This 45 is a little hard to put my thumb on, it's clearly coming from a soul perspective though the end result that ends up working it's way off the record and into yr earhole is something, in my opinion, all together different. There's a mod / hard soul / garage feel that I can't escape and does not fit with the work of NY native Kerr. The track is unrelenting with a sort of live energy that gets running with the ominous organ and stomping bass drum intro, never letting up with the no-reverb-lead guitar line that repeats and repeats only pausing briefly to mash out some chords briefly and it sounds like even missing a few notes here and there, kind of losing some steam after the second breakdown.
Not to say that counts against it, the sort of desperate, frantic energy, including straight up dropping notes during the final go round makes me get even more psyched on the performance and enhances the sort of general weirdness of the song. Like a bloodied boxer getting a little sloppy but fighting with all his heart.
Released in 1970 on New Jersey's All Platinum, the record's details, despite my enthusiasm, suggests this side was probably not much more than filler with its frantic drumming, technical errors and the "one take, done live" vibe. Further the writing credits belong to Kerr and label owner Sylvia Robinson which is the same as the A side, a verifiable soft soul, croon fest "3 Minutes to Hey Girl" that was the actual hit they were interested in getting to market. (Reminds of you the Cliff Nobles "Love is Alright" vs. "The Horse" situation except "Back Lash" is more of a rave up sweat machine that a catchy dance tune.)
Kerr's other productions work (O'Jays, Linda Jones, Whatanuts) has nary a hint of the adrenaline contained in one measure of "Back Lash" instead, his work was often refined and smooth, which is great and worth checking out when you're in a dim the lights, pour some cognac kinda mood, but for now, thank you for the filler!
