Jo Jo Gunne was a hard rock band formed in Los Angeles in 1971 by former members of Spirit, which is another band from Los Angeles that I’ve thoroughly enjoyed. Though Jo Jo Gunne’s first run together only lasted until 1975, the group released four different albums during that time. The group got back together briefly in 2005 and made some recordings that were released as an album, but it’s unclear if the group did anything beyond that. The album I’m listening to tonight, Jo Jo Gunne (1972), was the group’s debut album, which featured a single that reached up to #6 on the UK Singles Chart, #27 on the US charts, and #30 on the Canadian charts, while the entire album reached #18 on Australian charts. I’m pretty stoked to give this album a listen, so with that said, I’m going to jump on into the music.
“Run Run Run” gets grooving right away with a super groovy beat, which is soon joined by some really groovy rock and roll sounds that remind me a bit of Tim Buckley’s work in 1972 and beyond. This track really evokes the classic rock and roll vibes of the likes of Chuck Berry, which is fitting as the band is named after a Chuck Berry single from 1958. I really dig the flavors of the piano in this song a lot. Wow, great track, and I’m excited to hear more.
“Shake That Fat” gets started with light back and forth on a piano that seems to put the soundscape on edge while the drums and guitar begins to build up momentum. Oh wow, the sliding move on the piano that launches the song into a really groovy classic hard rock and roll vibe is super sweet. This sounds like a really groovy hard rock style that sounds like AC/DC mixed with southern rock, and this album predates AC/DC’s formation in 1973. Wow, great track.
“Babylon” starts out with some really groovy swishy guitar work that sets a really sweet, groovy tone for this sweet early 1970s rock and roll track. The more I listen, especially with the addition of the sweet background chorus vocals, I’m reminded a lot of Tim Buckley’s Greetings from L.A. (1972). Oh wow, this guitar work is super sweet, and some of the licks even remind me a bit of Jerry Garcia and the Grateful Dead from around 1973 and 1974. I’m also reminded a bit of Dr. John as well, though that might be this song’s name reminding me of Dr. John’s album Babylon (1969). Either way, great track.
Oh wow, “I Make Love” seems to continue to build up some really groovy tension with a fusion of funk and hard rock in the beat and guitar work, and psychedelic flavors reminiscent of 1967 with the swirling organs in the soundscape. I’m sort of reminded vaguely of Funkadelic as well as Tim Buckley with this track. Wow, great track.
“Barstow Blue Eyes” gets grooving with a really sweet and nearly whimsical bluesy piano at the start of the track. Oh wow, the piano rollicks around really nicely while the different guitars keep the tune grooving along to that beat. Holy smokes, this guitar solo is super groovy. Holy smokes, there’s another guitar doing slide work in this track. Wow, I’m really enjoying this album and listening experience so far. Oh wow, the jams at the end of this track have essentially dropped my jaw to my desk, as I audibly gasped at a couple moments during the end of this track. Wow, awesome track.
“99 Days” gets grooving with some really sweet rock and roll flavors that I’m really enjoying. I really dig the rollicking back and forth licks from the piano, which almost make it seem like the piano is having a conversation with itself. Holy smokes, somehow the music is pulling me further to the edge of my seat. Wow, this slide guitar makes me think a lot of Duane Allman during this jam. Holy smokes, the chorus vocals in this track are super groovy. Wow, great track.
“Academy Award” starts out with some strange guitar chords that set a tone reminiscent of Los Angeles groups like The Doors. Holy smokes, the bass and drums come in, and really continue that strangeness in a really groovy way. I really dig the strange and somewhat dark sound of the late 1960s Los Angeles-based rock groups, and this song really hits those notes in a really great way. Holy smokes, the vocals get nearly guttural at times around the middle of track. Oh wow, the track has entered a really interesting breakdown of some sort. I really want to own this album on vinyl. Oh wow, the cowbell at the end of the track somehow adds even more flavor to this track. Wow, great tune.
“Take It Easy” gets into a really mellow, slick, bluesy groove with some guitar licks that melt right into the soundscape, some really sweet accentuations from the piano, and a slow and groovy beat and bass line. Oh wow, the track begins to pick up a bit and the track begins to take a classic, rollicking, early 1970s rock and roll form that’s been present at different points throughout the album. Holy smokes, the guitar gets into a really sweet groove with some distortion and southern flavor that reminds me a bit of Lynyrd Skynyrd. I’m really digging this one. Great tune.
“Flying Home” starts out with some really sweet, somewhat swishy guitar work that reminds me a bit of and Nils Lofgren and Crazy Horse. Oh wow, the piano adds some really sweet accentuations. I think there’s also some organs in the background of the soundscape too. There’s a really sweet, easy-going swing in the drums that have hooked me even further into this track. Wow, great track, and a great way to finish this album.
Holy smokes, this album is great. This album really hits what I’ve come to define as the early 1970s classic rock and roll sound. At some points the album picks up what seem to be some influence from psychedelic bands from the 1960s, some of the strange, dark flavors of the Los Angeles rock scene from the 1960s, some southern rock flavors with the different slide guitar licks and the style of the rollicking piano, and even seem to hint at the future of hard rock with sounds reminiscent of what would soon be heard AC/DC. Overall, I was reminded a lot of Tim Buckley’s work from the early to mid 1970s with the particular rock and roll approach. If you enjoy classic rock from the early 1970s, you might want to consider checking out this album. If you do decide to give this album a listen, I sincerely do hope that you enjoy the listening experience at least as much as I did.
-A