Pieced together from various sessions spanning back to 1971, the November '73 release of former Free guitarist Paul Kossoff in Back Street Crawler, represents another fine example of the guitarists' incendiary fretboard skills along with an expansive cast of musicians helping Koss along the way forming a basis of extraordinary results culminating in a one of a kind solo debut. Musicians such as John "Rabbit" Bundrick(whom had joined a reconstituted Free), singer Jess Roden, bassist Trevor Burton(The Move), singer-songwriter/guitarist John Martyn and Yes drummer Alan White are some star studded examples featured on cuts like the record's centerpiece, "Tuesday Morning", the groove rock of "I'm Ready" and the closing title track, and a Free outtake, "Molten Gold" which features his former band. Despite Kossoff being involved in the construction of Free's "Heartbreaker" release 10 months prior, his physical condition could not withstand the rigors of a tour and he bowed out of the latest incarnation and moved his focus within the confines of this effort.

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Although it appears that the deluxe edition of this album is out of print currently, some of this review focuses on that edition which was released in 2008 by Universal/Island records. Disc one contains the original 5 track listing and then offers 6 cuts and variations of the album's masterpiece, "Tuesday Morning" which offer varying degrees of the building of the track and makes for a great insight into how this number came about. "Time Away" is another instrumental featuring John Martyn playing with Kossoff as well as bassist Tetsu Yamauchi and Free cohort Simon Kirke at the kit and is the oldest cut on here dating from September of '71. Disc 2 contains the full 38 minute jam that wound up being edited down to 5 and a half minutes for inclusion on the original lp, but the full version is quite an extraordinary aural travelogue to experience.

 

Although Paul's drug dependency gave him an erratic and unreliable demeanor, this release, thankfully, showcases his talents being full of a genuine depth of talent and pure heart and soul comes through convincingly. Another great number included on this expanded release is "May You Never" which was released as a single by John Martyn in late '71. Kossoff's shimmering and haunting vibrato-laden guitar accompanies Martyn's song very well and is a great reminder of his brilliance and approach to guitar playing, such a talented musician and its a bit sad that within 3 years he would be dead. This release is a must if you're a fan of Kossoff or Free.

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Rating Grade- A+