THE GROOVEMAN'S COLLECTION

REVIEWS FROM MY VINYL COLLECTION

Category: Vinyl Reviews (Page 466 of 492)

STEVIE WONDER – Talking Book

February 22, 2021 /

Talking Book was the beginning of Stevie’s classic period from ’72 – ’76 where he couldn’t put a foot wrong as everything he put out was pure gold. Blind since just after his birth, and was seen as a prodigy, he was signed to Motown when he was just 11. He took soul and R&B to places that were not recognized at the time. He dragged the Motown label into the album era as they were known mostly for singles. At the time, Motown label artist’s songs were all 3 minutes and under. Stevie helped to change that outlook with 7 of the songs being over.

The album starts off with a stone cold classic, You Are The Sunshine Of My Life. Maybe Your Baby weighs in at 6.45, and has funk added to the mix to give the song that harder edge – plus you get a superb vocal from Stevie. You And I is a slow ballad, and Tuesday Heartbreak follows in the great soul tradition of the label. You’ve Got It Bad Girl finishes Side 1, and is a mix of jazz, soul, and some very clever rhythm changes.

Flipping over to Side 2, probably Stevie’s most famous track, Superstition, get us underway with that unmistakable beat before you get Stevie’s trademark clavinet with the main riff of the song. I always associate this song with guitar as some very famous people (Jeff Beck, Stevie Ray Vaughan) have turned it into a guitar workout, but this is all Stevie on the keys with some horns for great effect. This song is as groovy as it comes. The very un-R&B, Big Brother, is next and you’d be forgiven for thinking this was an Americana song written today. Blame It On The Sun is the weakest song on the album. The slow Lookin’ For Another Pure Love is next with a guest appearance from Jeff Beck, which then brings us to the album closer, I Believe, which ends things in epic ballad style.

I like this album a lot. This album, and the three that came after it, are the ones worthy of inclusion into any collection.

8/10 from The Grooveman.

LIVING COLOUR – Stain

February 20, 2021 /

This is Living Colour’s third album, which came out in ’95, and not too long after they disbanded, only to reform in 2000. At the time they were at the forefront of the short lived funk-metal off shoot scene. I remember all the critics liking this album a lot when it came out, but I don’t think it did very well sales wise.

The album starts off with Go Away, with its Metallica influenced heavy riff mixed with their trademark funky grooves. A great opening track. More heavy funk in the form of the second track, Ignorance Is Bliss. The bass playing from Doug Wimbish is incredible, and holds the whole thing together for me, while Vernon slaps random guitar over the top of every spare space in each song – I don’t think its necessarily beneficial to the songs.

I’m going to skip a few songs here as the vibe is very much the same. Auslander has a very weird almost out of tune riff, and a fast paced groove to change things up. Nothingness is a slight change in pac, and was released as a single. The album closes with Wall, another slice of heavy funk and is my favourite track on the album.

Of their first three albums, this is the weakest, although still a good album and if you like your metal funked up – this could be for you.

7.5/10 from The Grooveman.

FRANK MARINO & MAHOGANY RUSH – Live

February 20, 2021 /

One of the greatest guitarists of his generation! Unfortunately, his name rarely gets mentioned in top guitar polls. Up until the early eighties, Frank was acknowledged as one of the best around, but then as the music scene changed, Frank disappeared off the radar completely only to reappear in the early 2000’s.

I was lucky to catch Frank live a couple of times in his prime, and it was a sight to see. He played the Port Vale Heavy Metal Holocaust, and the crowd were just mesmerized at his virtuosity. This live album from ’77 was my introduction to Marino’s amazing skills. This album is wall-to-wall guitar from beginning to end, with no let up. If like me, you love all things guitar, then you should locate and acquire a copy immediately.

The album starts with a cool instrumental introduction, and then it’s straight into guitar heaven with The Answer. We won’t talk about how much Frank sounds like Hendrix vocally, as that has been well documented, but his playing is off the charts. Next song in is Dragonfly – with its cool funky riff with a touch of echo and chorus for a great effect. And of course there’s a killer solo! Two old blues standards are next with I’m A King Bee Baby, and Back Door Man, which Frank just annihilates with some incredible playing. A New Rock & Roll closes Side 1 in style with more incredible playing, it just doesn’t let up, killer tune.

I remember seeing a picture of Frank’s peddle board around this time, and it was so huge it looked as though every peddle from a music store was on there. Over to Side 2 we go, and the Chuck Berry classic Johnny B Goode is turned inside out, ripped apart, and put back together again with the obligatory killer guitar. Then it’s onto the absolute showpiece of Frank’s set at this time: Talkin Bout A Feelin, Who Do Ya Love, and Electric Reflections Of War. They were all played together as one big piece culminating in the dive bomb piece at the end. You will not hear guitar played better for the period anywhere. This is different level playing. The funky playing at the beginning of Who Do You Love is just awesome and then it just explodes. The album closes out with Purple Haze, a great rendition, with again, killer guitar.

So that’s it, a truly freaking awesome guitar album that, if you have a remote interest in guitar playing or players, then you should own this.

10/10 from The Grooveman.

URIAH HEEP – The Magicians Birthday

February 19, 2021 /

Another one of my school day’s discoveries. This was actually released in 1972, although it would be two years later until it found its way into my universe. Thanks to Barry Leaf, wherever you may be, for introducing me to them. They were considered on par with Deep Purple at the time as the similarities were there for all to see. A Hammond Organ, a great guitar player, and an amazing vocalist. Put all that together, and add in an amazing Roger Dean cover, and 14 year old me was in awe.

What a way to open an album, with the classic Sunrise. Amazing vocals from Dave Byron, and great Hammond playing from Ken Hensley, and those harmonies…just perfect. More standard fare next with Spider Woman, a straight up rock song with a cool descending section. The Hensley penned Blind Eye is next with a great dual guitar melody to open the song and a great melody and hook. They sure knew how to write great songs. Echoes In The Dark has quite an epic beginning, and coupled with another amazing vocal from Byron, the song builds to an epic ending. Rain closes out Side 1, and starts with just piano and vocal, a beautiful piece with an almost gospel feel.

Over to Side 2 we go and two stone cold Heep classics are waiting for your pleasure. The first of which is opener Sweet Lorraine, with the weird keyboard intro and a hook and melody that stick in your head before we head to a great instrumental section. Tales is next and is another Hensley penned slow build tune with great harmonies. On to the second classic and close out tune, the title track, The Magicians Birthday. This was always the center piece of the live show as it had so many sections to it, an absolute monster of a middle section, which culminated in a monster solo from Mick Box. Lyrically it was totally in Prog rock territory with wizards and fantasy. They never quite reached the heights of this album with subsequent releases as for this line up, tragedy would strike, with the death of bassist Gary Thain and later vocalist Dave Byron, both from substance abuse.

If you don’t have any Uriah Heep in your life, this would be a good place to start.

9/10 from The Grooveman.

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