THE GROOVEMAN'S COLLECTION

REVIEWS FROM MY VINYL COLLECTION

Month: January 2022 (Page 7 of 12)

UFO – Obsession

January 17, 2022 /

I remember ’78 being the year that rock started to fight back, as the initial surge of punk began to fade and the two chords began to be a bit boring. Van Halen released what arguably is the best rock album ever, Priest released Stained Class, The Scorpions put out Tokyo Tapes, and UFO put out this monster.

This would be the last studio album that Michael Schenker would record with the band until his brief return on the Walk On Water album. I think he obviously knew he was leaving the band as his playing on this album is some of the best he has recorded. Phil Moggs’ contribution to the band often gets overlooked at the expense of the guitarists that have been in the band, but for me he is the glue that holds it all together.

There are some staple live favourites on this album, namely Only You Can Rock Me, which is a great sing along live, Pack It Up And Go, with a killer solo from Schenker, Hot And Ready, and One More For The Rodeo. Back when this album came out they would sell out every tour – they were a great live act. Lots of energy on stage especially from Pete Way and Schenker. Sadly Phil Mogg has decided that’s it for the band and they are no more.

8.5/10 from The Grooveman.

U2 – Boy

January 17, 2022 /

This is the 40th anniversary reissue of the band’s first album. Straight from the off with I Will Follow, you get that unmistakable guitar sound of the Edge which became their signature sound. A quite simple use of delay and echo launched the band to mega stardom. Of course there was more to the band than that, but it was such a new and refreshing sound that connected with a lot of people. In a day and age where band’s seem to change members at an alarming rate, and for such petty excuses like the guitarist didn’t like the colour of the singers underpants, this band are still together and still making great music.

I always love first albums. This is the band’s big statement as they had been playing the songs live for a while before they were discovered, and the energy and enthusiasm of recording an album shines through. Other than I Will Follow, I really love Stories For Boys, as the echo on the guitar is almost surf rock Dick Dale style, A Day Without Me, as The Edge really uses the delay and echo to great effect, and the awesomeness that is The Electric Co.

They obviously would go on to record some amazing records, but it’s cool to revisit where it all began.

8/10 from The Grooveman.

JOE BONAMASSA – A New Day Now

January 15, 2022 /

This is the 20th anniversary edition of A New Day Yesterday, that has been remixed, remastered, and re-sung – hence the new title. I remember seeing him on this tour at Southport (of all places), and thinking he was a killer player, but the place was far from full. Oh how things change! He is now the leading light of the blues movement and sells out venues all over the world, and boy does he deserve it! He as worked his ass off over the twenty years since this album was originally released.

This album is a mix of covers and originals, which he has done so well over the years. The covers are not what you would expect with tracks by Rory Gallagher, Free, Al Kooper, and the title track which was a Jethro Tull song. Joe’s version is a stone cold killer with some epic guitar. Of course Joe pays his respects to older blues artists paying homage to Albert King with Don’t Burn Down That Bridge. I have the original of this album, and this does sound amazing. It’s definitely worth buying as you get a bonus side with three extra tracks, with Line Of Denial being the best.

Even with all the heavyweight covers on the album, my favourite track is a Joe original with I Know Where I Belong. It has a great funky groove and swings along beautifully with an epic Joe solo. Joe doesn’t make bad records and this revamp is superb.

10/10 from The Grooveman.

STEELY DAN – Gaucho

January 15, 2022 /

So the year is 1980, and the music world is either rocking its brains out, or its new wave crazy. If you’re Steely Dan however, you are the kings of cool and releasing albums that are sonically so good they sound as though they are playing in your own room. Steely Dan release records that session musicians would release if there were no record labels to interfere. This would be the last album they would release until Two Against Nature in 2000.

The guest list of players is a who’s who of the session world, with the likes of Steve Gadd, Jeff Porcaro, The Brecker Brothers, Michael McDonald, and Larry Carlton – to name a few. I love Donald Fagen’s vocal style, and the way he uses words to tell stories is just sublime. They have been called smooth jazz, which nowhere near does the music justice. It’s way deeper than that, there is a really cool funk undertone to a lot of the tracks. Musically, it’s all about the groove and the swing so Donald can weave his vocals that intertwine beautifully. My favourite tracks are Babylon Sisters, Glamour Profession, and Time Out Of Mind as that’s where everything clicks together for me.

8/10 from The Grooveman.

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