Pete's Picks: Great Albums of the Modern Era - The Master's Apprentices *Nickelodeon* (1971)

I'm writing a series to write about what I consider the greatest albums in the history of music... well at least from the modern era anyway. This is not in any specific order, such as a 'countdown' or a 'Top 500' or anything like that.

What makes something a "great album"? My criteria is simple. It has to hold some quality which sets it apart culturally. Perhaps its a great collection of songs, or had an impact on the era, or the industry, or maybe just impacted my life.

Please feel free to add your comments or critiques, and consider supporting the artists by purchasing the album.

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In attempting to cope with unceasingly hot temperatures on the Sunday of the recent Australia Day weekend, my partner and I decided to seek refuge in the air-conditioned comfort of the local cinema.

We saw a hilarious Australian movie called Swinging Safari, a nostalgic, coming-of-age-in-Australia-in-the-70's kind of movie, full of cliched cultural references and amazing sets and props that reminded me of my childhood. It may go over the heads of anyone NOT Australian (or alive in 1975), but I'd definitely recommend it for anyone over the age of 40 - funny AF.

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That's the context to my latest album pick.

There was definitely something in the Australian air in the late 60's and early 70's, and in the rock scene you could probably surmise what that something was.

Back in the day (apparently) there was this amazing music festival in a small sleepy town just outside of Melbourne called Sunbury where all the best "Head" bands and progressive rock acts played. We had a pretty decent scene it seems, producing incredible bands such as Billy Thorpe & the Aztecs, Spectrum, Daddy Cool , Tamam Shud, and the most famous of them all, The Master's Apprentices.

This band were dubbed "Australia's Rolling Stones" having followed a similar trajectory to both the Stones and the Beatles, beginning playing fairly harmless R'n'B, moving into spangly, psychedelic pop, and then getting heavier with some seriously kick-arse riffs.

Nickelodeon is actually a live recording. Having returned to Australia from England where they had recorded the incredible Choice Cuts album, their producer from EMI, Howard Gable, informed them that their Perth gig was going to be recorded.

This album is that recording. This was the Masters at their peak, and you can clearly hear the influence of the emerging British Heavy Rock scene in their sound.

Keep in mind this is December 1970. Led Zeppelin have released their 2nd album ("the Brown Bomber") by this time, and you can hear Page's influence on Doug Ford's guitars, and whilst singer Jim Keays has a unique voice, there are hints of Robert Plant in many of these tracks.

I love tracks that take up whole sides of LP's. I'm just born that way, I guess. So you'd think my pick of the album would be the 19 minute improvisation piece Evil Women. It's good, but seriously overshadowed by the other tracks.

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The album/gig kicks off with Future of our Nation - fiercely political, with a grinding riff that reminds me a bit of Grand Funk Railroad, and I think this sound has influenced many of the Aussie pub rock acts of the 80's/90's.

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The other stand-out track is their biggest single release Because I Love You. This track is pure anthem. And the closest a young, gritty hippy rock outfit could get to a power ballad.

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When I've Got Your Soul has that bluesy-soul vibe reminiscent of Cream and the Stones, and also brings back memories of that era's acid-blues scene that Led Zeppelin had emerged from in the late 60's.

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Unfortunately the version I have is the original; subsequent releases include 4 bonus tracks from the gig - (remember when albums were restricted to 22 minutes a side?) - which are known to be amazing tracks, including one called Jam It Up which is a pure Zeppelin rip-off.

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I love listening to this album, as I feel it's an honest snapshot of this band at their peak, both in song-writing but also in performance. The quality fo the recording is good, considering other live recordings of bands from the same time.

Grab this album, put a red lampshade over your lights, grab your drug of choice, and kick back for an aural journey back in time.

Take care y'all
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