Vinegar Joe: S/T (1972)

Vinegar Joe were a minor (very minor?) British R&B band from the early 70s who would be an obscure rock & roll footnote (ok, even more obscure) but for the pedigree of their lead singers. After the band's three-album run, Robert Palmer would achieve far more recognition for his string of funky R&B, blue-eyed soul and new wave albums, and massive commercial success as an early MTV mainstay; Elkie Brooks, while less visible here in the US, also achieved some chart success on her own in the later 70s and 80s.

The band's material wasn't nearly as memorable as Palmer's later work, mostly a mish-mash of R&B, funk, pub rock, and jammed-out classic rock. Still, Palmer and (especially) Brooks are dynamic vocalists, and the performances are certainly solid, with a bang-up rhythm section. Album opener "Rusty Red Armour" in particular is a funky little Palmer-led number that stands out as a classic rock shoulda-been.

And while Palmer may have a bit more name-recognition, Brooks truly shines throughout. Check out this audio rip of the bluesy "Ride Me Easy Rider":

There are some pop flourishes on songs like "Leg Up," forerunners of Palmer's solo career (with shades of pre-Buckingham/Nicks Fleetwood Mac), which show the band as more deserving of some commercial traction than they ever received.

I'm also partial, for personal reasons, to their intriguing take on the solemn Jewish prayer "Avenu Malkenu." (The Jewish-raised Brooks apparently got her start singing at Bar Mitzvahs.)

The record, like most of their work, is sadly out of print, but here's a YouTube rip of the entire album:

As a closing bonus, here's a live clip of "Proud To Be A Honky Woman"; it's from a later Vinegar Joe album, but it's a terrific showcase for Brooks.