OCTOBER 2004 PLAY LIST
1). Ten Years After "Now" TYM
tenyearsafternow.com
What's in a brand name? Well in the case of Ten Years After, like several other enduring American rock bands such as The Allman Brothers, and closer to home The Man band, it's a case of new wine in old bottles and a passport to getting their new music noticed and played.
"Now" is an excellent album and in young Joe Gooch, Ric Lee and his pals have found the perfect catalyst to relaunch the band into the contemporary rock market.
The first thing to say is that "Now" is as contemporary as it could have been. Joe's scintillating guitar lines from the Steve Vai style workouts on the eastern flavoured "A Hundred Miles High" - complete with its echoes of the Beatles - to the powerful riffs on the album's stand out track, "Time To Kill" are beautifully integrated into the bands overall schema. Chick Churchill adds some lovely keyboard parts and the ensemble rock out stylishly
This album takes the exploratory rocking blues history of the band and adds a powerful vocalist, guitarist, who has become an integral part of the song writing process. Such is the success of the new line-up that the whole set sounds fresh, new and contemporary.
"When It All Comes Down", the opening cut is an impressive mix of keyboard and guitar parts, while the self explanatory titled "King Of The Blues" is a stomping boogie, full of rolling piano and a band in full flow.
Leo Lyons and Ric Lee belt out a succession of tough but intuitive grooves that underpin some excellent songs, notably "Time To Kill", but the band as a whole impress with some fine material and even a possible single in the Nickleback sounding "I'll Make It Easy For You". "Long Time Running" is an almost Southern rock sounding piece complete with slide and wah wah guitar parts and Leo's insistent bass lines. Ric Lee's adds crashing cymbals, and the track will surely appeal to the American market. The closing hypnotic grooves of "Changes" confirm that this album is one of the bands best efforts, complete with a new guitar hero in the ranks.
Here are some audio clips from Now: |
Broadband (CD quality) |
Dial-Up (AM radio) |
| Time To Kill |  |
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| I'll Make It Easy For You | |
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| Long Time Running | |
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2). Stan Webb's Chicken Shack "Still Live After All These Years" Mystic
Records
stanwebb.cjb.net
After nearly 4 decades of touring and 37 or so years of fronting Chicken
Shack, Stan Webb has produced the kind of live album that will please all
his die-hard fans and guitar fans to boot.
Recorded last year in Paderborn, Germany, "Still Live" breaks little new ground in terms of songs, but rather reaffirms Stan as a unique sounding guitarist (a kind of psychedelic blues tone) who is singing as well as at any time in his career. Then there is the presence of the "Shadow" horns" whose presence make sure Stan plays to his potential.
Long time fans will recognise enduring favourites such as "Night Life", the B side of the original hit single "I'd Rather Go Blind", which is also included here. There's also a splendid version of "Doctor Brown" and ("You Are) The Sweetest Little Thing", on which Stan adds some awesome psychedelic blues licks, that set him apart from his contemporaries. He adds some heavy-duty slide guitar in between near prefect horn parts on another tour de force, "The Chicken Shack Opera". The latter has been a Stan staple for years, but this is easily the best recorded version.
With a mix of shuffles, rocking blues and the occasional original arrangement (as on The Beatles "Saw Her Standing There") Stan Webb finally delivers the kind of album that together with his stage antics, have made him near legendary.
Here are some clips from Still Live
After All These Years : |
Broadband (CD quality) |
Dial-Up (AM radio) |
| (You Are) The Sweetest Little Thing | |
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| The Chicken Shack Opera | |
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| (Oh Please) Doctor Brown | |
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3). The Moondogs "The Blues'll Get Ya '" Market Square Records
moondogs.co.uk
The Moondogs comprise Derik Timms on gtr/vox, Graham Walker drums (whose originally thought of the project) and Eddie Masters on bass, plus guests such as Jim Rodford and Rod Argent from the Zombies, Steve Simpson (Roger Chapman, Meal Ticket) and Jethro Tull's Clive Bunker.
Former Brewer's Droop guitarist, top session player and fine singer-song writer Derik Timms. has been around a long time, and his musical acumen, and intuitive studio/production skills are to the fore on a fine album, that as he says, "Will do what it says on the tin''.
