National Head Band ● Albert 1

There are many reasons I shouldn’t like this record. The band name is awful, the album title is inexplicable and the cover art is just plain odd. It’s a good thing I’m not one to judge a book by its cover, however, otherwise I’d be missing out on a truly intriguing slice of UK-based progressive rock. National Head Band’s Albert 1, first released in 1971 on Warner Bros. Records, is one of the more creative efforts from the decade’s art-rock archives. Replacing the genre’s standard hard rock instrumentation with a generous helping of piano, acoustic guitar and multi-part harmony, Albert 1 is a well-crafted collection of complex, multi-layered pop songs. “Too Much Country Water” and “Brand New World” are the album’s cornerstones, both representing the band’s deceptively simplistic yet intricate approach, while “Listen to the Music” and “Try to Reach You” are rich with catchy choruses and melodic hooks. “Mister Jesus” delivers the only real hard rock moment—a blistering keyboard introduction—but this song quickly falls in line with the rest of the record’s overwhelmingly mellow vibe. National Head Band didn’t last long, but drummer Lee Kerslake and keyboardist Jan Schelhaas soon found employment elsewhere; Kerslake joined Uriah Heep, while Schelhaas played with both Camel and Caravan.