REVIEW: Peter Green – The End Of The Game re-release

50 years ago Peter Green released his first solo album within little time of him leaving behind what was at the time a bestselling group Fleetwood Mac. Esoteric Recordings have remastered and expanded The End Of The Game essaying this essential little known gem from one of the great players of the 6 string. The band features a mixture of well-educated musicians of the period including Zoot Money on keyboards, the blend is formidable.

Green was a visionary with his guitar in hand. He created an unmistakable sound that is very much evident on this forgotten masterpiece. Opening with Bottoms Up, it’s a distinctive Dr John space jam with delicious licks of wah wah guitar, rumbling and grooving its way through the speakers. Timeless Time could be the distant quitter cousin to Albatross, all most free form jazz creeps into the number. Descending Scale opens with an almost prog rock feel which then feeds into some almost Captain Beefheart twiddling’s by all involved.

Those that know The Stone Roses back catalogue might recognise a similarity to No Way Out which has a similarity to Ten Storey Love Song b Side Moses, the slow grinding murky groove leads nicely into the following track Beasts Of Burden with Green delivering an almost voodoo vocal his guitar playing yet again exquisitely pins you to the wall. Quite simply this stunningly unrated long play should attract those that have been fascinated by the likes of the aforementioned Dr John and Eric Burdon and War. As the front cover depicts a roaring leopard this release creeps up on you before emphatically easing its way into your record collection as a great lost classic.

The End Of The Game can be purchased from the following link