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Posts tagged Alvin Lee
Alvin Lee – Saguitar (2007) (@256)
06 Mar 2010
(Review from amazon, allmusic)
The album title Saguitar is based on his star sign Sagittarius. It is a true solo project. Alvin Lee plays virtually all the instruments except keyboards, overdubbing himself in his home studio to impressive effect.
There are 14 blistering new tracks, all originals, that include rockers like “Anytime U Want Me” and more reflective pieces such as “The Squeeze”. One surprise item is “Rapper”, built up from drum loops. Tunes like “Motel Blues” make your hair bristle.
Blues based originals such as “Blues Has Got a Hold on Me” has a mellow yet convincing groove perfect for Lee’s voice and approach. His vocals have always been Elvis-influenced so when he goes full on Presley for the rockabilly “Memphis” (not the Chuck Berry tune), the effect is impressive and unpretentious. Lee lays off most of the lightning licks of his youth, instead adding tight, taut fills that bring substance without flash to an eclectic and consistently enjoyable set.
This is a solid Alvin Lee album that fans will enjoy but that is unlikely to attract many newcomers to his rather predictable if undeniably personal and energetic style.
Track List:
01. Anytime U Want Me – 4:52
02. The Squeeze – 4:08
03. It’s Time To Play – 4:24
04. Midnite Train – 2:20
05. Motel Blues – 5:21
06. Only Here For The Ride – 2:48
07. Memphis – 2:03
08. Got A Lot Of Living To Do – 3:07
09. Blues Has Got A Hold On Me – 3:26
10. It’s All Good – 4:21
11. Education – 4:31
12. Rapper – 3:29
13. Smoking Dope – 4:40
14. Rocking Rendezvous – 4:40
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Alvin Lee – I Hear You Rockin’ (1994) (@256)
05 Mar 2010
(Review from amazon)
Alvin Lee’s 1994 album was released as “1994″ in Europe and “I Hear You Rockin’” in the US. As usual it features great guitar work, catchy rhythms, strong vocals…
“Bluest Blues”, which features an incredible guitar duet with George Harrison, is certainly the standout. Both “I Don’t Give a Damn” and “Long Legs” have become staples of Lee’s live set, and his take on the Beatles’ “I Want You (She’s So Heavy)” is nothing short of extraordinary.
Line-up:
- Alvin Lee / Guitar, Vocals
with
- Steve Gould / Bass, Vocals
- Steve Grant / Keyboards, Vocals
- George Harrison / Slide Guitar
- Tim Hinkley / Piano
- Alan Young / Drums
Track List:
01. Keep On Rockin’ – 5:09
02. Long Legs – 6:16
03. I Hear You Knockin’ – 3:39
04. Ain’t Nobody’s Business – 4:11
05. The Bluest Blues – 7:27
06. Boogie All Day – 3:52
07. My Baby’s Come Back To Me – 4:58
08. Take It Easy – 6:25
09. Play It Like It Used To Be – 4:01
10. Give Me Your Love – 5:59
11. I Don’t Give A Damn – 5:49
12. I Want You (She’s So Heavy) – 9:52
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Alvin Lee – Zoom (1992) (@256)
04 Mar 2010
(Review from allmusic)
Alvin Lee’s first solo album after the Ten Years After reunion was released in 1992.
“Real Life Blues” became a hit in spots around the US. The track featured the unmistakable sound of George Harrison on slide guitar and Deep Purple keyboard player Jon Lord. This is a wiser, slower, more methodical sentiment than we once heard Lee make on “I’d Love to Change the World.”
“A Little Bit of Love” is Ten Years After meets Power Station with thunderous drums and very smooth production. Steve Gould and Deena Payne’s backing vocals chirp over Alan Young’s boom-boom drumbeat on “The Price of Love,” a bonafide dance tune that cries for the kind of production that the band Chic made famous — dance blues.
“Moving the Blues” is a fun, Delaney & Bonnie type rocker with Clarence Clemons on tenor sax. Clemons appears on four tracks, including “Use That Power,” “Jenny, Jenny” — a Little Richard meets Mitch Ryder by way of Chuck Berry fun stomper — and the funky “Wake Up Moma” which has that trademark Jon Lord keyboard filling in nicely. The instrumental “Lost in Love” is very tasteful.
Track List:
01. A Little Bit Of Love – 3:58
02. Jenny Jenny – 4:26
03. Remember Me – 4:38
04. Anything For You – 5:00
05. The Price Of This Love – 4:08
06. Real Life Blues – 4:36
07. It Don’t Come Easy – 5:07
08. Lost In Love – 4:08
09. Wake Up Moma – 3:58
10. Moving The Blues – 4:06
11. Use That Power – 4:21
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Ten Years After – About Time (1989) (@256)
03 Mar 2010
(Review from starling.rinet.ru)
A Ten Years After reunion was inevitable. Furthermost because there never really was a serious reason for the band to fall apart in the first place.
