Do what you like (Ginger Baker's Airforce) (LP 298)

Ginger Baker's Airforce   Ginger Baker's Airforce (Vinyl - Polydor, 1970) ****

Genre: Jazz/rock fusion  

Places I remember: Chaldon Books and Records (Caterham on the hill)

Fab, and all the other pimply hyperboles: Early In The Morning




Gear costume: Do What You Like 

Active compensatory factors: Okay. Been thinking about this album for seven long months - ever since I discovered Chaldon's Books and Records which has turned into a treasure trove of great vinyl, albeit at sometimes top end prices.

To whit, this album. 

The lovely old guy who owns the shop (a big band fan who won't listen to anything released after 1956) had it priced at £42!!

I normally hate to haggle but I made an exception in this case after seven months and a lot of other purchases, and a lot of due diligence. A lot of due diligence! Here's one example.

In the end we settled on £25 (I offered 20, he said 30, I shook my head and the rest is history) and I wasn't disappointed at all when I got it home and finally figured out how to get into the record (released unconventionally -  the gatefold cover was designed left-handed; i.e. the front cover artwork was on what traditionally would be considered the back and vice versa).

The personnel is interesting:

Ginger Baker – drums, percussion, timpani, vocals Denny Laine – guitars, vocals Rick Grech – bass guitar, violin Steve Winwood – Hammond organ, bass guitar, vocals Chris Wood – tenor saxophone, flute Graham Bond – Hammond organ, alto saxophone, vocals Harold McNair – tenor and alto saxophones, alto flute Jeanette Jacobs – vocals Remi Kabaka – drums, percussion Phil Seamen – drums, percussion

Luckily no one gets in the way and the jazz/rock fusion is unique (at least to my ears).

It's actually a radical soundscape - not Blind Faith, not Traffic, and certainly not Cream (although there is a version of Toad on side 2 but it's not too long thankfully).

The Afro-beat influence (Aiko Biaye) is present but it's not too Womad infused (I'm not a huge Womad fan) and instead blends well with the heavy duty amplification on offer. 

All up I'm well chuffed!

Where do they all belong? Apparently the second iteration of GBA is a pale imitation of this first album so this's rather a stand alone LP.

So doggone easy (Buddy Holly) # 194 - 195

Denny Laine It's So Easy/ Listen To Me (medley)/ I'm Looking For Someone To Love (EMI, EMI 2523, 1976)

Denny Laine Moondreams/ Look At Me (EMI, EMI 11433, 1977)

This was pretty much a vanity project for Denny and Paul of Wings in 1976/1977 (Linda also along on backing vocals although you struggle to hear it from the mix).

Macca produces, engineers and he and Denny play everything on these versions of Buddy Holly songs (Macca owns the publishing as well!).

Given all that it's surprisingly light and airy like candyfloss. The only thing going for them is the amateur, less is more, feel.

All of the tracks come off Denny's 'solo' album Holly Days.

Hidden gems: nothing rare or even very interesting on the B sides. I wish I could say otherwise. Why do I own them? I'm a Lennon completist but this kinda thing dissuades me from ever being a McCartney obsessive.

Woke up in a daze (George Harrison) #143 - 147

George Harrison Love Comes To Everyone/ Soft Touch (Dark Horse, DRC 8844, 1979)

George Harrison All Those Years Ago/ Writings On The Wall (Dark Horse, DRC 49725, 1981)

George Harrison Teardrops/ Save The World (Dark Horse, DRC 49785, 1981)

George Harrison Got My Mind Set On You (extended version)/ Got My Mind Set On You (single version); Lay His Head (Dark Horse, 0-20802, 1987) 

George Harrison When We Was Fab (extended version); Zig Zag/ That's The Way It Goes; When We Was Fab (reverse ending) (Dark Horse, 0-20860, 1987) 

The final installment of George singles (until I finish vinyl and begin looking at CD singles that is) takes us from the George Harrison to Cloud Nine albums. By then the 12" single was having its day in the sun. Fab and Mind both come in for the extended 12 inch treatment. 

By then George's chums Ray Cooper and Jeff Lynne were on board for production duties. I like the retro sound they got out of the band and George sounds like a man refreshed on the Cloud Nine singles - especially after the dreary lacklustre Somewhere In England and barking mad even more lacklustre Gone Troppo albums. 

The All Those Years Ago and When We Was Fab singles are my favourites, of course. 

Years Ago was his response to John's murder and is a wonderfully warm tribute to the man who was a leader and big brother figure for George. The track is also special as it features Ringo Starr on drums, as well as Paul and Linda McCartney and Denny Laine on backing vocals. An early Threetles entry really.

Both Years and Fab are unusual as George was not much for looking back. Maybe the Jeff Lynne influence and the Travelling Wilburys had something to do with that. Whatever the reason the nicely judged whimsy of When We Was Fab was a real tonic in 1987 and it holds up today.

My favourite part of the gear Fab video is when Ringo's on drums, the walrus/Paul's on bass and a guy walks past carrying the back of Lennon's Imagine cover. 

Hidden gems: Nothing of rarity value on the first three singles but Lay His Head IS RARE! It has never been released on an album or as a CD bonus track. It was removed from the Somewhere In England album at the time due to record company pressure. Amazingly they thought they knew better than George! These days, of course, you can find it on youtube but as a piece of vinyl it only appeared as a B side. Zig Zag is also rare (although it has turned up as a bonus track on the Cloud Nine CD).

Oh yesterday came suddenly (Paul Ramone)

There is something very reassuring about being surrounded by familiar objects. I speak of my record collection, of course.

 

It's a rainy old day throughout the length and breadth of Nu Zild and I'm at home in Abbey Road Two with some old friends - John Paul George and Ringo to name a few.

 

The Wings Over America live triple album (remember them?) seemed to pick itself. I'm up to side four. Side three featured acoustic versions of some Beatle favourites: I've Just Seen A Face, Blackbird and Yesterday. Side four is classic Wings.

 

I love live albums - especially triples - tons of room to wig out and throw in surprises like the rare live outing of Go Now. Buying a triple album was always a treat anyway. Three albums, six sides, in the one package!! Woh daddy.

 

My top triple live albums (no doubles or CDs allowed!)

• The Concert For Bangla Desh
• Wings Over America
• Yessongs
• Welcome Back My Friends To The Show That Never Ends - Ladies and Gentlemen: Emerson Lake & Palmer
• Woodstock
• No Nukes - The MUSE Concerts For A Non-nuclear Future

The thing with the Wings' triple is that Macca's genius gets the proper treatment. So many great songs over those six sides - even allowing for the generosity that resulted in Denny Laine getting a few spots centre stage.

 

My favourite moments - the one two punch of Silly Love Songs and Beware My Love on side five with Paul playing some stonking bass guitar. Silly... is not one of my favourite Macca moments generally, but this version rocks with some great brass behind the bass and a really nice harmony section.

Next post - that brilliant No Nukes triple. What a line up!