May Blitz-May Blitz (1970)

May Blitz were, for a brief and impactful time, a fundamental part of the British underground psychedelic hard rock scene. Formed in 1969 by Canadians James Black (guitar and vocals) and Reid Hudson (bass and vocals), they were joined by former Jeff Beck Group drummer Tony Newman. Power trios in the style of Cream, Jimi Hendrix Experience, and Groundhogs were proliferating at the time, so it was common for many bands to take this lineup as a model. Their first and brilliant album was released by Vertigo Records in 1970, featuring arguably one of the most horrendous album covers ever seen. Despite containing excellent music with great sound and production, it had little commercial impact. On it we find tracks like the opening, heavy hard rock song “Sleeping The Day Away”, the bluesy “I Don’t Know”, the laid-back “Dreaming”, the boogie jam “Skeet”, the exhilarating “Fire Queen”, and the brilliant “Virgin Waters”. After a second and commendable album, “The 2nd Of May” (1971), the band dissolved like so many others, with Hudson and Black returning to Canada, while Newman was recruited by the Gurvitz brothers to join the band Three Man Army.