They first came together in 1983, gave a few shows, then went their own ways again, then reconvened once more in 1989, gave a few more shows, saw that it was good and decided to try some of the old magic on record – once again. The emphasis was, of course, on good old rock’n'roll, the stuff they always did best. Nothing experimental, just straightahead, unnerving, rip-roaring rock.
Most of these songs are quite decent. There’s a few classy rock’n'roll riffs, there’s a few decent solos, there’s vocal hooks-a-plenty, and the most important thing is – there’s actually some active energy. They’re four long lost friends grooving together.
Highlights include “Highway of Love”, “Working in a Parking Lot” and the vintage-sounding “I Get All Shook Up”.
Line-up:
- Leo Lyons / Bass
- Alvin Lee / Guitar and Vocals
- Chick Churchill / Keyboards
- Ric Lee / Drums
Track List:
01. Highway Of Love – 5:11
02. Let’s Shake It Up – 5:22
03. I Get All Shook Up – 4:41
04. Victim Of Circumstance – 4:32
05. Going To Chicago – 4:27
06. Saturday Night – 4:08
07. Bad Blood – 7:13
08. Working In A Parking Lot – 4:57
09. Wild Is The River – 3:56
10. Outside My Window – 5:48
11. Waiting For The Judgement Day – 4:33
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Alvin Lee – Detroit Diesel (1986) (@256)
02 Mar 2010
(Review from allmusic, amazon)
In 1986′s Detroit Diesel, Alvin Lee opens his blues jams into funky grooves.
Highlights include the title track with its nasty guitar solo, “Just Another Night” and “Ordinary Man”. George Harrison adds some great slide guitar to the heavy, slow “Talk Don’t Bother Me”.
This is no-frills rock and roll, good guitar work and Alvin Lee singing his guts out.
Line-up:
- Alvin Lee / Guitar, Vocals
with
- Joe Brown / Violin
- Vicki Brown / Vocals
- Boz Burrell / Bass
- Mickey Feat / Bass, Vocals
- Steve Gould / Guitar, Vocals
- Bryson Graham / Drums
- George Harrison / Guitar (4)
- Tim Hinkley / Keyboards
- David Hubbard / Keyboards
- Jon Lord / Keyboards
- Leo Lyons / Bass
- Alan Young / Drums
Track List:
01. Detroit Diesel – 4:38
02. Shot In The Dark – 4:04
03. Too Late To Run Foe Cover – 3:47
04. Talk Don’t Bother Me – 3:37
05. Ordinary Man – 4:00
06. Heart Of Stone – 4:05
07. She’s So Cute – 3:17
08. Back In My Arms Again – 3:48
09. Don’t Want To Fight – 4:25
10. Let’s Go – 3:24
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Alvin Lee – Rx5 (1981) (@256)
01 Mar 2010
(Review from alvinlee.de)
In 1981, Alvin Lee arrived in style in his “RX5″. Continuing the sound of its predecessor (and line-up), this album is a mix of mainstream rock with a blues flavor.
The energy level remains high from first cut to last. “Fool No More” and “Dangerous World” stand out, while “Lady Luck” kicks into period Trevor Rabin ebuillience. There’s a whammy-bar blitz for “Nutbush City Limits” and a couple of rumbustious piano bashes, like “Double Loser”.
A strong bonus instrumental embellish this outing.
Line-up:
- Alvin Lee / Guitar, Vocals
- Tom Compton / Percussion, Drums
- Steve Gould / Guitar, Vocals
- Mickey Feat / Bass, Vocals
- Chris Stainton / Keyboards
Track List:
01. Hang On – 3:47
02. Lady Luck – 3:04
03. Can’t Stop – 5:09
04. Wrong Side Of The Law – 3:13
05. Nutbush City Limits – 3:52
06. Rock-N Roll Guitar Picker – 3:04
07. Double Loser – 2:52
08. Fool No More – 5:22
09. Dangerous World – 3:43
10. High Times – 5:32
11. Shuffle It (Bonus) – 6:10
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Alvin Lee – Freefall (1980) (@256)
28 Feb 2010
(Review from allmusic)
Enter the 80s and Alvin Lee adjusts his sound accordingly. He teams up with ex-Rare Bird vocalist Steve Gould to produce a sound that is very “Foreigner”ish, mid-tempo rock and rather catchy with a slick guitar.
Highlights include “Stealin’” with its really tasty guitar and a nice, energetic vocal. There are even a few whoops and shrieks thrown in. “Ridin’ Truckin’” and “Sooner Or Later” which has a nice horn flourish and a tasty little organ line by guest Al Kooper — the latter is one of the more successful mergers of Lee’s straight-ahead style with a complex arrangement.
The fans of vintage Alvin Lee may be disappointed by the change in sound, other than that, it’s an album of its time.
