It is actually a cover of the Frank Zappa song from his 1968 ‘Uncle Meat’ album. This is best displayed on the lengthy instrumental King Kong which is a fabulous jazzy rock number that would not feel out of place on an early Santana album. There are a lot of keyboards within the sound, all backed by the solid beat of Dick Powell. What a statement of intent it was from opening bars of Wells Fargo, that sound just hits you like a tank but it is not all bombast, it is is an album full of intricacies, especially with the wonderful arrangements from the classically trained Alan Shacklock, this is a different type of progressive rock and one that certainly makes an impression.
Their debut album, ‘First Base’, featured a striking cover designed by Roger Dean that enabled it to stand out in the racks. Their music was in part influenced by the spaghetti westerns of Sergio Leone, which made for an early ethnicity to their sound. Babe Ruth were a hot ticket in the early 1970s with their intelligent and sophisticated sound, the use of horns and the earthy yet powerful vocals of Janita “Jenny” Haan trading her lines against the impressive Alan Shacklock’s skilled guitar and arrangement.
