20070524

Jerusalem (1972)

Jerusalem was an early 1970s British raunchy heavy rock five piece outfit. The band released one self-titled album in 1972 on Deram (UK catalogue number : SLD 6), produced by Ian Gillan of Deep Purple. Jerusalem’s only other release was a 45 rpm 7 inch single, the non-album ‘Kamikaze Moth’ backed with ‘Frustration’ from the LP.

The band's raunchy, unpolished and brutal rock was way ahead of its time and the band never "made it" in a commercial sense. A second follow up album was commenced with Gillan but never finished. In recent years their only album has been re-issued as a Japanese CD.

Ian Gillan's thoughts about the band & working with the album:

"This is the first album by Jerusalem, a band which excites me very much; they are rough, raw and doomy with their own strong identity. As they are young and a bit green, they don't follow many rules, so their material is almost crude - but still immensely powerful in content.

I believe that, whenever possible, the work of writers and players in their formative stages should be recorded; before inhibition and self-consciousness set in, before fire and aggression die down, and while they are still absorbing influences and doing things which others might consider 'uncool'. Most important though, before they might develop that self-imposed rigidity which afflicts so many. I hope none of these things happen to Jerusalem, we'll have to wait and see, this album is just in case. I hope you like it as much as I do." (via Wikipedia)

Yet another classic heavy group from the early 70's, destined to obscurity. It couldn’t have helped in later years that Vernon Joyson in his Borderline book "Tapestry Of Delights", besides admittedly accurately describing the music as "bone-crunching heavy rock", pretty much dismissed them by saying their album "doesn’t offer anything musically that isn’t available much more excitingly elsewhere. Skip this one!" To my ears, nothing could be further from the truth, if heavy rock of this vintage is your thing. The album's a little monochromatic I guess, but that’s because there’s raw, heavy rockin’ excitement plastered wall-to-wall, no room for too much subtlety or "tastefulness", and it doesn't really sound the same as any other group, but ploughs its own furrow like a record cutter the size of agricultural machinery. (Reviewed by achuma @ HeadHeritage) (BUY IT)

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Jerusalem - Midnight Steamer


8 comments:

Eliahu said...

yeah crotch its a good gruop...

your blog its great...

:-)

Anonymous said...

Shame on Vernon Joyson !!! The s/t Jerusalem album is one of the greatest 70s heavy rock/proto-metal albums out there. From the manic "Frustration" to the early doom of "When The Wolf Sits" and "Primitive Man" - its an ESSENTIAL album. I'd rank it among the top 5 heavy 70s albums.

Anonymous said...

I have the cd too. It's a brilliant record. It's the first NWOBHM-sounding record of all time!!!! I love everything about it. If you're into Captain Beyond, Pentagram, Sabbath, Angel Witch, Bang ... check this out!

Danny

FM SHADES said...

Dude, this rulezzzz! Thanks... Been wanting to hear this for so long and it lives up and beyond the hype I had heard. Now if only I can find a original Lp!!!!

FM SHADES

Anonymous said...

Just found about your blog!
What can I say? Amazing!
A portion of the song "Frustration" by Jerusalem (the first minute or so) can be heard on an early 70's greek comedy film called "O Anthropos Roloi" (The Man Watch). It's in a scene while a band of longhaired freaks is playing in a garden. Can't figure how the producers found about it and put it in this movie!

Anonymous said...

Love exploring the stuff on your great site. Does any one else think the first track sounds like the White Stripes!!

Paul said...

Hi there,
This is Paul Dean of Jerusalem. Just came across your blog. Many thanks for all the comments, very much appreciated. It would seem Jerusalem is now beginning to receive some recognition for the small part it played in the biggest music revolution ever. The first official re-mastered re-release for 36 years with extra bits and pieces will be coming out soon on Rockadrome Records (Rockadrome.com).
If anyone wants to contact me go to www.myspace.com/pauldeansite or email me at jerusalemband@yahoo.com
or jerusalemrockband@gmail.com
All the best to all of you, please spread the word,
Cheers
Paul & Jerusalem

Paul said...

All Jerusalem product has now been remastered and reissued on CD, Vinyl and MP3 by Rockadrome Records

http://jerusalembanduk.wixsite.com/mysite

Jerusalempaul@yahoo.com