Three Man Army

Someone recently told me she has yet to recognize one single album reviewed here at The "I-Own-Every-Record-You’d-Never-Buy” CD Consumer’s Guide. Whew. I must be doing something right. Let’s hope that streak continues with Three Man Army, the self-titled second album from Adrian and Paul Gurvitz (guitar and bass, respectively) and Tony Newman (drums). The Gurvitz brothers actually got their start in a two-record band called Gun (best known for a brilliant single called “Race with the Devil”) and ended their career nearly a decade later when they teamed up with Cream drummer Ginger Baker in the Baker Gurvitz Army. Sandwiched in between was Three Man Army, a very heavy, very guitar-driven power trio that dropped its first Reprise lp in 1973. “Come on Down to Earth” and “Can’t Leave the Summer/Part 1 & 2” reflect the band’s pulverizing six-string guitar attack, while “Hold On” features an impressive array of percussive drum fills. Strangely, the best song on the album is the toned-down “Take a Look at the Light,” a subtle reminder that loud and fast don't always make for good rock songs. Plagued by a lack of radio success, the group was never able to emerge from warm-up status. For those looking for a blast of ‘70s hard rock pyrotechnics, however, Three Man Army is worth a spin.

Notes: The Gurvitz brothers didn’t score a hit with Three Man Army, but they certainly did with Gun. Check out this video of the band performing “Race with the Devil,” a psychedelic hard rock classic covered by the likes of Black Oak Arkansas, Girlschool and Judas Priest: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bvMETCQAf1w.