Big Jim Sullivan Band - Test Of Time (Reissue) (1983/1994)

British guitar legend "Big" Sullivan with his psychedelic sitar project

"In 1965 Big Jim Sullivan took his first lesson on the Sitar from a Professor at a London College of Ethnic Music. Going to a music school must have been a novel idea as Big Jim had been playing guitar on sessions since 1957, resulting in his presence on more UK hits than anyone else. His tuition was also taken from a famous Indian player who had been studying for many years (the first two years in India are spent solely on the Tabla before they touch a Sitar) and gave Jim the necessary insight to be a creditable player. The result was Jim being asked to record even more sessions as the Sitar became a de rigeur instrument on virtually all mid 60's rock pop records. He taught Jimmy Page, took his Sitar over to George Harrison's Esher pad to enlighten the Beatle.

So we come to 1967 and Mercury Records decide to cash in on the raga craze and take from Big Jim an entire LPs worth of where Sitar met Rock. The contents are a perfect blend of late 60's pop with the Tabla & Sitar sound and arrangements."