Tag Archives: Peter Hecht

ELECTRIC FOOD – a look at pre-Lucifer’s Friend heavy rock LPs

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In the late 60s to early 70s a handful of German musicians were responsible for a number of obscure albums released under the Europa label. Many of these albums consisted largely of cover versions, with band recording them within a day or 2 , as hired by the producer. The musicians that wound up on so many of these Europa budget releases (many would wind up in grocery stores or gas stations at a discounted price) were the same guys that would make up the (now) legendary Lucifer’s Friend, minus singer John Lawton. One such project were 2 albums released under the name ELECTRIC FOOD, which, besides Peter Hesslein, Peter Hecht, Joachim Rietenbach, and Dieter Horns, along with Greek singer George Mavros (aka Monro. see ASTERIX). Electric Food was released in 1970 and Flash in ’71.

Many of the songs on these 2 albums would be co-written by Hesslein & Mavros, probably in the studio, within days. But there are some notable covers on each.Electric Food features what may possibly be the first Led Zeppelin cover, as the album’s lead off track was “Whole Lotta Love“. It also featured an excellent take of “House Of The Rising Sun“, as well as a cover of Wilbert Harrison’s “Let’s Work Together” (which would be a hit for Canned Heat soon after). The second LP, Flash featured 2 covers – “All Right Now” (Free) and “Love Like A Man” (Ten Years After).

Though made not long before the Asterix and first Lucifer’s Friend albums, Electric Food also leaned towards a heavier blues based and psychedelic rock sound, mixing heavy guitar and Hammond organ, not nearly as ‘proto metal’ as the first Lucifer’s Friend. These are good listening albums for LF fans, but don’t have that impact that the debut LF had.

Electric Food also had 2 further songs included on the Europa compilation Born On The Road: Easy Rider. This 1971 LP release featured 5 Electric Food tracks, notably covers of “Born To Be Wild” and “Up Around The Bend” (CCR); neither of which were on the EF albums. The cassette version of Born On The Road included 9 EF tracks. Another Europa compilation titled My Sweet Lord, would feature 4 Electric Food tracks, though none of these were non-LP recordings.

The band, minus George Mavros (Monro) would go on to record many other projects, as well as many Lucifer’s Friend albums. Mavros would go on to record solo singles under the ‘Monro’ and Mavros name throughout the 70s. He still performs to this day. with his band ‘New Comix’. Peter Hesslein is preparing a fourth solo album, The Last Journey, for possible release in the spring.

Both Electric Food albums were reissued on as a 2 on 1 CD on 2004, as well as vinyl reissues in 2018 (Long Hair Records), which included inserts with historical liner notes.

LINKS:

https://www.facebook.com/Lucifersfriendph

https://www.facebook.com/ElectricFood

https://www.progarchives.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=67530

LUCIFER’S FRIEND – Mean Machine (1981)

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A band, and album that just don’t get enough attention! Mean Machine was LUCIFER’S FRIEND’s eighth album, and last for some 13 years. The album was a reunion with singer John Lawton, who’d left the band in 1976 to join Uriah Heep, while Lucifer’s Friend carried on for a pair of albums (and live shows) with Mike Starrs (ex Colosseum II). Lawton had left (fired) from Heep in ’79, and recorded a solo album in 1980, with members of Lucifer’s Friend backing him. But, the band was still promised (owed) Elektra one more album. Now, if you are familiar with Lucifer’s Friend’s catalog, you’ll know that the band changed with every album; not so much the personnel, but the direction. The debut was a heavy album, seen as a proto metal album in 1970, that sat comfortably alongside Deep Purple’s In Rock, Uriah Heep’s debut, and Black Sabbath’s first couple of albums. But nothing following that matched the heaviness of the band’s debut, instead veering off into fusion, and including more brass and orchestrated instruments.

Mean Machine brought the band back to being a guitar driven hard rock band. It fit in time with the New Wave Of British Heavy Metal, and was full of guitar riffs from Peter Hesslein opening a number of well written serious rockers, with John Lawton returning to a more powerful sound, than some of the softer rock he’d sang during Heep’s pop-aimed era. Mean Machine is a solid album of 80s hard rock, well produced, starting with “One Way Street To Heartbreak”, and not really letting up ’til the end. Riffs, melodies, harmonies, memorable choruses, and great songs like “Hey Driver”, “Fire and Rain”, “One Night Sensation”, and “Born To The City”. The more pop anthem “Action” was released as a single, but neither the single or the album did much, as Elektra did very little to promote it; a shame as this is really worth hearing.

The band disbanded again after this, but would reform in the mid 90s for Sumo Grip. But, if you come across Mean Machine, check it out, a great underheard gem of 80s hard rock.

LUCIFER’S FRIEND Where The Groupies Killed The Blues (1972)

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German band LUCIFER’S FRIEND released their 2nd album in 1972 (’75 in the US & Canada). The band’s self-titled debut is often hailed as a proto-metal classic,  lumped in alongside albums from Deep Purple, Black Sabbath and Uriah Heep in that year, 1970. But, despite being not quite as ‘heavy’ or early metal, the band’s follow up album, with the odd title of Where The Groupies Killed The Blues is pretty impressive as well. Lucifer’s Friend would expand their sound, adding more piano, acoustic guitars, ballads, while using more instruments, such as keyboardist Peter Hecht on electric piano, moog, Hammond organ, mellotron, as well as being credited with string arrangements. Engineered by the legendary Conny Plank, and produced by the band and Herbert Hildebrandt (The Rattles, Randy Pie). Songs written by the band, along with some lyrics from another English musician – John O’Brian Docker (who also wrote for Randy Pie). An interesting cover by Klaus Witt (Witt Studio, Hamburg), with a strange photo of band members in some hippy party-type feast (or something! Anyone?); with the original German press coming in a gatefold cover, lyrics inside, and other prints being a single sleeve with a printed inner sleeve. Tracklist order also changed from Germany to North America editions.

The album itself featured the single “Hobo”, released in Germany & Spain, but more so it included such classics as the heavy “Prince Of Darkness” (highlighted by Peter Hesslein’s guitar soloing & Peter Hecht’s piano), as well as more proggy epics like “Mother”, the title song, and “Rose On The Vine”. Best known track here though has to be the ballad “Burning Ships” (nicely covered a few years back by Jason Kane & The Jive!). Hard to believe this wasn’t the single, just a great song and performance. Singer John Lawton stood out again throughout this album. 

A shame this album never got a better deal or is seen by casual rock fans as a great album alongside the debut, but those of us who know the band dig this one. As the band went on making regular albums throughout the 70s they covered many other styles from jazz rock, fusion, prog, and pop. But Where The Groupies Killed The Blues remains a favorite for me.

John Lawton – lead vocals RIP, Peter Hesslein – lead guitar, acoustic guitar, percussion, vocals, Peter Hecht – piano, Hammond organ, electric piano, moog, mellotron, Dieter Horns – fender bass, bass-fiddle RIP, Joachim Rietenbach – drums, percussion RIP

LINKS:

http://www.lucifersfriend.com

https://www.facebook.com/profile.php/?id=100063500899957

https://www.facebook.com/profile.php/?id=100063473165257

https://www.45worlds.com/cdalbum/cd/rr4143wp