LOBBY LOYDE — Plays With George Guitar (review)

LOBBY LOYDE — Plays With George Guitar album cover

Album · 1971 · Heavy Psych

4/5 · 2020-11-22
siLLy puPPy

Born John Baslington Lyde but better known by his stage name LOBBY LOYDE (1941-2007), this guitarist, songwriter and producer is perhaps one of Australia’s greatest under-appreciated musicians from the past having been left behind as a relic from the 1960s and 70s timeline when psychedelic blues rock ruled. LLOYD was born in the extreme western outpost of Longreach in Queensland, Australia but was raised in Brisbane with a musical family where he learned classical piano and violin but his passion was in the guitar where he excelled and in the 1960s played with a series of bands including Purple Hearts and Wild Cherries which both scored hit singles.

Perhaps LOYDE’s most prominent role was as a member of Billy Thorpe & The Aztecs which scored the #8 album “The Hoax Is Over” but lesser known is LOYDE’s solo efforts which showcased his fiery guitar playing and emphasized a unique picking style, a technique that has been referred to as “elastic.” Perhaps LOYDE could be considered the Australian version of Jimi Hendrix as his energetic performances exceeded expectations and has been cited as an influence from various musicians including Henry Rollins and Kurt Cobain. This solo debut album PLAYS WITH GEORGE GUITAR demonstrates LOYDE’s firm control of his instrument of choice with seven excellent tracks that resulted in some of the finest psychedelic blues rock of the entire era.

PLAYS WITH GEORGE GUITAR debuted in September 1971 on the Festival Records label. The album demonstrates LOYDE’s unleashed guitar virtuosity, excellent command of stellar songwriting and an impeccable knack for adding psychedelic influences from his 60s days that the album truly comes across as a veritable bridge between the heavy psych fueled moments of the late 60s along with the modernity of 70s hard rock technicalities. The album’s two monster tracks “Dream” and “Evolution” offer the full spectrum of powerful blues rock sensibilities laced with the full release of the kraken with extraordinary guitar virtuosity and psychedelic couplings. LOYDE’s greater career was kicked off by the release of this album and he became one of the most renowned figures of the entire 1970s Australian pub rock scene.

LOYDE had an uncanny ability to craft eccentric sounds in the context of blues rock. In many ways he sat parallel with Texas born Johnny Winter but his picking style offered more exotic textures along with the creative use of wah-wah pedals and other tricks and trinkets, LOBBY LOYDE truly mastered a unique sound that even to the modern day sounds fresh and somewhat exotic. In addition to the Hendrix inspired blues rock moments, LOYDE’s rowdy pub rock style would eventually lead him to participate in the band Coloured Balls often considered one of Australia’s premiere proto-punk bands of the early 70s which spawned future AC/DC drummer Phil Rudd. The energy level on PLAYS WITH GEORGE GUITAR is intense without sacrificing the blues rock underbelly and by offering a firm sense of tempos, tones and dynamics.

Unfortunately LOYDE’s legacy is largely unknown outside of his Aussie homeland and was a victim of the changing musical tides as the 70s ceded into the 80s however for anyone interested in extraordinarily crafted heavy psych fueled blues rock from the early 70s in the vein of Hendrix, Cream, Blue Cheer, Captain Beyond and Vanilla Fudge with interesting idiosyncratic guitar playing then you simply must check out this outstanding debut from one of Australia’s best kept secrets. This album simply doesn’t stop sizzling from the opening “Everybody Come Together” to the hootenanny from hell wizardry closer “Herreni.” A must for any serious seeker of the guitar masters of the early 70s.

more than 2 years ago
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siLLy puPPy wrote:

more than 2 years ago

This is really good. I only learned of this guy recently myself. One of the best guitarists from that era for sure. A true surprise. Haven't checked out other albums yet.