The Band Kept Playing

by Electric Flag

Overview

The Band Kept Playing contains some of the best music ever recorded by the Electric Flag, but it also demonstrates why they ultimately failed to catch on as well as they should have despite their impressive line-up. On the one hand, "Every Now and Then" ranks among the best songs Buddy Miles ever wrote, and "Earthquake Country" is a classic piece of early-'70s soul-rock. Unfortunately, most of the material is well-played but rather short on energy and creativity. "Make Your Move," for instance, buries a promising clavinet riff under lazy, mediocre rock guitars and silly lyrics. The nadir, though has to be "Sweet Soul Music," possibly the corniest, most embarrassingly dated would-be rock anthem of the era. Though nothing else on the record is as abysmal, too much clearly shows that, by 1974, the Electric Flag was so burnt out and exhausted that their attempted comeback was doomed before it even started. Jerry Wexler's production, which sounds flat and unimaginative at times, emphasizes the horn section over the band members, even though their playing (especially Miles' and Barry Goldberg's ) is often quite fluid. Sadly, it's not enough to save the album. Despite some intermittently exciting moments, The Band Kept Playing is a characteristic end to a promising but flawed career. ~ Victor W. Valdivia

Product Details

Release Date:	06/18/2021
Label:	Wounded Bird
UPC:	0664140811225

Tracks

1. Sweet Soul Music
2. Every Now and Then
3. Sudden Change
4. Earthquake Country
5. Doctor Oh Doctor (Massive Infusion)
6. Lonely Song
7. Make Your Move
8. Inside Information
9. Talkin' Won't Get It
10. The Band Kept Playing

Album Credits

Performance Credits

Electric Flag   Primary Artist
Buddy Miles   Primary Artist,Drums,Vocals
Nick Gravenites   Primary Artist,Guitar,Vocals
Richard Tee   Guest Artist,Keyboards
Nicky Marrero   Percussion
Michael Bloomfield   Guitar,Vocals
King Biscuit Boy   Harmonica
Barry Goldberg   Keyboards
Roger Troy   Bass
Richard Newell   Harmonica
Albhy Galuten   Keyboards
George Terry   Guitar
Barry Beckett   Moog Synthesizer,Mellotron,Keyboards

Technical Credits

Vonda Shepard   Composer
Michael Bloomfield   Composer
Buddy Miles   Composer
Sam Cooke   Composer
Peter Graves   Arranger,Direction
Mark Naftalin   Composer
Roger Troy   Composer
Nick Gravenites   Composer
Jerry Wexler   Arranger,Producer
Karl Richardson   Engineer
Mick Jones   Composer
Otis Redding   Composer
Arthur Conley   Composer
Sonny Thompson   Composer
Barry Beckett   Arranger,Direction