First Base (album)

Infobox Album |
Name = "First Base"
Type = Studio album
Artist = Babe Ruth


Released = 1972, P 1973
Recorded = 1972
Genre =
Length = 41:36 LP (47:30 CD)
Label = Harvest EMI (Capitol Records in US)
Producer = Alan Shacklock, Nick MDucks
Reviews =
*Allmusic Rating|3|5 [http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=10:jq6atr29klkx link] |
Last album =
This album = "First Base"
Next album = "Amar Caballero"

"First Base" was the album by the rock music group Babe Ruth. Produced by Alan Shacklock and Nick Mobbs, recorded in 1972, released in 1973.

The album went gold in Canada, sold well in the US, but had disappointing sales by comparison in the UK. The song "The Mexican" has been covered and mixed many times. Among them, it was covered in 1984 by John "Jellybean" Benitez with vocals by the original singer, Janita Haan. "The Mexican" was mixed into the third track of "The Dirtchamber Sessions Volume One" by Liam Howlett of The Prodigy in 1999.

The sleeve design, painting and photography were by Roger Dean. Engineered by Tony Clark and Kete Go at EMI Studios, Abbey Road between June and September 1972.

Track listing

# "Wells Fargo" (Alan Shacklock) – 6:14
# "The Runaways" (music: Alan Shacklock, words: David Whiting) – 7:12
# "King Kong" (Frank Zappa, side 4 of "Uncle Meat") – 6:40, recorded in one take, no overdubs
# "Black Dog" (Jesse Winchester) – 8:03
# "The Mexican" (Alan Shacklock) – 5:45, interpolates "Per Qualche Dollaro in Piu" ("For a Few Dollars More", music by Ennio Morricone)
# "Joker" (Alan Shacklock) – 7:42
# "Wells Fargo" (single version, CD only; Shacklock) – 3:35
# "Theme from "For a Few Dollars More" (CD only; Morricone) – 2:19

Personnel

*Janita (Jennie) Haan: vocal power
*Dave Hewitt: bass guitar
*Dick Powell: drums, percussion
*Dave Punshon: electric piano, piano
*Alan Shacklock: all guitars, vocals, organ, percussion

Others

Gaspar Lawal: congas, bongoes, kabasa; Brent Carter: saxophones; Harry Mier: oboe; Peter Halling: cello (leader); Clive Anstee: cello; Manny Fox: cello; Boris Rickleman: cello; Jeff Allen: drums (on "The Runaways" only).

Releases

*1972 LP USA/Canada, Harvest SW-11151
*1972 LP UK, Harvest SHSP 4022
*1972 LP Spain, EMI/Harvest 1J 062-05.159
*1972 LP Italy, EMI/Harvest 3C 064-05159
*1972 LP Japan, Odeon
*1991 CD Canada, One Way 57343
*1995 CD Germany, Repertoire REP 4554-WP
*2001 CD Repertoire REP4554
*– One Way 12206
*---- CD Canada, Harvest SW 11151
*---- CD Canada, Capitol/EMI C2 26587

:"Reference: [http://www.united-mutations.com/b/babe_ruth_fb_dp.htm] "

External links

* [http://www.progarchives.com/Progressive_rock_discography_CD.asp?cd_id=8822 Well written amateur reviews]