The set opens with an impressive steely riff'd shuffle titled 'Everything'. The following muscular reading of The Allman Brothers "Midnight Rider" and the funky reggae Steely Dan sounding 'Travelling Show", quickly demonstrate the band's versatility based on a combination of experienced players, fine material, and quality recording values.
"Blue Tattoo" is an impressive, Progressive sounding album highlight with a repeated hypnotic riff, a slightly distorted voice and some searing slide with judiciously added percussion. It's a throw back to the days of exploratory ideas, eclectic lyrics and intense riffs. It says much for the rest of this rocking blues influenced album that this slide led piece -echoing Pink Floyd as it does - sits comfortably in middle of the rest of a finely honed AOR set.
Overall there's much to please rockers of whatever persuasion, from the raucous guitar blues of the title track to the powerhouse version of the closing track "Baby Please Don't Go".
In sum this is a well-worked album by some of the best domestic working musicians on the circuit.
4) ALBERT LEE "Heartbreak Hill" Sugar Hill Hil
albertleeandhogansheroes.com
Currently starring with the Crickets and Bill Wyman, Albert Lee will be
playing selected dates in November including The Boom Boom Club. This
long overdue solo release is Albert's American calling card to all those
outside of Nashville, who are still unaware of a guitar genius in their
ranks.
Recorded partly in LA and partly in Nashville, this album confirms that Albert remains in the vanguard of all that is good about New Country, namely great songs, crystal glass harmonies, great playing and real feel.
The title track is a suitably up tempo Country rocker, on which Albert shares harmony vocals with Patty Loveless, and twins guitar duties with Buddy Emmons on pedal steel. Albert is a restless spirit and because of his constant gigging with his own band, and Bill Wyman, The Crickets etc, it has taken a long time to find a window of mutual availability for him and this stellar line up of Country players.
The liner notes by Emmylou Harris refer to his role in her "Hot Band" of 19 years ago, when Albert successfully took over the guitar duties from the estimable James Burton. Curiously Emmy doesn't actually appear on the album, but there's telling appearances by the likes of Vince Gill, Buddy Emmons, Jerry Douglas, Earl Scruggs, Patty Loveless and even JD Souther.
One of Albert's qualities notes Emmylou, is as a song stylist. And his reading of Emmy's husband/song writer Paul Kennerly's four efforts, from the title track to the top ten country rocker "Born To Run" is truly inspired. On "Born To Run", Albert delivers some beautifully insistent guitar runs, seamlessly backed by JT Thomas on piano, while on "Heaven Only Knows" Buddy Emmons adds some lovely pedal steel to more exquisite Albert playing.
Guitar fans will rejoice in the Gram Parsons's instrumental "Luxury Liner". It remains an Albert live favourite and is a glorious meeting of Albert, Brad Paisley and Vince Gill on guitars. The latter doubles up on mandolin and the number swings with abandon.
There's so much good stuff here, including the magnificent Rodney Crowell love song "Til I Gain Control Again", and a surprisingly languid but effective reading of Delbert McLinton's "Two More Bottles Of Wine". On the closing Rodney Crowell classic "Bluebird Wine", Albert teams up with fellow Grammy award winning musician Earl Scruggs on banjo and Buddy Emmons on pedal steel once more, for a final hoe down. This is the perfect end to a truly great Country rock album!
Here are some audio clips from Heartbreak
Hill: |
Broadband (CD quality) |
Dial-Up (AM radio) |
| Heartbreak Hill | |
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| Born To Run | |
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| Luxury Liner | |
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5) LOS PACAMINOS "Los Pacaminos" Tornado Records
lospacaminos.com
Given the all star band line-up of Paul Young, Drew Barfield, Jamie Moses
and Matt Irving, Melvyn Duffy, as well as the rock solid rhythm sections,
comprising by turns Steve Greetham and Dave Levy on bass and drummers Jim
Russell and Mark Pinder, the quality of the music comes as less a surprise
than the actual musical direction.
For those already familiar with Los Pacaminos, the Tex Mex, Mariachi, Conjunto, Country melange translate effortlessly into a great live show. Recording wise, this eclectic musical direction might have proved more difficult, but as this self-titled album proves, Los Pacaminos confidently wing their way through an irreverent, rootsy but ultimately impressive album, with some style.
