White unicorn (Wolfmother) (LP 4972)

Wolfmother  Wolfmother (CD, Modular/ Interscope Records, 2005) **** 

Genre: Hard rock

Places I remember: JB Hi Fi

Fab, and all the other pimply hyperboles: White Unicorn

Gear costume: Woman, The Joker and the Thief

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: Wolfmother are an Aussie hard rock outfit that is dominated by singer, guitarist Andrew Stockdale. His influences are pretty obvious - Black Sabbath, Deep Purple and Led Zep being three, but he's also been listening to modern blues rock as well - The White Stripes for instance.

That's not to say Wolfmother lacks originality. Stockdale takes inspiration from all those bands but forges some fresh takes on older rock tropes.

It's mightily impressive - there are loads of highlights: Minds Eye; White Unicorn; Dimension; Woman: and Joker and the Thief. There are no real weak tracks actually and some mind-blowing riffs make this a great album. I bought the follow up (Cosmic Egg) but sold it soon after. Keeping this one though.

Where do they all belong? Excellent Aussie hard rock!

I can't be your hero today (Jimmy Buffett) (LP 4968 - 4971)

Jimmy Buffett  Before the Salt (Vinyl, Barnaby/ Janus Records, 1979) ***

Jim Capaldi  Short Cut Draw Blood (Vinyl, Island Records, 1975) *** 

Al Di Meola Project  Tirami Su (Vinyl, Manhattan Records, 1987) **** 

Sutherland Brothers & Quiver  Reach for the Sky (Vinyl, Columbia Records, 1975) *** 

Genre: Folk rock, rock, Jazz fusion, world music, folk, soft rock

Places I remember: The Little Red Bookshop

Fab, and all the other pimply hyperboles: Love Hurts (Jim Capaldi), Arms of Mary (Sutherland Brothers & Quiver)

Gear costume: The Captain and the Kid (Jimmy Buffett)

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: The Little Red Bookshop's $4 record sale keeps on delivering some excellent items.

Everybody has to start somewhere and Before the Salt contains Jimmy Buffett's first two albums. Jimmy was yet to morph into his laid-back beach bum persona, so this double album documents his earlier efforts using a folk-rock vibe.

His first two albums were Down to Earth (1970) and High Cumberland Jubilee (recorded in 1971 but not released until 1976). An extra track has been added to the original Down to Earth album (Richard Frost). 

Fans of Harry Chapin and Jim Croce should check this compilation out. Jimmy sounds good throughout, with some strong songs. The first album contains his first go at The Captain and the Kid which he'd return to a few times later on.

Short Cut Draw Blood was Jim Capaldi's third solo album after leaving Traffic. It's a bit uneven, with a range of styles, but Jim's vocals remind me at times of my hero, John Lennon - so I enjoy this album. 

A variety of top notch guests like Paul Kossof, Pete Carr, Chris Spedding and Steve Winwood appear. Plus, it contains a superb version of Love Hurts (which I also have as a single).

Al Di Meola released Tirami Su in 1987 (it joins Electric Rendezvous in my collection). According to AllMusic, this is his best of the three albums he recorded for the Manhattan label. Although there still remains elements of jazz fusion on Tirami Su, he also embraces world music and folk.  

The Sutherland Brothers joined forces with Quiver and had some great success in the seventies. Arms of Mary was a #1 hit and the parent album has more examples of quality soft rock music without hitting the heights of that classic. For the record the whole band on Reach for the Sky is: Iain Sutherland - rhythm guitar, vocals; Gavin Sutherland - bass guitar, vocals; Tim Renwick - lead guitar; Willie Wilson - drums.

Where do they all belong? I think I've drained the $4 bin enough now. There are a few other interesting items there, but they don't look to be in great condition. I'll probably have a punt though the next time I visit.

Let me in your life (Bill Withers) (LP 4967)

Bill Withers  Live at Carnegie Hall (CD, Sussex Records, 1973) ****  

Genre: Soul

Places I remember: Marbecks Records

Fab, and all the other pimply hyperboles: Lean On Me

Gear costume: Friend of Mine, Ain't No Sunshine

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: It feels more like an intimate soul revival meeting than the big time of Carnegie Hall, and that's down to Bill Withers. He is very quickly at ease and relatable in this live set.

He fronts a crack band that can do funk, country, soul, and gospel with aplomb, but the star of the show is Bill. His vocals are superb, but so is his guitar and piano. 

No wonder Rolling Stone magazine ranked it 27th on their list of the 50 greatest live albums of all time.

Where do they all belong? The greatest hits compilations are probably where you'd start (the double CD - The Essential Bill Withers has everything you need) but everyone should still reach for this live album to get the full picture.

