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This « Bluesy Mind » released in 1969 could easily rival with the great British White groups as Savoy Brown, Ainsley Dunbar Retaliation etc. Alan Jack (piano, organ), Richard Fontaine (bass), Jean Falissard (drums) and Claude Olmos (Guitar) were really good.

Alan Jack was a true French “John Mayall”. In his later years he was joined by later greats such as Paul Personne and Patrick Verbecke.

Vocals (with a little Frenchie accent) set aside, the songs are strong and the guitar leads are wild.

Organ and tambourine give the album a psychedelic touch and it's obvious the guys are having a great time in the studio.

ALAN JACK CIVILIZATION - Bluesy Mind 1969
Here is the proof, that quality Blues-Rock could be played in country, where blues wasn't prefered music style. If I'm wrong, I will glad, if you write me other Blues-Rock bands from France, because I know only this one. But Alan Jack Civilisation is, believe me or not, really, really good.

Alan Jack Civilization - Bluesy Mind (1969)

Rare continental blues LP that sounds like a wilder version of Aynsley Dunbar's Retaliation, lots of guitar riffing and doomy vocals that sometimes call Jaklin to mind.

This band (Bass, drums & guitar) performed on this record from 1969 an authentic and powerful blues rock sung in English. Guitarist Claude OLMOS revealed a really refined, agressive but flowing, dazzling and powerful way of playing on "Middle Earth", long suite where the clear and waving vocals of Alan JACK blend with his piano parts and the truly beautiful, moving and complex soli. As good as FLEETWOOD MAC in their best period.

Sur l'album de 1969 intitulé "Bluesy Mind", Alan JACK CIVILISATION (Basse, batterie, guitare et claviers-chant) présentait un blues-rock chanté en Anglais, authentique et puissant. Le guitariste Claude OLMOS y révèle un jeu tout en finesse, mordant, fluide, fulgurant et fabuleux. Sur "Middle Earth", longue suite où le chant clair et ondulant d'Alan JACK se marie avec les notes de son piano et les soli de toute beauté, déchirants et complexes de la guitare. Aussi bon que FLEETWOOD MAC à son apogée.

[...] Jacques Braud était de Tours, il menait l'Alan Jack Civilization. En chantant superbement derrière son clavier. Si on doit réhabiliter UN disque hexagonal, le présenter avec admiration aux jeunes génération, c'est "Bluesy Mind" (1969). Ici pas d'approximation, de bœufs boiteux sur deux accords foireux (mal repiqués) et de pantoufle braillant n'importe quoi en yaourt. Cet album a la classe de Fleetwood Mac ou de John Mayall. Ecoutez la guitare de Claude Olmos, la rigueur de ce discours Claptonien, la rythmique précise qui pondère des compositions impeccables (pas un bouche trou) et sortez du snobisme ordinaire. Férocement le genre de galettes qui permet d'enfoncer tout le monde, dans un blind test. Le succès, bien sur, a été plus que relatif. Alan Jack est mort discrètement, en 1995. L'album original coute une fortune, mais il a été réédité en CD. Avec une version live du "Don't Let Me Be Misunderstood" des Animals, simple dépouillée et très touchante. Du blues, quoi.

This is the prime exponent of French blues-rock, closely related to the British late-60's blues-rock boom (as initiated by Alexis Korner and John Mayall). Hearing it for the first time, you'd swear this was a lost UK Decca or Vertigo release. If you'd heard this was a Continental band, your next thought would be to place it in the lowlands, which at least had a healthy blues scene. France? It can't happen there, to paraphrase Frank Zappa. Actually, quite a few French guitar players had an early background playing the blues. Whereas John Mayall's records showcased British up-and-coming guitar stars, Alan Jack's Bluesy Mind belonged to Claude Olmos, imprinting the album with his superb techniques. After the Civilization was ruined (didn't take too long as it was a session group), he joined Magma, which may be another surprise for some, but bear in mind that the man he replaced, Claude Engel, had played blues-rock in Omega Plus.

Alan Jack Civilization - N'y change rien (ep) 1970 - Great single from Alan Jack Civilization in a very different way than their bluesy lp (flute, pop rock sound & french lyrics)

Excelente banda de blues francesa que gravou esse seu unico album onde faziam um blues psicodélico e acido regado a uma guitarra fuzzy,piano e gaita de boca!! Veneno francês altissimamente recomendado!!

Beautilful France blues band taped this and that your single album where did a psychedelic blues, acid rock to a fuzz guitar, piano and harmonica!! Poison french highly recommended!!