the bedlam anthology

Label: Grapefruit

• 6CD anthology of Brit hard rock pioneers Bedlam, an early Cozy Powell venture that ended when he left in 1974 for a solo career.
• Includes original and new mixes of their highly-regarded 1973 album for the Chrysalis label as well as live recordings and studio out-takes.

Issued in the summer of 1973, the self-titled debut album by Bedlam is regarded by admirers as a cornerstone of early 70s British hard rock, described by collector guidebook Galactic Ramble as “buried treasure” for metal fans.

A later incarnation of West Midlands turn-of-the-decade rockers Big Bertha (actually The Ace Kefford Stand minus ex-Move man Ace), Bedlam comprised brothers Dave and Denny Ball, former Jeff Beck drummer Cozy Powell and singer Frank Aiello, previously half of mid-60s mod duo The Truth.

Unfortunately, the band collapsed in 1974 when Powell and Aiello opted to sign with Mickie Most after Cozy scored a Top Three single with 'Dance With The Devil'.

A hugely expanded 50th anniversary edition of their sole LP, ‘The Bedlam Anthology’ is a six-CD celebration of the band.

The first four CDs feature the original album mix, a new 2023 remix prepared by Denny Ball from the original multi-tracks, and a pair of thunderous live shows from late 1973 and early 1974, the latter recorded at the end of their American tour with Black Sabbath.

Disc Five is a 1970 Big Bertha live set taped during a brief tour of Germany, while Disc Six comprises a stack of 1968-1970 demos and singles, tracking the Ball/Ball/Powell triumvirate from their early days as Cream-inspired trio Ideal Milk through to associations with Ace Kefford and former Tintern Abbey frontman David MacTavish.

DISC ONE
BEDLAM – the 2023 remix

I BELIEVE IN YOU (FIRE IN MY BODY)

HOT LIPS

SARAH

SWEET SISTER MARY

SEVEN LONG YEARS

THE BEAST

WHISKY AND WINE

LOOKING THROUGH LOVE'S EYES (BUSY DREAMIN')

PUTTING ON THE FLESH

SET ME FREE

Bonus tracks

THE GREAT GAME

NEAR THE EDGE

DISC TWO
BEDLAM – the original 1973 mix

I BELIEVE IN YOU (FIRE IN MY BODY)

HOT LIPS

SARAH

SWEET SISTER MARY

SEVEN LONG YEARS

THE BEAST

WHISKY AND WINE

LOOKIN' THROUGH LOVE'S EYES (BUSY DREAMIN')

PUTTING ON THE FLESH

SET ME FREE

DISC THREE
LIVE IN LONDON 1973

I BELIEVE IN YOU (FIRE IN MY BODY)

HOT LIPS

PUTTING ON THE FLESH

SARAH

DRUM SOLO/SEVEN LONG YEARS

MOTHER IN LAW

THE FOOL

THE BEAST

SET ME FREE

Bonus track

DANCE WITH THE DEVIL (from Midnight Special)

DISC FOUR
LIVE IN BINGHAMPTON, NEW YORK 1974

I BELIEVE IN YOU (FIRE IN MY BODY)

THE BEAST

THE GREAT GAME

SET ME FREE

INTERVIEW

THE FOOL

DISC FIVE
BIG BERTHA – LIVE IN HAMBURG 1970

DAVE'S IDIOT DANCE

THE BEAST

RING OF FIRE

SHE'S NOT THERE

MUNICH CITY

SPOONFUL

CROSSROADS/THE STUMBLE

NEVER GONNA LET MY BODY TOUCH THE GROUND

RHAPSODY IN BLUE (Abridged Version)

SET ME FREE (FREEZER ON FIRE)

DISC SIX
1968-1970 ANTHOLOGY

1812 THRASHED (Ideal Milk)

NSU (Ideal Milk)

HIDEAWAY (Ideal Milk)

STEPPIN' OUT (Ideal Milk)

FOR YOUR LOVE (demo version) (The Ace Kefford Stand)

BORN TO BE WILD (The Ace Kefford Stand)

DAUGHTER OF THE SUN (The Ace Kefford Stand)

FOR YOUR LOVE (single version) The Ace Kefford Stand 9 GRAVY BOOBY JAMM (The Ace Kefford Stand)

THIS WORLD'S AN APPLE (Big Bertha featuring Ace Kefford)

MUNICH CITY (Big Bertha)

FUNKY WOMAN (Big Bertha)

RING OF FIRE (Big Bertha)

TIME OF THE SEASON (Big Bertha)

AT THE GATEWAY (Bedlam)

CANDY (RAINBOW OVER NEW YORK) (Bedlam)