London’s
Black Cat Bones were one of those bands from the late '60s that served as an incubator for its various members’ later rock incarnations, in this case the bands
Free,
Foghat, and
Bad Company, all of whom drew members from
Black Cat Bones. As an intact band, they only released a single album,
Barbed Wire Sandwich, on Decca Records in 1969, and then splintered into the future. The album itself is a collection of rather generic period British blues pieces, a bit reminiscent of
Cream in sound, although that doesn’t hinder cuts like “Chauffer” and the best track here, “Please Tell Me Baby,” from taking off into some interesting territory. But it’s straight British blues, however well executed, and there’s really nothing prog rock about it, although the band has been given that label in some circles.
Barbed Wire Sandwich, like the band that recorded it, is straightforward and professional, but also like the band, it seems to suggest that more is down the road than has actually arrived yet. That said, collectors of British blues-rock are going to love the sound on this reissue, which sounds full, rich, and immediate. ~ Steve Leggett