McGuinness Flint's 1971 debut LP was a very of-its-time British roots rock album with a rural feel. While neither blues-rock nor folk-rock, the influence of blues-rock and folk-rock on these easygoing, good-natured rambles was substantial. Particularly evident at times were the influences of
Bob Dylan and
the Band, and it's no surprise that
McGuinness Flint would soon make an album of obscure
Dylan covers, including several songs from the
Basement Tapes. Despite the formidable talent involved in the group, and the high profiles of other acts in which the members were involved, it's nonetheless apparent that they don't have major musical ideas to express. It's competent, amiable music with a laid-back, back-to-the-land vibe, often falling back on generic bluesy melodies. The album gets a little more interesting when they reach for moodier, folkier textures and tunes, sometimes with a slightly
Paul McCartney-esque pop sensibility (though there aren't many on this disc).
McGuinness Flint was a very successful record in the U.K., however, where it reached the Top Ten, and where two of its most upbeat good-time songs, "When I'm Dead and Gone" and "Malt and Barley Blues" (the latter of which was a little like a more sophisticated
Mungo Jerry), were Top Five singles. ~ Richie Unterberger