STEAMHAMMER Mountains £160 UK 1970 B&C 1st pressing LP CAS 1024 Psych/Blues

Released in 1970 on the UK B&C Label (CAS 1024) Steamhammers 3rd album called Mountains is gradually rising in value with a Top Mint copy going for £169 in 2016, it came in a matt finish `E.J.Day` gatefold sleeve which is prone to rubbing/edgewear so it is getting harder to find a decent copy. B&C records was the poor relation to Charisma and many of their releases were very rare probably due to lack of promotion (Shelagh McDonald, Spirogyra, Hannibal etc) on the Distinctive Black Label with Green spot logo it`s definitely worth looking out for the original! Interesting fact that guitarist Martin Quittenton co-wrote `Maggie May` with Rod Stewart. Why not subscribe as I post rarities regularly! Side 1 1. I Wouldn't Have Thought (Gophers Song) 0:00 2. Levinia 5:40 3. Henry Lane 9:00 4. Walking Down The Road 12:55 5. Mountains 16:36 Side 2 1. Leader Of The Ring 22:08 2. Riding On The L&N 24:56 3. Hold That Train 35:10 Steamhammer’s third album ‘Mountains’ was released in autumn 1970 and showcases a well-oiled musical machine. It acknowledges prog but goes back to their raw blues roots. One side was recorded live at the Lyceum (at a gig where they were supported by Black Sabbath!). It’s generally acknowledged as their best work and Steve Davy agrees, citing their extended cover of Lionel Hampton’s ‘Riding on the L&N’ as his Steamhammer favourite. The band continued to tour, but it was becoming too much. Years on the road had taken their toll. In April 1971 Davy decided to rest in Worthing, but after two weeks the band told him if he didn’t come back they’d get someone else. He didn’t come back. A few months later frontman White also quit. “Rather ironically, we were at our peak when things started to go wrong,” recalls Davy. “The most money, the best hotels, but with all the travelling the spark went out of the group. We’d gone a bit stale, we weren’t rehearsing, just turning up for gigs and playing, no new numbers going on.” “Life after Steamhammer was a bit strange,” says Davy, “I took a rest from the music biz, got back to ordinary jobs and quite enjoyed them: a job in a wine shop, I worked for Woolworths, the council, and so on, ever since.” Guitarist Martin Pugh moved to California and almost had success with Armageddon, fronted by Keith Relf of The Yardbirds, until the latter’s death in 1976. He lives there to this day. Drummer Mike Rushton went on to success in France with the band Les Innocents. Martin Quittenton turned down an offer to join The Faces and retired to Anglesey in the late 70s, living quietly off the proceeds of hits he wrote for Rod Stewart (including ‘Maggie May’). Less happily, singer Kieran White moved to the States and recorded an album, but success didn’t come calling. He became a truck driver, dying of cancer in 1995 aged 46. This video focuses on a rare vinyl record, identifying the original 1st rare pressing or the rarest version of the record, also the prices it sold for and features photos of labels and covers of the original record, subscribe to our channel if you love rare vinyl records #vinyl #collecting #records #rare