water and Cry Cry Cry. The playing is tight, vocals earthily passionate and guitarists Marshall and Glenn Schwartz execute their licks with economic panache. The Motor City Is Burning is a moody slab of MC5-style inner city blues, while potential progression comes with the freewheeling soloing of the original closer, Live Love.

The original eight tracks are joined by a further nine alternate takes and extra tracks such as My Sweet Baby, which pursues a more soulful direction. Another obscure late 60s name, but fans of early US blues-rock might well be prompted to pay their bill.

Ace | CDWIKD 272

Reviewed by Kris Needs
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