Castle Music UK
2004
Open
About This Album
Open was a good but uneven album in that it inevitably sounded like records by two different groups sandwiched into one. Side one of the original LP was devoted to primarily instrumental material featuring Brian Auger, while side two had far more soul-rock-influenced vocal tracks spotlighting Julie Driscoll. It was consistent with the multi-dimensional aesthetic that Julie Driscoll, Brian Auger & the Trinity promoted, but it must have confused and perhaps even put off fans attracted to the act by the hit single "This Wheel's on Fire." For open-minded pop fans of that time or future eras, however, it's a quite interesting blend of rock, blues, soul, and a little psychedelia. Auger's own brand of heavily Jimmy Smith-influenced organ soul-jazz dominates the first five tracks -- in fact, "In and Out" is a cover of a tune by Smith's sometime duo partner, guitarist Wes Montgomery. Vocal soul comes far more to the forefront on the Driscoll-driven songs, and while some of them are merely credible British blue-eyed soul with prominent organ, the Auger-Driscoll original "A Kind of Love In" and the drawn-out cover of Donovan's "Season of the Witch" move effectively into groovier psychedelicized territory. The 2004 CD reissue of the album on Castle benefits from four worthwhile bonus tracks, including "This Wheel's on Fire"; its flop 45 follow-up David Ackles cover "The Road to Cairo"; Aretha Franklin's "Save Me," from an earlier 1968 single; and the previously unreleased 1967 track "I've Gotta Go Now," which is very much straight soul with a long jittery Auger organ solo. ~ Richie Unterberger, All Music Guide
Track List (try tracks 1,2,3,5,6,7,8,9,10 and 11)

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