Baker Gurvitz Army - The Gambler (Supersonic TV, 1975) Psychedelic Rock / Prog Rock

Recorded on April 11th, 1975.

The Baker Gurvitz Army were*:
- Mr. Snips (Stephen Parsons, born 1951): Lead vocals
- Adrian Gurvitz (born 1949): Guitar & Vocals
- Paul Gurvitz (born 1944) : Bass & Vocals
- Peter Lemer (born 1942) : Keyboards
- Ginger Baker (1939-2019): Drums
*The band were active, approximately, between 1974 and 1976.

Adrian and Paul Gurvitz began their musical careers with the blues-rock/hard rock group The Gun, formed in 1967, when Adrian was 18. The following year, trimmed down to a power trio with Louis Farrell on drums, the band had a hit single with the proto-metal-esque "Race with the Devil", which went Top 10 in the UK, and was later covered by Status Quo (live), Judas Priest, Black Oak Arkansas and Girlschool, among many others. The song was also alluded to by Jimi Hendrix during his performance at the Isle of Wight, during the opening of "Machine Gun".

The Gun's 1968 debut album cover is noteworthy as being the first by the legendary Alan Dean. Their second and last album was released the year later, but by 1970, the band had dissolved, with the brothers Gurvitz briefly working apart, though by 1971, with the addition of drummer Mike Kellie (Spooky Tooth), with guest star Buddy Miles, they were reunited as Three Man Army, which saw Adrian Gurvitz experimenting with keyboards for a more varied sound. Their debut album, 'A Third of A Lifetime' was released later in the year, with 'Mahesha' (a.k.a: 'Three Man Army', 1973), and 'Three Man Army Two' (1974), later featuring ex-Jeff Beck and future David Bowie drummer Tony Newman. An album of previously unreleased material, recorded during 1973-74, at which point, the band was breaking up, was much later released in 2006.

Ginger Baker (ex-Blues Incorporated, Graham Bond Organization), had been drummer for Cream (1966-68), Blind Faith (1969), and his own Ginger Baker's Air Force (1969-70), and by 1974, after working in Nigeria with Kela Kuti, releasing the solo album 'Stratavarios' (which featured ex- Jeff Beck Group Bobby Tench), after promising sessions with Paul and Adrian Gurvitz, elected to form a band with the brothers, who were keen, as their Three Man Army was currently dissolving.

A supergroup, the Baker Gurvitz Army's self-titled debut was released later in the year, and performed well on the US Billboard Top 200, and especially the UK Albums Chart, where it went Top 25. For their second album, released in January 1975, the Gurvitz brothers and Baker added Peter Lemer (ex- Spontaneous Music Ensemble, Ken Elliot's Seventh Wave) on keyboards and synthesizers, with Mr. Snips (ex-Sharks with Free's Andy Frasier) on primary vocals, so Adrian could focus of guitar. The comprehensive tour that followed included many high-profile appearances, including on the German Musikladen television program, for which the band played a full length set. The heart of the band (the Gurvitzes, plus Baker), also contributed heavily to Moody Blues drummer Graeme Edge's band's 1975 and 1976 albums, 'Kick Off Your Muddy Boots' and 'Paradise Ballroom', which drew heavily on fantasy themes. (I highly recommend those albums as well). What would prove to be BGA's final album, 'Hearts On Fire' was released in 1976, but with the sudden, and tragic death of longtime manger Bill Fehilly in a plane crash shortly thereafter, the group elected to disband.

Following the Baker Gurvitz Army, Mr. Snips (Stephen Parsons) launched a solo career with 'Video King' (1981, feat. Clem Clempson), and also a film scoring career, during which, he contributed to 'Howling II" (1985), among many others. He would later also produce ex-Small Faces and Humble Pie front man Steve Marriott's final 1989 album. He remains active both in music, and other creative pursuits.

Peter Lemer would go on to work with Mike Oldfield, Cahoots, and later be in high demand as a session musician and teacher.

Ginger Baker would play with Hawkwind, Public Image Ltd., Masters of Reality, a reunited Cream with Jack Bruce and Eric Clapton, among many others. Solidifying his place as one of music's greatest (if not greatest) drummers and unique figures. He died at age 80 on October 23rd, 2019 after years of health woes.

The Gurvitz brothers would continue to work together as Adrian started a solo career with 'Sweet Vendetta' and 'The Way I Feel' (both 1979). Following 1980's 'II Assassino', 'Classic' (1981), produced a hit single in the title track, which went Top 10 in the UK. He would later write songs for Eddie Money, Steve Perry (Journey), REO Speedwagon, Chicago, among many others. His song, "Even if My Heart Would Break" appeared on the best selling 'Bodyguard' (starring Whitney Houston and Kevin Costner) soundtrack, sung by Aaron Neville and Kenny G. He continues to write and produce for others, with more recent collaborators including Ziggy Marley and Andra Day. He is also frequently praised for his guitar work, with he being placed Top 10 (9) by Melody Maker's Chris Welch.

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