Line-up:
- Alvin Lee / Guitar, Vocals
- Tom Compton / Percussion, Drums
- Steve Gould / Guitar, Vocals
- Derek Austin / Keyboards
- Mickey Feat / Bass, Vocals
- Al Kooper / Organ
- Raphael Ravenscroft / Saxophone
- Peter Thoms / Trombone
Track List:
01. I Don’t Wanna Stop – 4:09
02. Take The Money – 4:26
03. One Lonely Hour – 4:47
04. Heartache – 3:10
05. Stealin’ – 3:16
06. Ridin’ Truckin’ – 3:32
07. No More Lonely Nights – 4:26
08. City Lights – 4:00
09. Sooner Or Later – 3:31
10. Dustbin’ City – 2:40
11. Real Life Blues (Bonus Alternate) – 4:33
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Alvin Lee – Ride On (1979) (@256)
27 Feb 2010
(Review from amazon)
Some live music should be a little sweaty, a little raw. “Ride On”, half of which was recorded live should be played loud and enjoyed. The three-piece band led by Alvin Lee is tight, powerful and gritty. If you like excellent lead guitar breaks listen to ‘Ain’t Nothing Shakin’, taken from the ‘Rocket Fuel’ album, confirms Alvin has lost none of his speed! The classic ‘Hey Joe’ is as close to Hendrix as you might care to get, but with added attitude. The ‘Ride On’ version of the classic ‘Going Home’ may even leave the Ten Years After’s ‘Recorded Live’ version standing. It’s a energy packed 8.46 minutes.
The studio tracks have a ZZ Top feel to it. ‘It’s a Gaz’ is hard to describe and harder not to hum after you have heard it a few times. ‘Too Much’, ‘Sittin’ Here’ and ‘Can’t Sleep At Night’ are formula rock, a bit of power chord, nondescript lyrics and stomping lead solos. The odd ball track ‘Ride On Cowboy’ is almost easy listening, giving you time to breath, even if the air has a distinct ‘country’ whiff.
Line-up:
- Alvin Lee / Guitar, Vocals
- Tom Compton / Percussion, Drums
- Mick Hawksworth / Bass
Track List:
01. Ain’t Nothin’ Shakin’ – 5:32
02. Scat Encounter – 0:58
03. Hey Joe – 5:59
04. Going Home – 8:48
05. Too Much – 3:53
06. It’s A Gaz – 4:03
07. Ride On Cowboy – 3:14
08. Sittin’ Here – 4:00
09. Can’t Sleep At Nite – 2:31
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Alvin Lee – Rocket Fuel (1978) (@256)
26 Feb 2010
(Review from starling.rinet.ru)
Alvin Lee gets himself yet another new band. This time though calls it “Ten Years Later”. It’s an intentional attempt to recapture the Ten Years After vibe. He wanted to “give the people what they want” — get back to the good old hard-rockin’ formula.
There are no ballads on the album at all, not even a subtle relaxing shuffle; no gospel singers, no moody organ, no Mel Collins intruding with his saxophones. Nothing that would deviate the listener from the ass-kicking, wall-rattling energy. All the songs are mercilessly overdubbed with special effects, keyboards and riffs that revel in their complexity (or simplicity) over generic guitar tones.
The nearly ten-minute long epic ‘The Devil’s Screaming’ sounds way different than others songs in the album; more like the psychologic, paranoid, thrilling numbers on Alvin’s previous albums. Starting out as a slow, moody blues tune, it then goes off into different directions, from a relatively normal blues jam to a psychedelic phased guitar extravaganza, and then to all-out chaos as Alvin tries to replicate in the studio the same set of “simultaneous-tune-and-play” effects he used to incorporate in the middle of ‘I Can’t Keep From Crying Sometimes’ at Ten Years After concerts.
Line-up:
- Alvin Lee / Guitar, Vocals
- Bernie Clarke / Keyboards
- Tom Compton / Percussion, Drums
- Mick Hawksworth / Bass
- Mick Weaver / Keyboards
Track List:
01. Rocket Fuel – 3:18
02. Gonna Turn You On – 4:59
03. Friday The 13th – 4:56
04. Somebody Callin’Me – 5:56
05. Ain’t Nothin Shakin’ – 5:02
06. Alvin’s Blue Thing – 0:27
07. Baby Don’t You Cry – 3:16
08. The Devil’s Screaming – 9:44
Link in comments.
Alvin Lee – Let It Rock (1978) (@256)
25 Feb 2010
(Review from starling.rinet.ru)
Pretty solid record, although, as is usual with Alvin, it takes some time to grow on you. This time there are no saxes or flutes tampering with the raw atmosphere, no weird experimental passages, just straight ahead rock’n'roll with little ornaments. This is compensated by rawness, inspiration and a special edge in the delivery that is able to inflame even the most generic blues number.
