Climax Blues Band - 01 Amerita/Sense of Direction

From the Sense of Direction album (1974)

[@Pelicam1]

The late, great -- and criminally-underrated -- Pete Haycock on lead vocal and guitars. Brilliant composition, and still gives me chills after 44 years... A fave by the mighty CBB!

[@seancarney2033]

Never tire of hearing this song...50 yrs later still play my vinyl!

[@Rosemary-jx3dy]

Good morning to all.....❤😊. Climax blues band was a first rate song..,.perfect guitar......

[@Rosemary-jx3dy]

I knew them for years.... That is what I wrote my books about.. and published them. Thank you so much 😊

[@Rosemary-jx3dy]

Thank you Lord.....Mr ......I still love it .....good morning to all......❤😊😊

[@tomstunes6595]

I grew up in Ft. Lauderdale Fla & lived in Lauderdale Lakes. One day i came across this rather small record store in 1974 at the age of 16. I went in and was looking at different albums and listening to what was playing in the store , finally said to the clerk ( who had rather long hair ) I'm tired of the same music on the radio all the time !!! I'm ready for something different !!! At the time i remember seeing a ( now vintage ) nice Marantz Receiver , with a Marantz turntable next to it. There were 4 rather large Acoustic Research speakers in each corner of the store ,that sounded really good. So the clerk put this album on the turntable & played this song & i really liked it. So i bought the album & gave it too my sister as a Christmas Present & later bought a copy for myself on cassette tape. I'm now 64 & still enjoy Climax Blues Band music !!! 👍 Just don't understand why this album isn't available on Spotify Music ??? And is it available on CD Or just vinyl ???

[@johnpiantadosi7731]

Only thing wrong with Climax Blues Band is that once you listen to one song, you have to listen to about 20 more! Their like potato chips, you can't have just one! What a band!!! I'll never get any work done.

[@GRDray]

John Piantadosi their fantastic.

[@hawklord5194]

Peter Haycock was one of the best guitar players that no one ever heard of.......sad.....

[@johnrhoads1109]

FM live has some of the finest guitar work ever....superb

[@robertthomas3364]

Have owned this since 1974 and sounds great cranked on my 1974 JBL L100 Century speakers.

[@lastrada52]

When the excellent "Amerita" segues into the lovely, strong melody of "Sense of Direction" it's one of the greatest rock notes ever played. Every bit as great anything Led Zeppelin, Pink Floyd, The Beatles, The Stones or The Kinks and The Who ever wrote. This is classic rock. This is what it's all about. A melody that can invoke tears and strength simultaneously. Climax Blues Band -- truly one of the greats that ever took to the stage.

[@leelaine01]

Back in the day when this came out I made the band I was in play this medley. Although the other members initially weren't up to the task, I made them get there. It was one of our third set opening choices. This or Stealing (Uriah Heap) or Highway Star (Deep Purple). Good times had by all after a session in the van!

[@casedismissed8581]

the fm live album was outstanding as well! HOWEVER TO COMPARE THIS BAND TO THE BEATLES,THE WHO OR LEDZEPPELIN IS TOTALY IRRATIONAL

[@lastrada52]

​@@casedismissed8581 - What are you saying Bob they're not proficient musicians? Climax Blues Band was superb. Every one had expertise. Every member could've played with any of those bands you mentioned. Any of them. The "Tightly Knit," LP with that track "Hey Mama" was exceptional. A band doesn't record 19 LPs over a 53-year career without being an excellent band. You obviously get caught up in the hype of name bands. Yes, I would compare Climax Blues Band with those other bands -- however, remember, the Climax band was a blues band first. Not a pop band like The Beatles, heavy rock band like The Who or even heavier rock band like Led Zeppelin. But if it's the blues, or try -- even a Led Zeppelin might be in trouble against Climax. And Climax was a band from England.

[@casedismissed8581]

@@lastrada52 WOOOOW seems i really touched a nerve eh'!!

[@lastrada52]

@@casedismissed8581 - Touched a nerve? Hell, Bob, I'm sitting here drinking a Jack Daniels on ice, a big cool fan spinning in my face outside, a strong Maduro cigar, debating music with other people besides you. You didn't touch any nerve believe me. 100 years from now no one is going to care what we talked about today. Actually, if you were here with me you would notice that when I make my remarks I often wink at someone, roll my eyes or tip the ash off my cigar like Groucho Marx used to do. No, Bob -- you didn't touch a nerve. So long as we didn't lose any money, get threatened by some wacko protestor, have our houses looted, have anyone take our guns away from us, remove an Elvis Presley statue, lose our minds altogether -- there is nothing we should take seriously. Especially a little debate on KZbin with a stranger named Bob Smith. Hey, you're not related to Buffalo Bob Smith from Howdy Doody? Nah, that would be too good to be true. Now if you were an attractive lady and you said "... I really touched a nerve eh'!!" I could've done another 20- minutes on that. Calm down. You're not as intense as you think you are. Wow is spelled with one "o." The added o's only made you look juvenile. Oh, and "i" is usually capitalized. You did finish school, didn't you?

[@stevesouthall4718]

Saw this band back in 1972 fantastic Pete haycock what a guitarist guitar god r i p

[@timothymurphy3324]

listened to this many many times back in the day

[@jeffreyhall2136]

Back in the 70's, whenever we had a keg party, you knew this was going to be played.

[@tdtom1376]

Introduced to this music via military service. Wish I had aged as well as their musjc has. Still love this, and Nogales.

