GRANNY'S INTENTIONS "Honest Injun" UK HIPPIE ROCK GREAT Psych Blues

$

240

 .

• ORIGINAL 1970 RARE British FIRST PRESS ..|/\|...............................................|/\|..
• Granny's  Intentions
• "Honest Injun"
• ..|/\|...............................................|/\|..
• UK - DERAM RECORDS - SML 1060
  

1. > Original ... exceedingly rare 1970 original UK only pressing with laminated cover on the acclaimed UK Deram label.
   
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3. Granny's Intention are a compelling / interesting band somewhat in the Elmer Gantry's Velvet Opera vein but decidedly better delivering a solid effort here filled with tracks that grow with repeat plays.

1. Check out the two-parts Salty Eyes / Dirty Lies, the long second part being one of the albums ever-infectious highlights! 

   
   

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4. Both a period piece and a (v. rare) collectors' item, the release of “Honest Injun” by Granny's Intentions will no doubt be of immense interest to Gary Moore/Thin Lizzy fans. For such a well-chronicled musician, little information is available on Granny's Intentions, with whom Gary made his recording debut at the tender age of 17. Most biographies of Moore leap from his juncture into hos start was with Skid Row,not so!!), then with Phil Lynott in the late 60s directly to his joining Thin Lizzy in 1974, neglecting to mention Granny's Intentions. For close on 50 years copies of “Honest Injun” have been highly sought after, but its historical and musical context has been lost. Although the band hailed from Limerick, they were living in Dublin Ireland when Gary Moore first met them. Formed in 1965, Granny's Intentions were popular on their home turf but had started to unravel when recording of the album commenced. Three tracks were cut in London with guitarist John Hockedy and former Skid Row drummer Noel Bridgeman before they split up. Back in Ireland, however, Granny's Intentions reformed and recruited Gary Moore with whom they completed this great/ now scarce album at Decca Studios in London.
   
   The album was released on the Deram label in 1970, but despite its merits was already out of step with the prevailing trends. The band's moniker had misleading psychedelic nuance, whilst musically they were caught between the cusp of two eras; homespun earthiness melding with blues-orientated rock which would flourish in the 70s, although the flavour of “Honest Injun” is closer to Sherwood Forest than the Mississippi Delta. Throughout, Moore's guitar playing is accomplished and flawless, his prowess belying his years, but what of the rest of the band? Already renowned for his ability as a budding songwriter, vocalist Johnny Duhan has a ballsy sincerity that fits the proscribed territory, songs for earnest traveling men, who spend their days 'telling tales of nights spent with right females', according to the lyrics anyway. Duhan later earned great acclaim for his compositions, and his material has since been covered by the likes of Van Morrison. His best-known number, 'The Voyage', has become a standard. Drummer Noel Bridgeman is effortlessly appropriate, straight-forward where required, a little more complex when necessary, as on “I'm Going”, which led eventually to a guest appearance with Clannad. As of bass player and flautist Pete Cummins, guitarist Johnny Hockedy, Zack Lawrence and Pat Nash who took care of the keyboard and drums, little is to be divined.
   
   This could be doing them a disservice, but since recording “Honest Injun”, they seem to have slipped off the map, at least in terms of rock history. Not even a trawl around the internet reveals any clues, although Pat Nash may have become a race driver in Idaho. One can only presume that producer Wayne Bickerton went on to a sweet future as a tunesmith, in writing hit songs. But the fortunes of the band, aside from Moore and Johnny Duhan, who joined forces again in 1982, when Gary played on the singer's self-titled album, remain something of a mystery. Despite this, however, the music can now speak for itself, and provides a fascinating record of two influential artistes in the making.
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6. Maybe - 3:06
   We Both Need To Know - 3:07
   Good Eye - 3:14
   Fifty Years On (John Ryan) - 3:04
   Susan Of The Country - 2:54
   Rise Then Fall - 3:42
   With Salty Eyes / Dirty Lies (John Ryan) - 8:05
   Fourthskin Blues - 2:34
   Nutmeg, Bitter Sweet (John Ryan) - 3:11
   I’m Going - 2:22
   Heavy Loaded Minds - 3:14   CONDITION:
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8. The cover: rated: VG++ some handling crinkles outside edges as fragile laminated UK pressings go from the '60s ... otherwise very clean, this is the early Brtish Deram product with die-cut hole in back cover depicting "stereo" or "mono" ... you will find  there are no delete marks, no split seams, and no writing  ...

1. The vinyl: Rated: VG++  despite a few minor top surface nothig scuffs, there are a very few light hairlines that don't cause a problem overall. Plays enjoyable and both UK Deram labels are clean