This is really one heavy record, in the sense that it really wears down on you. “Let It Rock” sure is not an album to have some good clean fun; rather when you’re weary and sick of the world and want somebody to empathize.
There are plenty of nice guitar lines everywhere, some of which are quite soulful. And he’s very rarely content with playing a typical blues or blues-rock number in a “by-the-book” way: perhaps the closest to a “by-the-book” blues-rocker on the album is ‘Through With Your Loving’, but that exact number actually begs to be cranked up loud and proud, with extremely sharp, jagged guitar playing and fiery, raunchy vocals.
Elsewhere, you get a bunch of “philosophic introspective” ballads that plunge us into typical moody, “deep-produced” atmosphere. ‘Chemicals, Chemistry, Mystery And More’ is almost Santanaesque in its structure and contains quite a few endearing vocal hooks. ‘Time To Meditate’ is one truly excellent way to make you go to sleep, with sparkling moonlight guitar lines and dreamy female backup vocals. Even the somewhat aggressive, lightly phased guitar solo that gradually picks up steam isn’t at all disturbing – making up for a solid mood piece.
The rockers on here, contradicting the title, are hardly disturbing either. Too many of them are in “soft barroom” style, with a hint of gloominess and melancholy running throughout: ‘Love The Way You Rock Me’ with its wonderful ‘ooo-ooh, love the way you rock me when you roll…’ incantation; the way ‘Little Boy’ starts out with that driving harmonica pattern and thought-provoking descending guitar riffs; the hilarious modulation of Alvin’s voice on ‘Downhill Lady Racer’. The undoubted highlight ‘The World Is Spinning Faster’, another one of those quasi apocalyptic numbers, replete with a magnificent looping riff in between the verse lines and a sharp solo on the fade-out — it has a special grandeur and solemnity of its own that are unmistakable.
Lovers of moody guitar based slow blues-rock can’t go wrong here.
Line-up:
- Alvin Lee / guitar, vocals
- Alan Spenner / bass
- John Susswell / drums
- Zoot Money / piano
- Dyan Birch / back vocals
- Paddie McHugh / back vocals
- Frank Collins / back vocals
Track List:
01. Chemicals, Chemistry, Mystery & More – 3:52
02. Love The Way You Rock Me – 3:19
03. Ain’t Nobody – 5:08
04. Images Shifting – 4:45
05. Little Boy – 4:45
06. Downhill Lady Racer – 3:42
07. World Is Spinning Faster – 5:27
08. Through With Your Lovin’ – 5:00
09. Time To Meditate – 3:56
10. Let It Rock – 3:00
11. Snake Jam (Bonus) – 4:51
12. Break Jam (Bonus) – 6:49
Link in comments.
Alvin Lee – Pump Iron (1975) (@256)
24 Feb 2010
(Review from rollingstone.com, starling.rinet.ru)
Alvin Lee has taken on a stronger R&B feel and focused on his vocal abilities as much as his guitar in his solo work. “Pump Iron” follows the same pattern as its predecessor — a solid, upbeat-R & B-meets-Anglo-flash format. Alvin Lee is less keen on spontaneous guitar heroics. His well-known friends perform with restrained expertise as well.
The opener ‘One More Chance’, an angry, evil little shuffle with sarcastic synth tones and needle-sharp guitar solos that almost recall something Floydish at times. It harkens 1970-72 Ten Years After period.
Somewhere in the middle you’ll also meet ‘Have Mercy’. Alvin Lee is able to breathe as much sincerity and inspiration into this ballad. Hearing Alvin screaming ‘have mercy on a child of God’ is inspiring,
The album closer, ‘Let The Sea Burn Down’, is reminiscent the “epic” numbers on late-period Ten Years After albums with layers of synthesizers, phased guitars and screechy guitar solos symbolizing the end of the world and stuff like that.
There are other goodies too: ‘Julian Rice’, with its catchy refrain; the acoustic shuffle ‘Time And Space’, recorded live with the help of a wonderful trumpet (or was that oboe?) part; the classy funky jam ‘Burnt Fungus’ with a brilliant organ part; and yet another ballad, ‘The Darkest Night’ is simpy irresistable with its delicious bit of romantic piano.
The issue of the album adds two worthy bonus tracks – a short guitar-based instrumental called ‘Madness’ with funky chops and his funny rendition of ‘Midnight Special’, which probably won’t turn you away from the definitive version of Creedence Clearwater Revival but will be a nice addition to the song’s immense bunch of interpretations nevertheless.