[@peggyturnbull9586]

Saw climax in a small function room above Burntwood baths many moons ago,loved them ever since!

[@elainejackson8349]

Musical technique is incredible; great song from back in my college days Beautiful transitons to Sense of Direction; very sensual and heartfelt.

[@thedreamingpotatoes7012]

Phenomenal musicians.

[@jeffreyhall2136]

Had this on vinyl, in the 70's. Think one of my friends has it now. I did find on CD. Payed good money for it but it's one of my prized CD's.

[@rosemarygranat4541]

Thank you Jonathan

[@rosemarygranat4541]

Ah well

[@billcope5886]

What a incredible band

[@joepasquarello1273]

Listen up, kids. This is the way its done.

[@butchcassidy3373]

Used to go to my Vietnam vet friends house when I was about 15, 1980 or so, and he turned me on to this band. Man they are talented musicians.

[@dontcare3430]

They were great in concert. First time I went to any.

[@geraldmasterson7850]

First nyc show at Academy of Music on 14th street . Half full house ,played as if the house was full!! Will never forget😃😃

[@roymullins4124]

God I love that ending. Thanks for posting an uncut unedited version!!

[@thomasroy9444]

The 1st time I heard this was when I saw them in concert. Peter Haycocks guitar solo at the end is the first and only time I got goosebumps from live music

[@lewisgoudy863]

I saw them open for Skynyrd at the Aragon Ballroom in Chicago in 1975. I was taking OSVET training to go do the sailor trip & find out if the navy food was better (it was). I left to go see my baby, skipped the Freebird, wish I hadn't. My old man saw Cab Calloway at Great Lakes in 1945. They had single Marshall slant front cabs side by side across the stage with two heads each. Loud! When Sense of Direction solo happened I ducked under the rope into the film zone and sucked it up just a few yards from Haycock. A biker bouncer ran up and grabbed the front of my shirt, pushed me backward right through the rope, and kept pushing until my head slammed into the wall at the back of the hall, which is where I listened to the rest of the set. At the end, Colin Cooper toasted the crowd with the can of Budweiser he had been sipping the whole time. I left and rode the greyhound 100 miles south totally pumped up. When we passed out around sunrise my ears were still ringing.

[@johnrhoads1109]

Saw that same tour in St. Louis I was 14 years old ....

[@thomasroy9444]

Saw them in 1975.. They played this and it was the first time I heard. Got goose bumps from the ending. Bought the album the next day. Too bad they went disco.

[@d.s7741]

Golden Earring warmed up for the Climax Blues Band doing this album, which seemed like the warm up for Lynyrd Skynyrd who did their One More From the Road album tour. My first concert and probably the best

[@jamiewesson898]

they didnt go disco just to poppy the vocals were still ace but for me the music suffered as they seemed to lose there sense of direction pun intended

[@larryboyd9251]

saw them at the Aragon Ballroom in Chicago.

[@larryboyd9251]

Aragon Ballroom in Chicago. What a venue. I wish I could remember the day but the music is still in my head.

[@EnosEverything]

Yes. the SENSE OF DIRECTION section is quite brilliant...I bought this album in London after I heard this track at the end of 1974... Sadly the album was sold along with thousands of others I'd accumulated from those great days, but I always recall it just for this one song.

[@rosemarygranat3981]

Thank you to the capital theatre. Passaic NJ. Dds mom. Peter Rose

[@kristrznadel1494]

This is brilliant tune -classic like all the biggest from these years 😀

[@Kaleiddmode]

Pete Haycock was only 23, such a young talent 😍

[@rosemarygranat5660]

saw them do these songs so many times capital theatre Passaic nj

[@brucerouffian2630]

I bought the album after hearing the band on TOGWT. I loved it, but my mates at university loved it even more, i suspect. I had to buy a new copy. The new copy was stolen.

[@randymain7964]

THIS is a great tune, seem live 1976 Great BEN KANSAS, Summer Jam1.

[@HeartoftheDragonColo]

The live version from Old Grey Whistle Test is outstanding, too.

[@manfredgohring4914]

but not really live!

[@dennielteles8803]

The best album!!!

[@smokinjz]

There's a lady 'cross the water And she's driving me from my home Oh her name is Amerita And her faces are many more than one Though she dragged me from the country Spinning stories of fortune and fame Though she knew she didn't want me Tell me lady Amerita what's your game?

[@rosemarygranat3031]

They're friends of ours............

[@taniafranca4426]

amazing climax

[@isaacmercado7216]

TANIA FRANÇA well it is climax blues band. peace

[@johnpiantadosi7731]

Glad you enjoyed it.

[@geraldpapp7520]

Should not let on anymore to the benefit of listening to authentic rock, roll and blues tracks!?.

[@GRDray]

Got this album on vinyl. The only one I like better is their F M Live album.

[@jasondudash5501]

Video 5 needs to be re-posted. Video 2 is off of the wrong album.

[@isaacmercado7216]

sweet for real. transitions r epic. anybody seen the bridge?

[@byrdmantwomey9047]

nice sound unique only thing comparable Marshall Tucker.

[@larryboyd9251]

Maybe a Brit's view of America at the end of Vietnam, Watergate and other scandals. Have we, America, lost our Sense of Direction???

[@WardSlavik]

Ok

[@smokinjz]

There's a lady 'cross the water And she's driving me from my home Oh her name is Amerita And her faces are many more than one Though she dragged me from the country Spinning stories of fortune and fame Though she knew she didn't want me Tell me lady Amerita what's your game?