English band Patto fell through the cracks with their amalgam of blues and jazz, which made them outliers as the progressive and hard rock movements were gaining traction. They released three albums in quick succession in the early 70s, before it fell apart. Their second album Hold Your Fire is considered as the highlight in their career and it became a musician's favourite long before the press or radio jocks caught up (with the notable exception of John Peel who did play it).
With the great Ollie Halsall on guitar and vibraphone and singer's Mike Patto impressive vocal range the band's rhythm section could throw those two any tempo and they would be there to catch on instantly. For its reissue the people at niche label Think Like a Key once again used the services of retired sound engineer Prof Stoned, who did a fine job indeed. The inclusion of couple of outtakes - why they shelved Bad News back then is a mystery - and alternate takes/mixes gives the listener a fly-on-the-wall perspective as the band worked out what a track needed. This version of Hold Your Fire sounds fresh and not dated at all - that's what being of the forefront of mixing genres can do.
Patto:
Mike Patto: vocals
Ollie Halsall: lead guitar, acoustic guitar, piano, vibraphone
Clive Griffiths: bass
John Halsey: drums
Hold Your Fire is released via Think Like A Key Music (CD, digital). Liner notes by Chaim O'Brien-Blumenthal.
Tracks:- Hold Your Fire
- You, You Point Your Finger
- How's Your Father
- See You At The Dance Tonight
- Give It All Away
- Air Raid Shelter
- Tell Me Where You've Been
- Magic Door
- Beat The Drum [outtake]
- Bad News [outtake]
- Air Raid Shelter [alternate take]
- Hold Your Fire [early alternate mix]
- Tell Me Where You've Been [early alternate mix]
- See You At The Dance Tonight [alternate version]
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