Line-up:
- Alvin Lee / Guitar, Vocals
with
- Ian Wallace / Drums
- Mel Collins / Sax
- Boz Burrell / Bass
- Tim Hinkley / Keyboards
- Ron Berg / Drums
- Brother James / Congas
- Harold Burgon / Arp
- Colin Gibson / Bass
- Bryson Graham / Drums
- Jack Lancaster / Horn
- Ronnie Leahy / Organ
- Andy Pyle / Bass
- Steve Thompson / Bass
Track List:
01. One More Chance – 3:53
02. Try To Be Righteous – 4:03
03. You Told Me – 3:53
04. Have Mercy – 2:48
05. Julian Rice – 4:52
06. Time And Space – 2:43
07. Burnt Fungus – 3:16
08. The Darkest Night – 2:25
09. It’s All Right Now – 2:35
10. Truckin’ Down The Other Way – 2:31
11. Let The Sea Burn Down – 6:42
12. Madness (Bonus) – 1:50
13. Midnight Special (Bonus) – 4:49
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Alvin Lee – In Flight (Live 1974) (@256)
23 Feb 2010
(Review fro amazon)
‘In Flight’ is a two-disc live recording made by Alvin Lee in 1974 at the Rainbow Theatre in London. It was the follow-up to 1973′s ‘On the Road to Freedom’, Lee’s first album without his Ten Years After colleagues. He arrived with a cargo hold (‘In Flight’ analogy…) of new tunes and a supersized backing band, including horn man Mel Collins and a trio of backing singers.
It’s a lively, high-energy set, sure to please someone, but probably not the old Ten Years After crowd. Until the second half of the second disc, Alvin’s trademark lead guitar excursions are in short supply, instead being supplanted primarily by Collins’ up-front and center presence. The texture of the music has changed as well. While Ten Years After segued effortlessly from blues-rock to psychedelia to folk and country-rock, this new Alvin Lee is pounding out something perhaps best described as boogie-rock.
The compositions unquestionably announce Alvin Lee as a matured writing talent. There is a wealth of new, well-turned tunes that Lee pulls out of his back pocket here, beginning with the “chug-along blues” (as Lee describes it in his personally scripted liner notes) opener, ‘Got To Keep Moving’. Other highlights include the funky ‘You Need Love Love Love’ which possesses a great vocal hook, the sweet boogie of ‘Let’s Get Back’, and the most Ten Years After-sounding number, ‘Ride My Train’.
As you move deep into the second disc, Alvin moves his lead guitar heroics to the front burner, displaying his firy skills on tracks such as ‘Keep a Knocking’, and a Chuck Berry sound-alike ‘Johnny B. Goode’ rave-up on ‘I’ve Got Eyes For You Baby’.
There are several other covers that deserve mention here. Alvin’s version of ‘Slow Down’ may best represent how his solo work differ from Ten Years After. While you might expect him to go bonkers with his guitar and vocals on this potentially scintillating track, it comes across as a much more smooth and polished piece. The mid-70s did that to a lot of psychedelic and blues-rockers from the 60s, and Alvin seems infected. The same can be said for his covers of Elvis Presley’s ‘Don’t Be Cruel’ and ‘Mystery Train’ as well as ‘Money Honey’. Each of these songs relies heavily on Mel Collins’ sax and backing vocals rather than Lee’s astounding guitar virtuosity.
There are also two bonus tracks: ‘Somebody Callin’ Me’ is live boogie-rock from an unidentified venue. The recording is of good quality, but Lee’s vocals, in particular, feel buried compared to the stunning vibrancy of the original album. The other, “Put it in a Box” is a studio recording. It launches into a sweet funk-groove from the first strains, and features a fat, fuzzy guitar foundation, setting up Lee’s exquisite leads. Back vocals strike a nice balance with the other key elements of the performance.
Given the right audience, ‘In Flight’ could certainly bring hours of listening pleasure.
Line-up:
- Alvin Lee / Guitar, Vocals
with
- Mel Collins / Flute, Saxophone
- Tim Hinkley / Keyboards
- Neil Hubbard / Guitar
- Alan Spenner / Bass
- Ian Wallace / Drums
Track List:
CD1
01. Got To Keep Moving – 5:02
02. Going Through The Door – 4:21
03. Don’t Be Cruel – 2:39
04. Money Money – 3:05
05. I’m Writing You A Letter – 4:52
06. You Need Love Love Love – 5:24
07. Freedom For The Stallion – 6:26
08. Every Blues You’ve Ever Heard – 5:24
09. All Life’s Trials – 2:59
CD2
01. Intro – 0:53
02. Let’s Get Back – 4:58
03. Ride My Train – 4:14
04. There’s A Feeling – 4:02
05. Running Round – 5:38
06. Mystery Train – 4:42
07. Slow Down – 3:38
08. Keep A Knocking – 2:14
09. How Many Times – 2:04
10. I’ve Got Eyes For You Baby – 3:36
11. I’m Writing You A Letter – 4:18
12. Somebody Callin’ Me (Bonus) – 6:26
13. Put It In A Box (Bonus) – 8:06
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Alvin Lee & Mylon LeFevre – On the Road to Freedom (1973) (@256)
22 Feb 2010
(Review from amazon)
Alvin Lee known for his lightning fast licks on guitar, soulful bluesy tunes and amazing live performances throws us a curve ball with his first solo album. Much more mellow and melodic than his work with Ten Years After, but with great feeling and depth. He shares the vocalist duties with American gospel singer Mylon LeFevre and Mylon also belts out some very nice songs of his own.
