Pacific Gas & Electric - PG&E (1971)

 Pacific Gas & Electric was an American blues rock band in the late 1960s and early 1970s, led by singer Charlie Allen. Their biggest hit was the gospel-tinged "Are You Ready?" The band was formed in Los Angeles in 1967, by guitarist Tom Marshall, bassist Brent Block, lead guitarist Glenn Schwartz (formerly of The James Gang) and drummer Charlie Allen, who had previously played in the band Bluesberry Jam. When it became clear that Allen was the best singer in the new group, he became the front man, and Frank Cook, previously of Canned Heat, came into the band on drums. Originally known as the Pacific Gas and Electric Blues Band, they shortened their name when they signed to Kent Records, releasing the album Get It On in early 1968. The record was not a success, but following the band's performance at the Miami Pop Festival in May 1968 they were signed by Columbia Records.[1][2] Their first album for Columbia, Pacific Gas and Electric, was issued in 1969, but they achieved greater success with their next album, Are You Ready, in 1970. The title track "Are You Ready?" reached #14 on the Billboard Hot 100.[3] After the album was recorded, Cook was injured in a car accident and was replaced on drums by Ron Woods, Cook staying on as manager. Marshall and Schwartz left and were replaced by Frank Petricca (bass) and Ken Utterback (guitar), with Brent Block moving to rhythm guitar before leaving later in 1970. Unusually for the time, the band contained both black and white musicians, which led to rioting and gunfire on one occasion when the band, who toured widely, performed in Raleigh, North Carolina.[1] In 1971, the band changed their name to PG&E, following pressure from the utility company of the same name. The band also expanded, Allen, Woods, Petricca and Utterback being joined by Jerry Aiello (keyboards), Stanley Abernathy (trumpet), Alfred Galagos and Virgil Gonsalves (saxophones), and Joe Lala (percussion). They recorded the album PG&E, and also appeared in and provided music for the Otto Preminger film Tell Me That You Love Me, Junie Moon starring Liza Minnelli. The band then split up. A final album using the name, Pacific Gas & Electric Starring Charlie Allen, was recorded by Allen with studio musicians and released on the Dunhill label in 1973.[1][2] For a time the group also included Rick Durrett formerly of the band The Coven on keyboards.[citation needed] Tom Marshall later suffered deteriorating health and personal circumstances, being homeless since the 1980s.[4] Frank Petricca became a commodity broker.[5] Charlie Allen died on 7 May 1990, aged 48.[6] "Are You Ready?" was later recorded by Gospel music act DeGarmo And Key in 1984 for their album "Communication".

Album: PG&E (1971) Wounded Bird Records (2007) 00:00 - 1 Rock and Roller's Lament 03:16 - 2 Recall 06:51 - 3 One More River to Cross 09:35 - 4 Death Row #172 15:09 - 5 Short Dogs and Englishmen 21:39 - 6 See the Monkey Run 24:13 - 7 The Time Has Come (To Make Your Peace) 27:29 - 8 Thank God for You Baby 34:14 - 9 When the Sun Shines

Pacific Gas & Electric - Starring Charlie Allen (full album) 1973

 The last album of PG&E in 1973, it's more a solo album by Charlie Allen which is in fact the only original member of the group, and is accompanied by many studio musicians. The album moves away from the rock to sound more funk & soul, an area where Charlie Allen's voice is perfect. CREDITS Charlie Allen: Lead Vocals Jerry Friedman - Cornell Dupree - Bob Mann - Robert Mann: Guitar Charlie Brown: Dobro, Guitar Gordon Edwards - Wilton Felder: Bass Ernie Hayes: Keyboards, Piano, Piano (Electric) John Hill: Clavinet, Drums (Steel), Guitar, Handclapping, Keyboards Jon Stroll: Clavinet, Piano Allan Schwartzberg: Drums Phil Bodner - Michael Brecker - Joe Grimm - Arthur Kaplan - Seldon Powell - George Young: Saxophone Burt Collins - Al DeRisi - Mickey Gravine - Lew Soloff: Brass, Horn Jim Maden: Tambourine, Vocals Jimmy Maeulen: Bells, Congas, Shakuhachi, Tabla Joshie Armstead - J.R. Bailey - Gloria Barley - Shirley Brewer - John Brown - Lou Courtney - Bill Foster - Charlotte Gilbert - Lani Groves - Carl Hall - Delores Harvin - Melvin Kent - Troy Keyes - Sherman Lewis - Jon Lucas - Ron Marshall - Barbara Massey - Ray Pollard - Albertine Robinson - Ray Rollard - Jim Ryan - Manny Seymour - Tasha Thomas - Sammy Turner - Ken Williams: Vocals

Album: Starring Charlie Allen (1973) ABC/Dunhill Records 00:00 - 01 Gumbo Jones 04:39 - 02 Roll Georgia 09:50 - 03 Somebody You Love 12:36 - 04 Hold On 15:35 - 05 Dancin' in the Fire 20:21 - 06 Good Gospel Music 26:02 - 07 Hear the Trumpets Calling 28:46 - 08 Some Kind of Feelin' 33:28 - 09 I Got a Thing About You, Baby 36:03 - 10 Sunshine Embrace 38:53 - 11 Niggers in the Woods

Pacific Gas & Electric - Get It On (1968 Full Album + Bonus)

 

The band was formed in Los Angeles, California, United States, in 1967, by guitarist Tom Marshall, bassist Brent Block, lead guitarist Glenn Schwartz (formerly of The James Gang) and drummer Charlie Allen, who had previously played in the band Bluesberry Jam.^[5] When it became clear that Allen was the best singer in the new group, he became the front man, and Frank Cook, previously of Canned Heat, came into the band on drums.^[5]

Originally known as the Pacific Gas and Electric Blues Band, they shortened their name when they signed to Kent Records, releasing the album Get It On in early 1968.^[5] The record was not a success, but following the band's performance at the Miami Pop Festival in December 1968,^[5] they were signed by Columbia Records.^[6][7]

Their first album for Columbia, Pacific Gas and Electric, was issued in 1969, but they achieved greater success with their next album, Are You Ready, in 1970.^[5] The title track "Are You Ready?" reached No. 14 on the Billboard Hot 100.^[8]

 CHARLIE ALLEN - vocals GLENN SCHWARTZ - lead guitar TOM MARSHALL - rhythm guitar BLENT BLOCK - bass & fuzz-bass FRANK COOK - drums

01 - Wade In The Water 00:01 02 - Cry, Cry, Cry 06:12 03 - The Motor City Is Burning 11:39 04 - The Hunter 18:28 05 - Long Handled Shovel 21:53 06 - Jelly, Jelly 25:30 07 - Stormy Times 32:13 08 - Live Love 35:00 Bonus: 09 - My Sweet Baby (Take 6) 38:28 10 - Dirty Mistreater (Take 2) 41:18 11 - Wade In The Water (Undubbed Version) 44:20 12 - Cry, Cry, Cry (Take 2) 49:15 13 - Stormy Times (Take 9) 55:48 14 - Long Handled Shovel (Take 8) 58:42 15 - Jelly, Jelly (Take 1) 1:02:35 16 - The Hunter (Take 1) 1:10:06 17 - Blues Chant (Take 2) 1:15:14