Taking out time : complete recordings 1967-1969

"Musically, it's in step with the direction Steve Winwood traveled with Traffic and Blind Faith. It's well executed and pleasant, and there are some hidden gems that might make ideal fodder for mixes or the perfect bona fide for a heavy musical discussion. While this is a set for the more musically obsessed, there are some great cuts like "Every Little Thing" and "After Tea" that display real craftsmanship in terms of songwriting, performance, and melody".

"Readers of RC and this column in particular don't need to be lectured too much on the joys of the post- Winwood SPENCER DAVIS GROUP. The three-disc box Taking Out Time: Complete Recordings 1967-69 (RPM) collects singles, the band's cuts from the Here We Go Round The Mulberry Bush soundtrack, albums With Their New Face On and Funky, plus copious outtakes and a disc of BBC sessions. If the Eddie Hardin-era psych material is familiarly pleasing, later tracks like Short Change thrill equally with their funky-rock grooves. And it's great to hear TV spin-off variant The Murgatroyd Band's Magpie among their catalogue at last".