Each song utilizes the various noteworthy musicians (including the entire Traffic cast), with Alvin Lee playing guitar on almost all of the tunes. It has a variety of music styles as well, with a very country tune “Funny”, to an almost gospel like tune “Lay me Back” to a very nice traditional rock and roll jam “Rockin’ Til The Sun Goes Down”. The title track is a deceptively simple prime cut with its searing guitar, solid drumming, tasteful piano, a rousing melody.
The combination of Alvin Lee’s fabulous talent and that unmistakable voice of Mylon LeFevre make an interesting album.
Line-up:
- Alvin Lee / guitar, bass, sitar, vocals
- Mylon LeFevre / 12-string guitar, bass, percussion, vocals
with
- George Harrison / guitar, slide guitar, bass, back vocals
- Ron Wood / 12-string guitar, bass, drums
- Steve Winwood / piano
- Tim Hinkley / piano, organ, background vocals
- Boz Burrell / bass, background vocals
- Bob Black / steel guitar
- Andy Stein / fiddle
- Jim Capaldi / drums
- Reebop Kwaku Baah / congas
- Mick Fleetwood / drums
- Ian Wallace / drums
- Mike Patto / percussion, back vocals
Track List:
01. On the Road to Freedom – 4:15
02. The World Is Changing (I Got a Woman Back in Georgia) – 2:47
03. So Sad (No Love of His Own) – 4:36
04. Fall Angel – 3:22
05. Funny – 2:50
06. We Will Shine – 2:39
07. Carry My Load – 3:00
08. Lay Me Back – 2:55
09. Let ‘Em Say What They Will – 2:54
10. I Can’t Take It – 2:53
11. Riffin – 3:33
12. Rockin’ Til the Sun Goes Down – 3:10
13. So Sad (No Love of His Own) (Bonus Single) – 3:00
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Ten Years After – Positive Vibrations (1974) (@256)
21 Feb 2010
(Review from amazon)
In their 1974 album, Ten Years After work hard to recreate their formula for success, throwing in good-time rock & roll (‘Going Down To Birmingham’, complete with lyrics like “boom, boom, boom, boom”, and “say hey, hey, hey, baby”), a lengthy, thoughtful epic (‘Look Me Straight Into the Eyes’, at 6:18 the longest excursion on the disc), a laid-back acoustic love ballad (‘Without You’, even with its dubious lyrics, such as, “I’m just like a grave without the flowers…”), a nod to the band’s nodding off, drug enthused chapter (‘Stone Me’, which announces, to no one’s surprise “I can’t deny… I’m high”), and a Bob Seger ‘Katmandu’ redeux, ‘You’re Driving Me Crazy’. ‘It’s Getting Harder’ brings in some horns to spice up the night, and a couple funky rock tracks with decent riffs (no surprise there) can be found in the opener, ‘Nowhere To Run’ and ‘Look Into My Life’, with lyrics harkening to ’50,000 Miles Beneath My Brain’.
The title track gives one the feeling that you’ve checked into a psychiatric hospital and the staff is trying to calm you down. The track does possess some interesting ponderings, such as Lee’s complaint about “too many wonderers, ponderers and squanderers are wondering, pondering and squandering”.
Another highlight is the closer, ‘I Wanted To Boogie’. It may seem like faux-boogie at first glance, there’s some sweet pickin’ and interestin’ lyrical work going on here. Alvin Lee really churns convincingly on his e-lectric guitar. With each verse beginning with “Well I wanted to boogie…”, and finishing with entertaining mantra’s such as “… but I wasn’t sure if I wanted what you wanted me for”, the song gets your foot tapping and you’re brain cells firing.
‘Positive Vibrations’ proved to be their last studio album before dissolving. Alvin Lee pursued a solo career and the rest of the band didn’t go on without him.
Line-up:
- Leo Lyons / Bass
- Alvin Lee / Guitar and Vocals
- Chick Churchill / Organ
- Ric Lee / Drums
Track List:
01. Nowhere To Run – 4:03
02. Positive Vibrations – 4:20
03. Stone Me – 4:57
04. Without You – 4:00
05. Going Back To Birmingham – 2:37
06. Its Getting Harder – 4:25
07. You’re Driving Me Crazy – 2:26
08. Look Into My Life – 4:18
09. Look Me Straight Into The Eyes – 6:20
10. I Wanted To Boogie – 3:33
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Ten Years After – Rock & Roll Music To The World (1972) (@256)
20 Feb 2010
(Review from amazon, starling.ru)
While 1972′s ‘Rock and Roll Music To the World’ is often panned as a shallow effort for Ten Years After, a large number of quality tracks received airplay on the burgeoning FM radio dial. A lot of the music is good, old-fashioned rock and roll.
