As it happens (James/ Klugh) (LP 2224)

Bob James/ Earl Klugh  Cool (CD, Warner Bros. Records, 1992) ****  

Genre: Jazz

Places I remember: Slow Boat Records

Fab, and all the other pimply hyperboles: As It Happens

Gear costume: The Sponge 

Active compensatory factors: This is the third and final collaboration so far between Bob James and Earl Klugh.

They continue to dish out cool modern jazz sounds that sound right in nearly all situations (okay maybe not so much on a cold and rainy winter's day). So, morning, night, sunny skies, breezy spring days, then. 

Where do they all belong? I think I have enough Bob James albums now. My go to albums will always be the double live album, the two CD compilation and Touchdown I think.

So much love (Eric Burdon) (LP 2091 - 2095)

Earl Klugh and Bob James  Two Of A Kind (Vinyl, Capitol Records, 1982) *****  

Brian Auger's Oblivion Express  Straight Ahead (Vinyl, RCA Records, 1974) ***  

Eric Burdon  Darkness Darkness (Vinyl, Polydor Records, 1980) **

Eric Burdon  I Used To Be An Animal, But I'm Alright Now (Vinyl, Striped Horse Records, 1988) ****   

Donovan  Love Is Only Feeling (Vinyl, Interfusion Records, 1981) ****  

Genre: Jazz (modern variety); jazz rock; pop/rock; folk rock

Places I remember: These are all from Slow Boat Records - which I visited a few weeks ago.

Fab, and all the other pimply hyperboles: Lady Of The Flowers (Donovan)

Gear costume: Half Moon Bay (Donovan) 

Active compensatory factors: The Bob James/Earl Klugh album is the second of their three collaborations and quite possibly their best, although third effort, Cool, is also great.

They coexist happily as musicians - each one shining throughout, without getting in each other's way.

I was a little disappointed with the Auger album. Given it only has five tracks I was expecting quality wig outs aplenty but on the first couple of listens it hasn't impressed me much. Noodling is great as long it develops eventually into something memorable.

The eighties weren't too kind to rockers like Eric Burdon. He can be hit or miss during that decade. These two are a good example of that. I Used To Be An Animal is much the better of the two with some nice horn work fleshing out the sound, plus a variety of new looks from Eric. 

His vocals are always spirited but after a couple of decades he's entitled to ease up a tad. On Darkness Darkness he sounds pretty done in.

That leaves the latest Donovan album to enter my collection. I really like it! It feels like he's very comfortable in his own skin. 

The musicianship and recording are high class here and he's a good lesson for others in the eighties - basically just keep doing your thing and don't be a slave to the new technologies/ sounds.

Really, this album could have come from the late sixties, seventies or nineties! Go Donovan!

Pity about the cover though. 

Where do they all belong? My other purchases from the Wellington trip have gone into the collection and I'll get to them in time.

The afterglow (Bob James) (LP 826 - 827)

Bob James and Earl Klugh   One On One (Vinyl, CBS Records, 1979) ***

Bob James   Obsession (Vinyl, Warner Bros Records, 1986) **

Genre: Modern jazz 

Places I remember: Facebook seller

Fab, and all the other pimply hyperboles: Kari (One On One)

Gear costume: Love Lips (One On One)

Active compensatory factors: These two are very different looks for Bob, away from the big brass dominated ensembles (that I really love).

One on One is a laid back cool modern jazz exercise with Earl Klugh supplying his laid back cool modern jazz guitar stylings. There is nothing here to ruffle your dinner party or cafe brunch. It sold by the truckload and got all sorts of awards. It deserved the plaudits.

The eighties were unkind to everyone in equal measure and modern jazz in the eighties didn't escape unscathed. 

Obsession has its moments if you are a forgiving sort (like me) and can embrace the musical production values of that time as an interesting experiment. Basically, rule of thumb - if the credits list drum programming, or computer programming you need to approach with caution (even if the programmer is the awesome Lenny White).

Once you can get past all that, Obsession is a worthwhile Bob James album from 1986. 

Where do they all belong? Stick with the great best of Bob James set called Restoration for the depth, breadth, and context. It's brilliant!

Soft stuff (Earl Klugh) (LP 345)

Earl Klugh Crazy For You (Vinyl, EMI, 1981) ***

Genre:  Modern Jazz 

Places I remember: Marbecks Records

Fab, and all the other pimply hyperboles: I'm Ready For Your Love




Gear costume:  Soft Stuff (and other delights)

Active compensatory factors:  This came out when I was working at Marbecks Records (the lack of apostrophe always buggs me - surprising as Murray Marbeck was a scholar and a gentleman).

Roger Marbeck would play it often, and it just perfectly sums up the cool laid back approach that was the atmosphere in the shop. Roger has great musical ears and he was spot on with this album.

Side one is the stronger - maybe because I've heard it more: countless times in the shop and subsequently at home. Side two stretches things and starts to feel a little dated.

That opening track though (as above). Magic times!!


Where do they all belong? Try the duets albums with Bob James for more of this brand of coolness.

Touchdown (Bob James) (LP 240)

Bob James All Around The Town (Vinyl - CBS, 1981) *****

Genre: Cool Jazz  

Places I remember:  Marbecks Records (Queen's Arcade, Auckland)

Fab, and all the other pimply hyperboles: We're All Alone




Gear costume:  Angela, Stompin' At The Savoy, and the rest!

Active compensatory factors: You'll instantly know at least one track on this album - Angela (Theme From "Taxi"). It's a muscular version on show here.

As are the rest of these songs - recorded with a variety of combos. All of Bob's strengths are on show and none of his weaknesses (polite production I'd call it).

We're All Alone is a peak. I remember Roger Marbeck playing this and I remember the first time I heard it. Those horns rip!!

And, before you yell - what about the lack of continuity between these live cuts?? Why haven't you taken a point off for that huh?? This isn't like a rock album where I really need to feel it's a cohesive live document. This is jazz! Cool jazz.

Where do they all belong? A 'best of' compilation is probably your next safest bet with the prolific Bob.