BACK DOOR
Vienna Breakdown ESOTERIC
Five-CD set of one of the most original groups of the 70s.
As a largely instrumental trio, Back Door initially had no luck getting a record deal and so recorded a self-funded, self-titled debut album in 1972, which they sold at gigs at their regular venue, The Lion Inn, Blakey, high up on the North Yorkshire Moors. But when it reached the London press it caused a minor sensation. Ron Aspery on saxes and flute, bassist Colin Hodgkinson and Tony Hicks on drums had an extraordinary empathy. Back Door’s music was essentially fashioned from blues and jazz, and encompassed the solo bass piece Catcote Rag and the fierce, proggy convolutions of Lieutenant Loose. It was all recorded live, with only two tracks over three minutes and was one of the most assured and individual debuts of the decade.