The album kicks off with the magnificent rocker ‘You Give Me Loving’ which gives absolutely no quarter. With its pulsating, driving seven-note riff and angry, scornful lyrics, it stands up several heads higher than anything else on this record.
Other highlights include the roaring ‘Choo Choo Mama’ which became a staple at concerts for a number of years to come, ‘Standing At the Station’ giving keyboardist Chick Churchill and bassist Leo Lyons opportunities to solo, the lone country-rock track .
The compositions at times offer lyrical depth. ‘Religion’, for example, has the strongest philosophical bent, offering reasonings such as “once you’re dead there’s nothing left for giving, so life means fighting for your every breath”. On ‘Convention Prevention’, one of my favorite tunes from the disc, Lee turns some nice phrases such as, “I’d like to reach out to you and learn just how do you do, so we can still relate; I’d like to open my mind so you can come inside, and see that we communicate”. The ‘dream’ of the psycedelic ’60′s is given a final nod in ‘Rock and Roll Music To the World’ as Lee intones, “Give peace a chance, get up and dance”.
Line-up:
- Leo Lyons / Bass
- Alvin Lee / Guitar and Vocals
- Chick Churchill / Organ
- Ric Lee / Drums
Track List:
01. You Give Me Loving – 6:34
02. Convention Prevention – 4:23
03. Turned Off T.V Blues – 5:13
04. Standing At The Station – 7:11
05. You Can’t Win Them All – 4:06
06. Religion – 5:48
07. Choo Choo Moma – 4:02
08. Tomorrow I’ll Be Out Of Town – 4:29
09. Rock & Roll Music To The World – 3:50
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Ten Years After – A Space in Time (1971) (@256)
19 Feb 2010
(Review from amazon)
What sets this 1971 release apart from earlier Ten Years After albums is the liberal use of tasty acoustic guitar and plenty of sound effects and studio tricks that complement the overall texture.
From tuning a radio dial to open a 12-bar boogie blaster (Baby, Won’t You Let Me Rock and Roll You) to backward tape solos (Let The Sky Fall) to 50′s Sci-Fi (Here They Come), Alvin Lee and Company were in top form on this 1971 time capsule. Lee also shows that he was no slouch on harmonica as he belts out the blues harp (One Of These Days) along with the nice licks from his trusty hot-rodded Gibson ES-335′s.
Lee’s lyrics ran the full gamut on this collection, from country honk (Once There Was A Time) to otherworldly beings “who fly out of the sun” and “know everything we must learn” (Here They Come). He sings painfully about the pitfalls of drug addiction, but optimistically about recovery (Hard Monkeys, I’ve Been There Too) and tells us that he notices the World’s ills but doesn’t know what to do, so he “leaves it up to you” (I’d Love to Change the World).
This is the one that occupied a particular “Space in Time” for its era, has a diversity of the material and subject matter. There’s just about something for everyone.
Line-up:
- Leo Lyons / Bass
- Alvin Lee / Guitar and Vocals
- Chick Churchill / Organ
- Ric Lee / Drums
Track List:
01. One of These Days – 5:50
02. Here They Come – 4:36
03. I’d Love to Change the World – 3:44
04. Over the Hill – 2:28
05. Baby Won’t You Let Me Rock’N Roll You – 2:16
06. Once There Was a Time – 3:22
07. Let The Sky Fall – 4:19
08. Hard Monkeys – 3:10
09. I’ve Been There Too – 5:44
10. Uncle Jam – 1:57
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Ten Years After – Alvin Lee and Company (1967-69) (@256)
18 Feb 2010
(Review from starling.ru)
This is a collection of songs that didn’t make it on the studio albums during 1967-69 period.
The original album features six tracks, the last one is a mini-jam session ‘Boogie On’, takes as much running time as the other five. The jam evolves around a simple riff, played over and over and from time to time being interrupted by organ, drum, bass and guitar solos featuring all of their usual aural gimmicks.
However, the first five songs on the first side are a totally different matter. Plain old boogie-woogie, represented by ‘Rock Your Mama’ and ‘Hold Me Tight’; plain old blues in ‘Standing At The Crossroads’; plain old bluegrass shuffle in ‘Portable People’; and only ‘The Sounds’ is somewhat of an ‘experimental’ piece, with the obligatory synth effects and a grim, desperate mood.
These outtakes all fit the criteria of ‘good’, but for every one of them has a flaw which makes it understandable that they weren’t included in the studio albums (e.g: generic, underdeveloped, rip-off, inferior to other similar ones).
The bonus single edits aren’t much of importance (other than historical), since single editing is essentially butchering a perfectly fine piece.
