Formed in 1968 by ex-Jethro Tull guitarist/vocalist Mick Abrahams, his former bandmate from McGregor’s Engine bassist Andy Pyle, flutist/saxophonist/violinist Jack Lancaster and drummer Ron Berg, Blodwyn Pig released two albums and three singles in their native UK between July 1969 and April 1970 on Chrysalis Records.

The band combined elements of standard blues, blues rock, jazz fusion and proto heavy metal, with Abraham and Lancaster as principal songwriters. Cherry Red Records, UK has compiled the album tracks supplemented by non-album single sides, alternate versions, session outtakes and BBC Radio 1 recordings in a new three disc box set on their Esoteric Recordings imprint.

Disc one begins with the nine tracks from Blodwyn Pig’s July 1969 debut album ‘Ahead Rings Out.’ The long player is a mixture of blues tunes like the group’s first single “Dear Jill” and album track “Up And Coming,” blues rock songs “It’s Only Love” and “Sing Me A Song I Know,’ tunes reminiscent of early Jethro Tull “Leave It With Me” and “Backwash,” an attempt at reggae “To Rassman,” the jazz influenced “The Modern Alchemist” and the album closing six minute proto metal piece “Ain’t Ya Coming Home Babe.” Abrahams’ guitar shines with Lancaster’s flute adding texture to the blues tunes and his saxophone and violin to the fore on the jazzier tracks. Pyle and Berg’s tight rhythm section allows Abrahams and Lancaster to solo freely. The disc is rounded out by seven bonus tracks, beginning with two BBC Radio 1 recordings from February 24, 1969, the bluesy slide guitar led “The Change Song” and a sassy jazz rock take on album side “It’s Only Love” on which Abrahams and Lancaster trade riffs, Abrahams supplying a tasty lead line and solo. “Sweet Caroline,” a non-album b-side is a wailing rocker with saxophone accents reminiscent of John Mayall’s jazz fusion. “Walk On The Water” is a heavy blues rocking non-LP a-side featuring Abrahams’ driving guitar and belted vocals giving the song a Jethro Tull vibe and its bluesy non-album b-side “Summer Day” has an insistent riff by Abrahams, again bringing John Mayall to mind. “McGregor Huckabeat” is an absurdist tune, its organ, spoken word and hysterical laughter creating a surreal soundscape. An alternate version of “Walk On The Water” with gentler intro and saxophone accents closes out the disc.

Disc two opens with the ten tracks included on Blodwyn Pig’s April 1970 LP ‘Getting To This.’ “Drive Me” is a rocker with Abrahams and Lancaster trading riffs and Graham Wallter guesting on piano. “Variations On Nainos” opens with flute and swirling guitar evolving into a breezy jazz fusion track, with Abrahams’ slide guitar gliding effortlessly. “See My Way” is blues rock reminiscent of early Jethro Tull with throbbing bass and Abrahams’ guitar building to a crescendo. “Long Bomb Blues” is a snappy slide guitar track which segues into the rocking “The Squirreling Must Go On” as Pyle and Berg build the tempo to breakneck speed and Abrahams adds a blistering solo. “San Francisco Sketches” is a four part jazz medley with Lancaster’s saxophone and Abrahams’ guitar guiding the band through numerous tempo changes. “Worry” is a driving blues rocker with slashing, wah wah aided guitar, written by Abrahams but at his direction credited to Pyle. “Toys” is a relaxed, ethereal track showcasing Abrahams’ slide guitar giving the song a space rock vibe. “To Rassam” is a short, minute and a half, attempt at reggae with piano, slide guitar, saxophone and tapping drum beat. Abraham’s anti-war anthem “Send Your Son To Die” is an album closing uptempo shuffle with Mick’s slide guitar front and center. Lancaster adds a flute interlude, while Pyle and Abrahams solo before Abrahams’ slide drives the tune and album to a close. Non-album a-side “Same Old Story” finds Abrahams’ ringing guitar forcing the tempo. The non-LP b-side is a fiery cover of Larry Williams’ “Slow Down” with Abrahams and Lancaster riffing away, Mick adding haunting vocals. The disc closes with two session outtakes, the slide guitar blues number “Meanie Mornay” which has Lancaster’s electric violin joining Abrahams’ slide solo and “One Thing Leads To Another” featuring Lancaster on electric violin and Abrahams gently flat picking his lead line and solo, playing the song and disc out.

Disc three features sixteen recordings made for BBC Radio 1 between March 1969 and August 1974. Blodwyn Pig performed three songs on a March 26, 1969 BBC Radio 1 appearance, two “Ain’t Ya Coming Home Babe” and “The Modern Alchemist,” from the band’s 1969 debut LP. The first track is heavy with a guitar and sax riff, while the second is an uptempo piece of jazz fusion with a heavy groove courtesy of Pyle and Berg. “Green’s Blues” was never dedicated to wax but is a great bit of relaxed Mayall style blues showcasing Abrahams’ loping solo. The band’s March 6, 1970 Radio 1 appearance yielded two tracks, the wah wah and saxophone driven blues rocker “Worry” and the violin and slide guitar based fusion number “Variations On Nainos” which appeared a month later on ‘Getting To This.’ Blodwyn Pig’s September 23, 1970 performance features ex-Yes member Tony Banks on lead guitar and vocals and Barry Reynolds on rhythm guitar, Mick Abrahams having left the band to record solo. “Moon’s Gone” and “The Lady Of Liberty” are competent efforts, the first a blues shuffle and the second a gentle, flamenco style tune, Banks’ acoustic guitar melding with Lancaster’s flute. The band split up soon thereafter, but reunited in 1974 as documented by their June 17 Radio 1 appearance which yielded four tracks. “See My Way” from the second album has a Tull like riff and joint solos by Abrahams and Pyle. “Baby Girl,” “Leaving Song” and “Blues Of A Dunstable Truck Driving Man” are non-album tracks. The first has boogie woogie piano and shouted blues vocals, while the second is a slow tempo blues rocker and the third a gentle acoustic slide blues tune. The box set closes with an August 16, 1974 Radio 1 performance which produced five tracks. The band revisited “See My Way” stretching the song out to seven and a half minutes with each member soloing. “I Know,” introduced as a gospel tune, extends to nearly ten minutes, its flute and guitar reminiscent of Tull, Abrahams and Lancaster contributing solos. The six minute plus “Cosmografication” features wah wah guitar from Abrahams who delivers scat vocals, Lancaster adding sax, Pyle a rumbling bass and Berg pounding out the beat. The band turns to country rock for a take on “Six Days On The Road” with Abrahams contributing pedal steel guitar. The shouted blues rocker “It’s Only Love,” taken from the debut album features Lancaster and Abrahams soloing the song, concert and box set to a close.

‘The Recordings 1969-1974’ comes in a clamshell box with each of the discs coming in cardboard mini-LP sleeves. The full color twenty page booklet has complete track annotations, photos of the band and album artwork, press clippings and an extensive essay by Steve Pilkington. Blodwyn Pig sounds better than ever thanks to the mastering job of Ben Wiseman. This box set will appeal to fans of classic rock and 1970s rock and is highly recommended.’

Kevin Rathert

Blodwyn Pig – ‘The Recordings 1969-1974’ (Esoteric Recordings, 2026)