2008 release, the first official CD release of this rare album, originally released on the Deram label in 1971. a thrilling, no-hold's-barred, Heavy Rock treatment of a clutch of riff-based but fairly commercial Pop tunes, Megaton's sole album has plenty of admirers these days. For Megaton is the creative inspiration of vocal harmony leader Les Humphries (as in the Les Humphries Singers, big hit makers in early 70's Germany) and his writing partner/right hand LHS man, Jimmy Bilsbury. Perhaps having the likes of future Uriah Heep vocalist John Lawton in the midst of the LHS was an inspiration, but whatever, Humphries nose for a commercial opportunity sniffed out the Free, Led Zep Hard Rock/Blues Rock market and he duly delivered. RPM.
G**Y
Life Was Easy Yesterday - for hard rock of the 70s
"Megaton" is poorly known and underrated one album wonder of famous Les Humphries (better known in continental Europe as frontman of pop outfit Les Humphries Singers Best of Les Humphries Singers])."Megaton" was strictly sudio project, vintage hard' n heavy of the 70s, "manufactured" by Les Humphries himself and Jimmy Bilsbury, while the icon of Euro-pop orchestras, James Last, patronized as producer. Apart from borrowing from Rolling Stones ("Out of Your Own Little World") and unashamefully stealing from Led Zeppelin ("Niagara"), "Megaton" unexpectedly came with decent original tunes - heavy and menacing "Fairy Tale Song" is a true hard rock gem. Hard rock tracks are testily backed by gospel-inspired unison singing and excellent piano work. As I said, the whole album is as heavy as they used to be in the 70s (apart from popyish ballad "Life Was Easy Yesterday").Les Humphries was a seasoned singer and pianist with Royal Marines Corps Band in Germany, and after been discharged in 1965, he returned to UK, and ventured into pop. His first group, "Summer Set" became mildly successful. Minor achievements of various incarnations of Les Humphries' acts are irrelevant, except the fact that as of 1968 (back to Hamburg again) he closely co-operated with oustanding German rock-guitarist Achim Reichel ([[ASIN:B000GFKUGI Volxlieder , for example), and in 1969 started his own band - "Les Humphries Singers" (John Lawton of "Lucifer's Friend" fame - Lucifer's Firend - was an associate for a while). In any case, Les Humphries Singers were peddling around their pop tunes in the continent for quite a long time and even made it to 1976 Eurovision (an achievement or a disgrace?) before vanishing into obscurity. In Britain and USA "Singers" were almost completely ignored, but were popular enought behind Iron Curtain."Megaton" re-issue by "Cherry Red" comes together with an excellent leaflet and is strongly recommended for those about hard rock of the 70s
W**S
a one off album
Megaton were not actually a band as such but were Les Humphries and Jimmy Bilsbury who were song writing partners,Les eventually found fame with The Les Humphrie Singers but before that in trying to find a musical direction to go in,one of their projects was this album,Megaton and its rock at it loudest and its very good for 1970,there are various styles of rock on the album from almost a reggie rock to Led Zeppelin of which riffs have been nicked but i do recommend this album
E**S
Heavy prog-rock 1971.
Bella operazione della RPM,reissue del mitico unico album di Megaton del 1971,originariamente prodotto Decca,molto ambito all'epoca per la sua difficile reperibilità e per la sua bellissima copertina.La RPM lo ha riscoperto e distribuito tramite la Cherry Red Rec.,ne ha mantenuto il suono untuoso e corposo,un heavy prog-rock prettamente chitarristico,con influenze glam,un suono che attinge da Zep,Sabbath,BTO,Slade,Uriah Heep,come dal pop più leggero,ne ha riprodotto fedelmente la copertina e lo ha arricchito con un booklet di 8 pagine,dove oltre a Megaton,viene più che altro trattata la storia di Les Humphries e Jimmy Bilsbury,le due menti del progetto Megaton.Humphries e Bilsbury,un duo che attraverso due decadi,hanno continuamente rincorso il successo,affrontando varie esperienze,tra le quali l'heavy-rock con Megaton,fino a raggiungere finalmente la meta,in Germania,con il gruppo Les Humphries Singers,subito dopo la pubblicazione di questo disco.Hard rock-prog abbastanza di maniera,puntate nell'heavy,con improvvise concessioni alle melodie pop,chitarre pesanti,interventi di fiati,di piano e di armonica,percussioni,concessioni al soul-heavy rock,al blues,alcune belle canzoni,aiutati da non si sa chi in studio(probabilmente dei session men assunti per l'occasione)comunque una ottima voce,che trova la sua migliore espressione in Wanna be a hero,brano dominato dai riff della chitarra in perfetto stile Iommi,interventi di flauto,ritmica insistente;scombussolarono un pò le classifiche e le certezze di tanti con la loro hit Niagara,in cui molti elementi richiamano a Whole lotta love.Un buon disco senza infamia e senza lode,non regge il passare del tempo,impressionava sicuramente di più alla sua pubblicazione,3 stelle e mezzo.Questa è la pubblicazione migliore,ne esistono anche altre,ma sono tutte di provenienza bootleggara,presi dal vinile o da cassette,l'unica versione ufficiale è questa della RPM/Cherry Red Rec.
S**K
metaton
Nella media questa unica di fatto testimonianza prova dei britannici megaton. Hard rock simil dirigibile e tratti grande funk e qualche fuga progressive non particolarmente ispirato che si lascia cmq ascoltare
V**.
debe estar en tu colección
Esta versión tienen una excelente calidad de audio, el case es de carton, el envío es un poco tardado pero llegó en buenas condiciones. Lo recomiendo por la calidad del audio está genial.
