THE GROOVEMAN'S COLLECTION

REVIEWS FROM MY VINYL COLLECTION

Tag: vinyl (Page 20 of 50)

DUANE ALLMAN – An Anthology

March 2, 2021 /

This album is basically a tribute to Skydog, who died tragically at the age of 25 after being involved in an accident while riding his motorcycle. Unbelievably, he was only recording for just over 3 years, and during that time a legend was born. This compilation takes from the session days at the legendary Fame studios in Muscle Shoals, to the final recordings with the Allman Brothers on the Eat A Peach album. Not only was he a great slide and lead player, but he could play for the song.

The R&B tracks recorded at Fame that are here are just fantastic. The Clarence Carter track, The Road Of Love, is dirty old school soul with some great playing from Duane. There is a BB King medley, and Goin Down Slow by Jack Dupree, that Duane recorded under his own name at Fame in ’68, which are included. The more famous collaborations are also included with Livin’ On The Open Road by Delaney/Bonnie, and Friends and Layla from Derek and the Dominoes, which I’m sure everyone will know. The last side of the album are all Allman Brothers tracks, which highlight Duane’s amazing six string talents.

As compilations go, this is a good representation of what Duane was all about as a player, and is a fitting tribute to iconic character.

8/10 from The Grooveman.

TANGERINE DREAM – Force Majeure

March 2, 2021 /

This is the last of album of the classic line up, it’s also the last from their most creative mid-seventies Virgin period. They were at the forefront of German progressive music from there inception in 1970. They were also considered pioneers of electronic music – even though they were not exclusively electronic as conventional weapons were also used. A very prolific band, as they have released over 100 albums so far, and this is album number 11. Although only a single LP, there are only 3 tracks.

The whole of Side 1 is taken up by the title track. I have a love/hate relationship with electronic music, I am not so enamored with electro/pop, but I really like progressive/experimental music. They are perfect albums to relax and wind down to. This is no exception, the 18 minutes of Side 1 lets you immerse yourself completely into the whole experience.

The two tracks on Side 2, Cloudburst Flight, and Thru Metamorphic Rocks, are basically more of the same. Cloudburst does have a very Pink Floyd beginning and is a really good track. The last track starts quite conventionally, before the true depth of exploration of the band comes to the fore. This is considered to be one of the band’s more melodic outings as there is more of a song structure to the pieces. In 2015, band leader and founder, Edgar Froese, died and the band still exist with his blessing.

7/10 from The Grooveman.

FOCUS – 3

March 1, 2021 /

Focus, the band that made yodelling fashionable thanks to barking mad band leader, Thijs Van Leer. Focus are another band from my youth, thanks to their singles Sylvia and Hocus Pocus. They both made the British charts and had had appearances on Top Of The Pops, where a very impressionable me was transfixed. Although Dutch natives, this was recorded in England at Olympic Studios in ’73. They have a very distinct sound that his theirs, and theirs alone, no one sounds like Focus.

As far as instrumental albums go, this is a very diverse album of styles. The album starts with a serious jazz/prog workout, which is mainly instrumental apart from a fairly inaudible vocal. Love Remembered is next and features Van Leer’s flute playing to the max. The aforementioned single, Sylvia, follows. The main groove of the song is Akkerman’s guitar, which plays what would be the vocal line. Side 1 ends with Carnival Fugue, and has the patented Focus jazz/prog vibe throughout- apart from the lounge lizard section.

Over to Side 2, which has just the two tracks. The title track, Focus 3, is a very slow piece that gives way to the Answers? Questions! Questions? Answers! 14 minutes of prog instrumental heaven. A very seventies sounding piece, but I really like it. Just to say, vocals are the last thing I focus on when listening to a record for the first time. The music always comes first.

Over to Side 3 and the longest track, Anonymous 2 Part 1, which clocks in at 19 minutes. Lots of organ and flute playing start the piece off, and if I’m honest, is probably a tad over indulgent.

Over to Side 4 we go, and Anonymous 2 the conclusion, which is mostly a drum solo. Very weird. The last two songs are short(er) Ackerman pieces, Elspeth Of Nottingham and House Of The King. The first of which is a baroque folk mandolin driven piece. The last track was chosen as a theme song to an ITV programme called Don’t Ask Me, and Saxondale with Steve Coogan.

That’s that, and another great 70’s Prog album.

7.5/10 from The Grooveman.

STEVIE SALAS COLORCODE – s/t

March 1, 2021 /

At the time of its release in 1990, this was one of the best funk-metal albums of the new and exciting offshoot in the scene at the time. For some reason, that simply blows my mind, as this, and the Back From The Living album, are the only ones that are readily available outside of Japan. I saw him play at a small club/bar in Toronto called Stones Place, which was just a jam night, and it turned into one of the best gigs I have ever seen. Stevie wears his influences on his sleeve, mainly James Brown, Parliament, and Funkedelic. Bootsy has recorded a few albums with Stevie, and Stevie has guested on his.

The awesome, Stand Up, starts the album off with its heavy funk groove and sets the tone for the whole album. Blind is next, and is another killer tune. Caught In The Middle is a perfect piece of pop rock that should have been released as a single, but in typical Island fashion, they dropped that ball. Just Like That follows, and would not have been out of place on a Mellancamp album. Side closer, Two Bullets And A Gun, is another ripping tune and really grooves with some great playing by Stevie.

Side 2 starts with the best song on the album, The Harder They Come, and is a monster tune. Some serious funk-rock groovin’ going down. Over And Over Again is next, and the tempo seriously slows down with its Hendrix feel, and is as close to a ballad as Stevie gets. Baby Walk On has things heading back to funky town with its big sing along chorus. Indian Chief is another tune that has the Hendrix feel – not in a guitar-explosion way, but Jimi in his mellow moments. The album closes out with Cover Me, with a big fat riff and is more of a straight ahead rocker.

About the same time as this, Stevie was dating Sass Jordan. He helped out with her Rats album and his stamp is all over it. I really like this album, and would recommend this to anyone. There is a lot harder edge to the music here, compared to say, Dan Reed Network, who were a lot more commercial sounding.

9.5/10 from The Grooveman.

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