Stealer's Wheel (1975) Benediction - LOST 70s GEMS

Benediction is by far the highlight of the third and final album by the troubled duo/ sometimes full fledged band; Stealers Wheel. But first lets look at the album whole, Found my way to You is an upbeat pop tune, while This Morning is a cosmic strummed pop ballad reminiscent of Badfinger or Big Star, Let Yourself Go has some spunky funky blues guitar notes but doesn't suit Rafferty's deep, nasal, un-inflected vocals. Home from Home is a blissful electric piano tune with delicate close harmonies from the duo that almost reach the peaks of their towering debut effort that was never equalled nor bettered. Go as You Please is another dismissive number with more funky rhythms, hard guitars and some fabulous power chord breaks. Don't Get Me Wrong is bluegrass with its violin and some seductive harmonies, funky tempos and noisy arrangement. Monday Morning is another uncouth rocker built around a supple refrain about how "Monday morning comes around too soon!"; a great truism but a bland statement in this generic stomper. The final track and the tite track reveals the daring Indian psychedelia hinted at on Another Meaning from their 72 magnus opus. The opening track as always in early 70s rock was the strongest; more melodic and polished, launching with a stratospheric guitar riff winding back and forth in a carousel style it's pure ecstasy personified through electric guitar revealing both Raferty and Egan'sknack for building solid pop songs around phenomenal instrumental hooks primarily the legendary sax part of Baker Street and the ripply guitar arpeggio of Back on the Road. But then Rafferty's winsome vocal so staid brings the song down for some harsh realities before Egan once again like the McCartney of the equation lifts proceedings with a stellar, positive harmony vocal; they were genuinely the closest approximation to a 70s version of Lennon McCartney with their split of composition and arrangement duties on each others songs and their occasional co writes it was a unique and unsung collaboration.