Lifeline (Wishbone Ash) (LP 4960 - 4966)

Wishbone Ash  Just Testing (Vinyl, MCA Records, 1980) ***  

Wishbone Ash  Live Dates Volume Two (Vinyl, MCA Records, 1980) ***   

Wishbone Ash  Trance Visionary (CD, Invisible Hands Music, 1998) * 

Wishbone Ash Clan Destiny (CD, Rajon Music, 2006) ** 

Wishbone Ash  The Power of Eternity (CD, Sanctuary Records, 2007) *** 

Wishbone Ash  Millenium Collection (CD, Digimode Entertainment, 1999) **** 

Wishbone Ash  The Collection (CD, Digimode Entertainment, 2003) **** 

Genre: Rock

Places I remember: Real Groovy Records, Chaldon Books and Records, The Warehouse

Fab, and all the other pimply hyperboles: Lifeline (Just Testing)

Gear costume: Persephone (Live Dates Volume Two)

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: The eighties started as the seventies had ended for Wishbone Ash. Just Testing followed No Smoke Without Fire and showed they had things in common with other hard rock bands like Deep Purple and UFO who turned out a successon of so so albums after a bright start. Post Wishbone 4, the band seemed content to record okay rock records with a couple of good moments on them. These they'd trot out regularly to the dwindling faithful.

Just Testing starts well enough with an AC/DC style boogie - Living Proof and ends with the best moment - Lifeline. Unfortunately, the songs between those two are pretty average rock songs that lack the early Ash dynamics and daring do. 

By the by: For some reason Steve Upton's drumming has morphed from sharp dynamic brilliance on those first three albums to rock mainstream plodding on the post Argus albums. Such a shame.

Live Dates Volume Two was recorded on dates between 1976 and 1980 (during the tour to support Just Testing). The original album was a single one, but my copy is one of the first 25,000, so it has a bonus album of other songs which includes the only song from their first three albums - Time Was (a weak version, sadly).

Generally, the songs are better in a live setting as these are four fine musicians, but they are still not brilliant songs. The highlight is on the bonus album for me, with an excellent version of Persephone.

Trance Visionary is a deeply weird album as it features techno and dance music from Andy Powell and Mike Bennett (a big name in techno apparently). I knew that going in - the title gives itself away and the back of the CD says the band can be heard exploring 'deep, fluid, and at times ethereal drum 'n' bass to industrial post-modernist techno'. I bought it anyway.

It's a laudable experiment but it's not my cup of tea. Nor really is Clan Destiny. Andy is now the only original member left and it's okay, like Just Testing is okay but I need more from Wishbone Ash than okay and average.

The Power of Eternity is much better, thankfully. The musicianship is excellent, although the singing still leaves something to be desired, and the newest guitar foil, Muddy Mannimen, can write some decent songs. 

Highlights on this album are the Hendrix-ian Driving a Wedge and Growing Up. The acoustic interlude songs are a nice breath of fresh air as well. Their best album in a long time.

Millenium Collection is a double CD that features two concerts: the first is from Liverpool in 1976 and the second is from Chicago in 1992.  The Liverpool gig is really good, even the older songs like Warrior are treated well. It's generally superior to Live Dates Volume Two. The Chicago gig is also a great addition. The slightly different arrangements of classic songs like The King Will Come are terrific.

Where do they all belong? There are so many compilations of their work out there but I think The Collection is an excellent introduction to the band. It has a smattering of songs from the first eleven years of the band. 

I don't have any huge desire to add to my Wishbone Ash collection, but if they ever appear in the Little Red Bookshop sale...

What is it about men? (Amy Winehouse) (LP 4748 - 4749)

Amy Winehouse  Frank (CD, Island Records, 2003) ****  

Amy Winehouse  Back to Black (2CD, Island Records, 2006) ****  

Genre: Jazz, RnB, soul, Hip Hop 

Places I remember: Kings Recording (Abu Dhabi)

Fab, and all the other pimply hyperboles: Back to Black

Gear costume: Tears Dry On Their Own (BTB)

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: Amy's two studio albums nail her legacy and are both testament to a phenomenal talent. On her debut, Frank, she is in full command of a range of styles. I fully agree with The Times critic who called the album "a staggeringly assured, sit-up-and-listen debut, both commercial and eclectic, accessible and uncompromising".

Second album, Back to Black, creates a lusher/tougher sound that reflects her torrid relationship with her on/off partner, Therefore, it contains themes of guilt, grief, infidelity, heartbreak and trauma. It has more of a pop/soul approach that suits that situation.  

I have the deluxe version of Back to Black - a double CD with 7 studio recordings post Back to Black.

Where do they all belong? She would flame out five years after Back to Black. Poor Amy. What a tragic ending to a short life.

