Chicken Shack – Imagination Lady (LP Translucent Red)

Imagination Lady is the ffth long-player for Stan Webb’s Chicken Shack and was released in 1972

Much in the same tradition as the great British bluesmen Alexis Corner and John Mayall, Webb’s revolving-door personnel landed the band several notable members. For this album, Webb (guitar/vocals) gathered a trio consisting of himself, future Gods and Jethro Tull member John Glascock (bass), and Paul Hancox (drums). As with the previous Chicken Shack long- players, this disc features several Webb originals augmented with some well- chosen cover tunes. The album opens with a ferocious cover of B.B. King’s “Crying Won’t Help You.” In a style akin to the Faces or even some of the rowdier moments from the Peter Green-led Fleetwood Mac, this trio grinds out the blues with a decidedly English edge, followed by the folkie “If I Were a Carpenter”. “Daughter of the Hillside” & is Webb’s most impressive contribution to the album.

This straight- ahead rocker is an ideal trio effort recalling the intense instrumentality of Cream or early Led Zeppelin. The closing number “The Loser” is upbeat and almost pop-oriented, again displaying the immense strength of this Chicken Shack line up.