BRIAN AUGERS OBLIVION EXPRESS – Straight Ahead (Strut Reissue) – LP – Vinyl [NOV 7]

LP – Standard Edition Black Vinyl (2025 Strut Reissue).

When Straight Ahead hit the shelves in 1974, it marked another bold chapter for Brian Augers Oblivion Express. The bandSteve Ferrone on drums, Barry Dean on bass, Jack Mills on guitar, and Lennox Langton on congas was firing on all cylinders, pushing jazz fusion into fresh, uncharted territory.

Critics took notice, with Billboard praising the album as excellent in development and inventiveness, and it found its way onto multiple charts at once.

The journey begins with Beginning Again, a lively opener built on Langtons congas and Ferrones muscular groove. Augers electric piano sparkles here, immediately setting the albums adventurous tone. Then comes their take on Wes Montgomerys Bumpin On Sunset. Darker in mood and drenched in atmosphere, Auger stretches out into improvisation while still honouring Montgomerys spirit. The interpretation struck such a chord that, years later, Wess widow wrote to Auger to tell him it was her husbands favourite version of his much-loved tune.

The title track, Straight Ahead, shifts gears into funk, showcasing the groups ability to slide effortlessly between genres. Change pushes further, blending rocks raw energy with jazzs improvisational freedom, driven by Augers command of the Hammond organ. To close, Youll Stay in My Heart brings the tempo down with a tender, soulful balladan intimate ending to an album full of bold explorations.

At the time, reviewers hailed the record as a gem. One called it a minor masterpiece of incredibly engaging and melodic keyboard-centric jazz-rock fusion. Another singled out Bumpin On Sunset as the best reason to own this recording.

Half a century later, Straight Ahead still resonates. It captures that fertile moment in the 1970s when jazz, rock, and funk were colliding, and artists like Auger were busy redrawing the map. To this day, it stands as proof of Augers fearless curiosity and his knack for breaking boundariesmusic that looked forward then, and still feels ahead of its time now.

Tracklist:

A1. Beginning Again [9:22]
A2. Bumpin’ On Sunset [10:57]

B1. Straight Ahead [5:09
B2. Change [8:10]
B3. You’ll Stay In My Heart [3:44]