Sid Rumpo " First Offense" Australia 1974.

Sid Rumpo was a fairly polished pub-rock band which formed in Perth in 1971 and unfortunately disappeared into the mists of time in 1974. They are probably best remembered as one of a long line of Mick Elliot's bands. Mick is an accomplished blues-rock guitarist that has been around the Aussie blues & rock scene forever (in bands like Levi Smiths Clefs, Jim Keays' Southern Cross, They Accidentally Sued Themselves and Western Flyer), but rarely seemed to stay in a band long enough to record more than one album.

'First Offense' - Sid Rumpo's one and only offence as it turned out - features the twin guitar riffing of Elliot and Rob Searls on some very catchy boogie and blues-rock songs. While there aren't any jaw-dropping "guitar hero" solos, all the songs pump along with the assistance of some tasty electric piano chops from Ken Wallace over the tight grooves laid down by Noel Herridge on drums and Owen Hughes on bass. But for me, it's Rob Searls' bluesy vocals that stamp First Offense with it's appealing, distinctive 70's, Aussie Rock sound.

I think though, that it's the songs themselves that are the real strength of this album. It is a cohesive album where nothing sounds out of place, and yet might be unpredictable enough in places to interest fans of progressive blues and rock.

Sadly Sid Rumpo didn't make another record. Why, is anybody's guess but after this First Offence - maybe Elliot got time off for "good behaviour". He must have done something right, because mint vinyl copies of the album are fetching almost $200 at some online auctions