The Generation label is home to some Australias rarest blues and progressive rock albums, but the very first album they released is altogether different. The Garry Hyde Tradition were a quartet led by Garry on vocals drums and percussion, with Bob Venier on brass, Don Lambert on piano/keys and Leon Healle on bass. All the members of the group sing as well, which isnt always a good thing, but it seems to work well. The choice of covers is pretty good in my opinion, and even the more sedated numbers still have a nice strong rhythm sound throughout. The Turtles Happy Together gets covered and ends sounding like its by Simon and Garfunkel! They do really nice versions of I Wish I were a Child, By the Time I get to Phoenix and Wichita Lineman to round out the first side. Side 2 is where the heat is though. Hurt So Bad has great drums throughout, although the 4 guys singing doesnt quite work as well for me as Nancy Holloways version, for example. The killer is a Latin funk number called La Tosita that also sees the guys put down the microphones except for the occasional chanted La Tosita that really sounds fresh! Really nice percussion and brass on this number, and theres a great breakdown halfway through that spices things up. And yes, this cut is worth the price of this album.
