Kevin Lamb - Who Is The Hero (2023)

Who Is the Hero is terrifically obscure, though it has gotten some exposure -- as a title, at least -- on Police discographies through the presence of Andy Summers on guitar. Kevin Lamb, who later passed through the lineup of Rare Bird and subsequently cut an album for Arista, has a satisfying mid-range voice and his repertory here is folk-based rock, not too far removed from the work of Alan Hull and Lindisfarne, Cat Stevens, or, at times, even Dave Cousins of the Strawbs from the same period, though he has a bit more wattage than Stevens. There's not a bad song here and there are several really good ones: in addition to the title track, which was later recorded by Rare Bird, there's "It's You and I," an extrovert singalong with a catchy chorus, and "Frost on the Pasture" is a hauntingly beautiful ballad, highlighted by elegant guitar work, electric and acoustic; and it is followed by the slightly more melodramatic but exquisitely arranged "All Change Now." Most of the album is comprised of original songs, though Lamb does work in a nicely effective cover of Bob Dylan's "It's All Over Now, Baby Blue," featuring a very strong vocal performance, some memorably soulful organ, and tastefully understated guitar flourishes. But Lamb saves the best work for last: The bittersweet, melancholy (but catchy) "Far Between the Morning" and the gorgeous "Sad Lady," a ballad worthy of Dave Cousins, which ought to have gotten a lot of airplay at the time on WNEW-FM and other open-format, progressive stations. © Bruce Eder