Charge , self-title (1973), an album from the rock underground

Charge were an excellent progressive hard rock band, with blues and psychedelic touches, from the south coast of England. Their self-financed album is nowadays a major rarity (pressed without artwork in a modest run of 99 copies), coveted by collectors. 'Rediscovered' and re-released by Kissing Spell records in the early 90s, little, or nothing, was known about the band at that time.

Prior to the release of Charge, the band were known as Baby Bertha, who released another privately pressed album the year before, with a miniscule pressing of just 50 copies. It too contains several excellent bluesy rockers, bringing to mind a more rough-around-the-edges Groundhogs, Cream and early Stray.

Comprised of four tracks, side one features the most accessible tunes with, enigmatically titled, Glory Boy From Whipsnade, sporting a lead riff which wouldn't have seemed out of place on the Blind Faith album. To My Friends is a gloomy sounding affair, laced with nice wah-wah effects throughout, whilst Rock My Soul is an all-out 70s funky rocker.

Side two is, essentially, a 16-minute hard rock suite, titled Child Of Nations.
It's split into three parts, all seemingly relating to singer Dave Ellis' time spent as a soldier in the British Army several years earlier. Whilst it may appear to be somewhat drawn out for regular rock fans, it's nonetheless enjoyable due to the accomplished nature of musicianship.