Take comfort (Bread) (LP 4884 - 4889)

Miller Anderson  Bright City (Vinyl, Deram Records, 1971) ***  

Bread  Manna (Vinyl, Elektra Records, 1971) **** 

Chicago  V (Vinyl, CBS Records, 1972) **** 

Judy Collins  Judith (Vinyl, Elektra Records, 1975) **** 

John Denver  An Evening with John Denver (Vinyl, RCA Records, 1975) ***

Eagles  Eagles (Vinyl, Asylum Records, 1972) ****

Genre: Country rock, blues rock, folk rock, pop rock, jazz rock

Places I remember: Brian Smith Collection, The Little Red Bookshop, JB Hi Fi, Vinyl Room, Vinyl Vault Plus

Fab, and all the other pimply hyperboles: Let Your Love Go (Bread)

Gear costume: Saturday in the Park (Chicago)

They loom large in his legend (The Album Collection playlists): Part 1; Part 2; Part 3; Part 4; Part 5; Part 6; Part 7; Part 8

Active compensatory factors: Until further notice, the next lot of posts are all about catching up (A to Steven Wilson) after a big influx of new vinyl came into the collection. My father-in-law's collection and a $5 sale at The Little Red Bookshop are the two primary sources but a new record shop has opened up 15 minutes away from my home so I've visited it a few times as well. I'll aim to do five of six albums each post. Johnny Winter will be the next artist when we get back on track.

Miller Anderson is mostly known as a side man for a lot of others (Ian Hunter, Keef Hartley, T Rex, Jon Lord, Savoy Brown to name a few). Bright City was his debut solo album and it's good but not great. The playing by him and others (including Gary Thain on bass) is terrific but his vocals aren't noteworthy and the songs aren't too strong.

Nevertheless, I'm keeping this copy from my father-in-law's collection because it's 1971, he's still with us and releasing music, plus, I feel it's one of those albums that will grow on me in time.

Speaking of 1971, Bread's third album, Manna, came out that year as well. Although they became mostly known for their soft rock hits, they could also rock! Let Your Love Go is a great example - the lead off song here. The album also houses their big hit If, which is the style of music they are mainly remembered for making.

Chicago V is the one with Saturday in the Park on it and it's also notable for being their first single album (prior to this they were doubles or more). That means that it's a more concise approach without the song suites of the previous albums. 

Judy Collins is in superb form on Judith. Her voice has gained a richness by the mid-seventies. That she can sing well is an understatement, but she also has some great material on Judith. I loved her version of Send in the Clowns enough to buy the single in 1975. I'm pleased to hear that it has great company on this album.

I've kept the John Denver double live album because it's a reminder of the fun GK and I had at JD's expense back in the day. All those 'far outs' are still hilarious. The audience thought so, too.

The band is supplemented by an orchestra which sweetens the sound a tad too much for my liking but it's John Denver so - par for the course. This Old Guitar remains my favourite song on the album, but all the big hits are present and correct.

The debut album by Eagles is terrific. They still had a few rough rock'n'roll edges, although Take it Easy and Peaceful Easy Feeling are on each side. Witchy Woman was the other hit, all of which guaranteed that Eagles were a force! 

But wait - that's not all, Bernie Leadon added the country rock vibe and the band harmonies were terrific and clearly a strength.

Where do they all belong? That's the first post of a few sorted, from A to E. F next up.