Above all there is some strong song-writing, notably on the black humour of "Poorboys" and self-effacing irony of "Manana". There is also some excellent playing including Paul 's fine banjo playing and Jamie's multi-instrumental contributions. Throw in some impressive vocal performances, especially from Drew Barfield, allied with some sizzling harmonies, and a real feel for Tex Mex music in its widest configuration, and you have the basis of a hugely original album.
Other highlights include the vocally strong "Shadows On The Rise", the jaunty "Two Margaritas", and the closing instrumental "Tierra D'ensuenos" Best heard in a Mexican cantina with a tequila and beer chaser, this album does the job just as well without the hangovers!
6) Bernard Allison "Higher Power" Ruf Records
bernardaliison.com
The title of the new album, Bernard explains, is all to do with making a
connection with the powers above to handle everyday life, from dealing his
new role as a father, to the on going spiritual presence of his dad, the
late blues icon Luther Allison.
In truth Bernard has probably been in the shadow of his dad for too long. This album, his first with his tour band in the studio, benefits from intuitive playing born of a hectic tour schedule with his band. The music set however, brings us no close to the core of Bernard than any of his previous efforts.
From the rock blues, and stoccato back beat of "I've Learned My Lesson", and the chunky funk of Luther's "Raggedy & Dirty", to the power chord swagger of "Stay With Me Tonight", and the neatly arranged shuffle boogie r&b standard "It's A Man Down There", Luther remains a musician of many parts.
Ultimately he seems happiest in the languid bluesy mould of say "New
Life I'm In" and "Standing On The Edge of Love".
On "Time Flies By" the band works up a nice head of steam, coming
close to their live performance style. Bernard tops the piece with a sinuous
guitar break, and only a thin vocal line hold the piece back from being truly
memorable.
Significantly perhaps, the Bruce McCabe (Hoopshakers/Johnny Lang) penned "Stake
Have Gone Up" works best, as it works the kind of piano filled groove
that suits Bernard's laid back style.
In short this is another enjoyable album from Bernard Allison but he still remains a handful of songs away from finding his own true funky blues niche.
7). Saiichi Sugiyama "So Am I" Hendrixx Records
saiichi.com
A surprising album this one. It's surprising because the strengths of "So
Am I" lie in some fine song writing and probably the best vocals, UK
based Japanese guitarist Saiichi Sugiyama has ever produced.
It doesn't take more than a cursory look at the personnel on the album to tell you that this CD has potential. It comes as a further pleasant surprise then that established talents such as Clem Clempson, John O'Leary, Zoot Money, Pete Brown, Henry Lowther and David Hadley Ray are joined by exciting new vocal talents of Sue Ballingall and Jim Stapley.
And together with some of Saiichi's best material to date, "So Am I" is a fine album with some memorable moments. In fact Sugiyama appears happiest working his way round a couple of delicate rock ballads of which "The Old Samurai" is the best, with some emotive lyrics, and a monumental guitar outro. "Seagull", is a Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young style harmony piece, that finds Saiichi delivering his best ever vocals in the company of the impressive Mark Horiuchi, while the emphasis on harmonies is further explored on the impressive, post Manhattan Transfer style piece, "I Never Turn".
The other featured vocalist Jim Stapley shines throughout, swapping lead vocals with Saiichi on "Cellar Full of Noise" (a Pete Brown sounding song title if ever I heard one), while Saiichi further demonstrates his expansive guitar skills in the company of Clem Clempson on the explosive guitar instrumental called "Shimmy".
There's even a thinly veiled salute to the Beatles. Complete with attendant "oohs and aaahs", and some neat Pete Brown penned, biographical lyrics, "Student Susan" is redolent of the Fab Four's golden age. But there lies the rub, as "So Am I" sounds like a quality mid 70's album, In many respects it's none the worse for that of course, and perhaps might even give Saiichi a foothold on Rock's internationally slippery ladder.
Here are some audio clips from So Am I : |
Broadband (CD quality) |
Dial-Up (AM radio) |
| Cellar Full Of Noise | |
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| Enough | |
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| Old Samurai | |
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| I Never Turn | |
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8). The Zeds "Forty Winks" Zed Music
thezeds.net
Ok. The Zeds are a high-energy trio from the Watford area of Hertfordshire,
who have spent the last five years chipping away at an unrelenting live circuit.