Phoenix (Wishbone Ash) (LP 4953 - 4959)

Wishbone Ash  Wishbone Ash (Vinyl and CD, MCA Records, 1970) *****  

Wishbone Ash  Pilgrimage (Vinyl and CD, MCA Records, 1971) ***** 

Wishbone Ash  Argus (Vinyl and CD, MCA Records, 1972) ***** 

Wishbone Ash  Wishbone Four (Vinyl and CD, MCA Records, 1973) **** 

Wishbone Ash  Live Dates (Vinyl, MCA Records, 1973) **** 

Wishbone Ash  There's the Rub (Vinyl, MCA Records, 1974) *** 

Wishbone Ash  No Smoke Without Fire (Vinyl, MCA Records, 1978) *** 

Genre: Rock, blues rock, prog rock

Places I remember: RCA Music club, Real Groovy Records, The Warehouse

Fab, and all the other pimply hyperboles: Queen of Torture (Wishbone Ash)

Gear costume: Vas Dis, Jail Bait (Pilgrimage), Warrior (Argus)

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: I spent a lot of the early seventies listening to those first three Wishbone Ash albums, especially Argus. Sounds had rated it the best album of 1972 so I ordered a copy from the RCA Record Club. When it came, I listened to it closely - especially those twin lead guitars. I was hooked.

Looking at my collection of Wishbone Ash albums, I've realised that I didn't stop with those early seventies ones, so I'll divide their work into two posts - the seventies albums and the rest.

The band for these early seventies albums was: Andy Powell - lead guitar; Ted Turner - lead guitar, vocals; Martin Turner - bass, lead vocals; Steve Upton - drums. Each are superb musicians. The criticism about the singing has always seemed churlish to me. I love the combined vocals of the Turners and Powell.

After Argus, my next stop was their debut and then Pilgrimage - both are also five-star classics, no bother! The two songs on side two of the debut launched them as a prog rock beast of a band. These three albums have a definite progressive feel, which I love. 

Argus had a cohesive theme that appeared to concern a pastoral and warring medieval England, and it also had that iconic cover which I used to stare at for an hour while it played. All up Argus was the band at the peak of their powers.

Wishbone Four I did avoid for a while as reviews at the time implied it was a more basic rock album to the first three. That's certainly the impression gained from the cover which is the first to feature the group members.

Gone are the medieval themes and the songs about warriors, kings, swords, pilgrims, and there is no phoenix. Nor are there any lengthy guitar wig outs on Wishbone Four. Instead, the album was harder rocking while still retaining some folk-rock elements. It remains a really good companion to the first three.

Live Dates is a double live album, also from 1973. It's great, in that it concentrates on songs from each of the first four albums. My predilection for Argus and younger material means I enjoy those songs the most. 

It was also the last appearance for Ted Turner, who left the band at this point. For their next studio album, There's The Rub, he was replaced by Laurie Wisefield on guitar.

As well as that change, the album was recorded in America with an American producer Bill Szymczyk who gave the band a smoother, slicker sound. That change in direction meant some of the older fans of the band decided this wasn't for them - I was one of them. 

The brilliant songs of the past just weren't there on There's the Rub. The closest one to them, and the highlight of the album was Persephone - a slowish bluesy song with some beautiful guitar interplay between Powell and Wisefield.

My collection gets rather patchy after There's the Rub, so their final album I have from the seventies is 1978's No Smoke Without Fire, It saw Laurie Wisefield emerge as the principal songwriter.

The problem is that although Laurie is a good guitarist he is an average songwriter and an average singer, so these albums that he dominates are...average. 

Although it starts with a good track, You See Red, the songs lack the inspiration and progressive nature of those first three albums.

 

Where do they all belong? The eighties onwards are next.

Rock & roll people (Johnny Winter) (LP 4950 - 4952)

Johnny Winter  Saints & Sinners (Vinyl, CBS Records, 1974) ***  

Johnny Winter  John Dawson Winter III (Vinyl, Epic Records, 1974) ****  

Johnny Winter  Captured Live (Vinyl, Avan Guard Records, 1976) ***  

Genre: Blues rock 

Places I remember: Real Groovy Records, George Courts music bar, Amoeba Music (Hollywood)

Fab, and all the other pimply hyperboles: Rock & Roll People (John Dawson Winter III)

Gear costume: Riot in Cell Block #9 (Saints & Sinners), Raised On Rock (JDW III) 

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: I bought John Dawson Winter III for John Lennon's song Rock & Roll People (John's original turned up on bootlegs and the Menlove Avenue compilation but Johnny Winter's version was the first one released). Anyway, I bought the album and then LOVED it. All those terrific guitars. Lordy Lord!

I backtracked a bit and got a copy of Saints & Sinners as a result and that's also good for its mix of a few original songs with covers of Chuck Berry, The Stones, Leiber & Stoller, Van Morrison, and others. Riot in Cell Block #9 is a hoot, as is the frenetic version of Boney Moroney.

John Dawson Winter III was his seventh studio album and his second of 1974. It seemed to have the theme running through it - self-consciously celebrating rock music. Raised On Rock sums him (and me) up. His guitar playing seems looser to me and the production cleaner. He also sounds like he's having a lot of fun! 

I bought Captured Live for the live version of Rock & People, but then LOVED it! Especially side one's shorter punchier songs (side 2 has two lengthy guitar wig outs), so all up - Johnny delivers live at three Californian venues with his band of brothers.

Where do they all belong? Wishbone Ash is up next.