Cliff Bennett's Rebellion - Cliff Bennett's Rebellion (1971) [2005]

Artist: Cliff Bennett's Rebellion
Title Of Album: Cliff Bennett's Rebellion
Year Of Release: 1971/2005
Label (Catalog#) : Repertoire [RES 2319]
Country: UK
Genre: Blues Rock
Quality: FLAC (tracks+cue,log)
Bitrate: Lossless
Total Time: 00:40:57
Total Size: 350mb(+3%)(covers)

AllMusic Review by Bruce Eder
Cliff Bennett may not have scored a hit with this album, but he proved he was a survivor -- it was as solid a body of music as he'd released across the previous eight years, and thoroughly contemporary (for 1971) as well. The record is steeped in a soul sound that was totally convincing for its time -- Bennett was a veteran shouter who lacked the distinctive edge of, say, Rod Stewart, Steve Marriott, Eric Burdon, or Chris Farlowe; but with the right material, his talent could soar with the best of them, and with the best material (to which he seldom got access) he could outdo them. This album is loaded with originals that are mostly the work of bassist John Gray and flautist Marek Kluczynski, who do a decent job of supplying generic soul-rock templates through with Bennett can show off his singing and elevate their work. Bennett is able to inject enough personality and charisma to bridge the gaps in originality and create something exciting, even compelling. And the variety of sounds, from lean acoustic guitar-driven soul ("Say You Don't Love Me") to horn and electric band romps such as "Sandy Mary," make this album a virtual cornucopia of U.K. soul-pop of the period. He also imparts an energy level to "Blues Power" that Eric Clapton's original was sorely lacking. And apparently, the album just missed having another notable cover on it -- Bennett evidently turned down the chance to record a U.K. single of "Proud Mary" ahead of CCR's release; he seems to have been trying to make up for the error with "Please Say You'll Come," a Kluczynski number that sounds like a CCR clone. On the other end of the scale is Bennett's own "Better World," the closing track on the original LP, which is one of the best performances of his career -- it's also the finest moment on the album, and justifies its presence in any collection of U.K. soul of the period.

Tracklist
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01. Say You Don't Love Me (Cliff Bennett) - 3:10
02. Please Say You'll Come (John Gray, Marek Kluczynski) - 4:52
03. L.A. (Cliff Bennett, John Gray, Marek Kluczynski) - 5:04
04. Sandy Mary (Peter Green) - 5:05
05. Blues Power (Eric Clapton, Leon Russell) - 3:16
06. When I'm Singing Rock 'N' Roll (John Gray, Marek Kluczynski) - 2:52
07. Searchin' For A Theme (John Gray, Marek Kluczynski) - 3:45
08. Better World (Cliff Bennett) - 6:06
Bonus:
09. Amos Moses (single A-side,1971) (Jerry Hubbard) - 2:55
10. Movin' And Travelin' On (single B-side,1971) (Cliff Bennett) - 3:21

Personnel:
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Cliff Bennett - vocals
Robert Smith - guitar
Marek Kluczynski - harmonica, flute
John Gray - bass
Derek Wier - drums, percussion

All thanks to original releaser