Undeterred by the lack of label interest, song writing vocalist and guitarist
Pete Woods has taken his charges into the studio, and managed to cut his
powerful mini anthems and without losing the raw, cutting edge that makes
some of his compositions so memorable;
Both the opening brace of songs, "Move A Little Closer" with its crashing chords, and the stripped down r&b, Nine Below Zero style of "Keep On Walkin'", hit the mark. The following "Say Goodbye" wears its Stones/Faces influences on its sleeve, while the caustic "Not A Day" sits on a great hook. And there's more, with frequent dips into the Byrds/Long Ryders/Searchers six string jangling guitar sound, and further self penned crackers such as the anthemic "If Your Gonna Go", and a great relationships song "It Ain't Enough", which has a football crowd, Rod Stewart style chorus.
The Zeds retro style works simply because they fuse some of Rock Music's most powerful influences into their own songs. And even when they do finally play a cover with a final live take of Hendrix's "Voodoo Chile" they add their own very imaginative edgy arrangement. Great stuff, worthy of seeking out.
9). Dave Mason XM Radio Concert
davemason.accessbackstage.com
Still hanging in there, this batch of Mason/Capaldi songs have stood the test of time and after several decades away from the UK Rock scene, the AOR, hook laden songs retain an immediacy that makes you press the replay button on your CD player.
Great
music survives the test of time, and as this great live set proves, Dave
Mason both wrote and interpreted some of the all time rock classics.
It's been well over two decades since Dave Mason enjoyed any profile at all in the UK. Aside from his low key tour with Fleetwood Mac's "Time" album, and a couple of albums in the late 80's, it seemed his star had all but dipped out of sight.
In fact since leaving Traffic for the last time, Dave established a solid solo career in the US, playing to packed out tours, and enjoying steady album sales - the last of which, 1983's prophetically titled "Old Crest On A New Wave" featured Michael Jackson no less.
But personal problems aside, Mason seems to have become a
victim of being part of the 80's AOL scene. Where bigger compatriots like
The Eagles, Mac and CSNY rode over the winds of change, Dave was left without
a label, and then his co writer/guitarist Jim Krueger sadly died.
And then out of nothing comes this fine live album. Nearly all of it hails
from his Traffic and immediate post Traffic days, but what wonderful material
it is. Mason still fronts a great band, and his guitar playing still picks
out those chiming melodies on songs like "We Just Disagree", "World
In Changes", "Only You Know & I Know", and a reprise of
his early 80's Hendrix version of "All Along The Watch Tower". Apart
from that, he is a great lyricist - where few words say so much - with an ability
to beautifully fit his lyrics to tightly structured melodies.
Traffic fans will enjoy Mason's rendering of Jim Capaldi's "4000 Headmen", and a blinding set is topped by a rousing "Feeling Allright" - at the conclusion of which Dave shouts out, "Rock an roll is an attitude, not an age thing". On the evidence of this he's still playing with fiery passion and his timeless material sounds just as potent now as it did over three decades ago.
Here are some audio clips from Live XM
Radio Concert: |
Broadband (CD quality) |
Dial-Up (AM radio) |
| We Just Disagree | |
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| World In Changes | |
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| Feelin' Alright | |
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10).Torrington Music "30 Years On" RoseTim Records
thetorrington.co.uk
This album has actually been available for 7 and a half years. The historic
Torrington music venue finally closed its doors in October and the CD is
a fine musical memory of a fondly remembered music venue.
Started in the late 60's in an era where Jazz met Blues and Rock head on, this 11 track CD effectively concentrates on the middle years. Regular Torrington favourites such as Ruthless Blues, Steve Gibbons, Man, and The Hamsters are teamed with the likes of 70's survivor Lee Kosmin, and current harmonica blues star Paul Lamb.
Aussie blues rocker Gwyn Ashton, and rocking blues cousins Bad Influence share further billing with swinging r&b outfit The Motel Kings and the exquisite funky vocals of Noel McCalla and Celtic Roots rocker Jackie McAuley. Just like the venue down the years, this album offers something for everyone.
Tracks are in Windows Media Player format, and should stream to your PC in CD quality if you have Broadband, or lower quality if you use a dial-up connection.
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Media Player on your PC or Mac you can download the
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