You Know It Ain't Easy - Anthology [Import]

• Track Listing

First-ever complete anthology of hotly-tipped early 70s British rock band led by pre-Whitesnake guitarist Micky Moody and former Freedom singer Bobby Harrison. Includes their three albums, singles, studio out-takes, live recordings and BBC sessions. Formed in early 1973, Snafu were something of a minor British rock/blues supergroup, featuring former members of such bands as Procol Harum, Skip Bifferty, Ginger Baker's Airforce, Juicy Lucy, Paladin and Tramline. Immediately pushed by their management company World-Wide Artists (who also handled Black Sabbath) as a major new force in British rock music, Snafu promoted their debut LP - the second album to be recorded at Richard Branson's new studio The Manor, with 'Tubular Bells' the first - with an appearance on The Old Grey Whistle Test, various BBC radio sessions and tours with the era's leading bands. In addition to being held in high regard by the likes of Bob Harris and John Peel, Snafu's live shows and studio albums received positive reviews in the music press, with their rich musical stew drawing comparisons with everyone from the Steve Miller Band and Iron Butterfly to Little Feat and Lynyrd Skynyrd. However, they were unable to make a commercial breakthrough, and they collapsed in early 1976 when guitarist Micky Moody was lured away by former Deep Purple singer David Coverdale for a liaison that led to the band Whitesnake. A 4CD set, 'You Know It Ain't Easy: The Anthology' assembles all three of their studio albums, non-LP singles, various BBC sessions and a live show recorded during their final tour to stand as the ultimate package of a band who never quite made the transition from critical acclaim to chart success.