Line-up:
- Leo Lyons / Bass
- Alvin Lee / Guitar and Vocals
- Chick Churchill / Organ
- Ric Lee / Drums
Track List:
01. The Sounds – 4:13
02. Rock Your Mama – 3:02
03. Hold Me Tight – 2:20
04. Standing at the Crossroads (Live) – 4:03
05. Portable People – 2:15
06. Boogie On – 14:31
07. Spider in My Web (Bonus Single Edit) – 7:19
08. Hear Me Calling (Bonus Single Edit) – 3:48
09. I’m Going Home (Bonus Single Edit) – 3:37
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Ten Years After – Live at the Fillmore East (1970) (@256)
17 Feb 2010
(Review from amazon)
With its devotion to 50s rock and blues coupled to a manic, if decidedly middlebrow performance tack, Ten Years After could seem positively Jurassic, even by late-60s standards. This collection culls magnificently recorded performances from a February 1970 weekend stand at the Fillmore East, capturing the band at its post-Woodstock performing peak.
The running times of most of the tracks (which clock at 7+ minutes) will tip listeners to the show’s jam-heavy take on covers of Sonny Boy Williamson (an ominous, revamped “Good Morning Little Schoolgirl”), Willie Dixon (a slow, 16-minute burn through “Help Me”), and Chuck Berry (atypically economic romps of “Sweet Little Sixteen” and “Roll Over Beethoven”). But with the band’s own primordial originals (the titles “Skooby-Oobly-Doobob” and “Extension on One Chord” speak for themselves) there’s an elemental, effusive–and, dare we say it–Ramones-like stoopidity to the tracks. Even Alvin Lee’s trademark fret-burner “I’m Going Home” is hard to resist.
This set perfectly captures one of the era’s hardest working bands in a concise, double-disc time capsule.
Line-up:
- Leo Lyons / Bass
- Alvin Lee / Guitar and Vocals
- Chick Churchill / Organ
- Ric Lee / Drums
Track List:
CD1
01. Love Like A Man – 9:35
02. Good Morning Little Schoolgirl – 7:26
03. Working On The Road – 3:34
04. The Hobbit – 10:52
05. 50000 Miles Beneath My Brain – 9:58
06. Skoobly-Oobly-Doobob, I Can’t Keep From Crying Sometimes, Extension On One Chord – 19:30
CD2
01. Help Me – 16:06
02. I’m Going Home – 11:57
03. Sweet Little 16 – 4:38
04. Roll Over Beethoven – 4:44
05. I Woke Up This Morning – 8:09
06. Spoonful – 8:01
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Ten Years After – Watt (1970) (@256)
16 Feb 2010
(Review from amazon)
Recorded hot on the heels of “Cricklewood Green”; Watt is a is a smooth, thick musical ride having many of the same ingredients as its predecessor. It heralds the great change from the music of the 60s to the actual modern rock sound of the 70s.
The band had toured so much during this time frame – you can feel the weariness in this recording, it plays well on these songs and adds texture and atmosphere.
The album brings together divergent inspirations, from hard-rock to jazz — the side two of the vinyl providing a jazzy, bluesy, slightly psychedelic musical journey.
The live version of ‘Sweet Little Sixteen’ recorded at the 1970 Isle Of Wight Festival.
Line-up:
- Alvin Lee / guitar, vocals
- Leo Lyons / bass
- Ric Lee / drums
- Chick Churchill / organ
Track List:
01. I’m Coming On – 3:50
02. My Baby Left Me – 5:24
03. Think About The Times – 4:44
04. I Say Yeah – 5:18
05. The Band With No Name – 1:35
06. Gonna Run – 6:04
07. She Lies In The Morning – 7:27
08. Sweet Little Sixteen (Live) – 4:12
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Ten Years After – Ssssh (1969) (@256)
15 Feb 2010
(Review from amazon, wikipedia)
In August 1969, the band performed a breakthrough in the US at the famous Woodstock with their rendition of “I’m Going Home”. As a result, the band’s fourth album released at the same time was their first hit overseas.
The album has everything you need: Roaring vocals, searing guitarwork, thundering grooves, and an overall great vibe. It lets loose right from the getgo with “Bad Scene”. The sudden changes and different riffs on the song is really groovy and psychedelic. “Stoned Woman” (actually an anti-drug song) and Good Morning Little Schoolgirl are both fiery rockers, the latter having intense guitar and bass solos.
Also, there are a few nice sounding ballads such as “I Don’t Know That You Don’t Know My Name”, the soul of “If You Should Love Me”, and the country-tinged “Two Time Mama”. On top of that, you have some good old fashioned blues rock such as the John Lee Hooker-based “Stomp”, and the basic, but still memorable “I Woke Up This Morning”.
Line-up:
- Alvin Lee / Guitar, Vocals
- Leo Lyons / Bass
- Ric Lee / Drums
- Chick Churchill / Organ
Track List:
01. Bad Scene – 3:30
02. Two Time Mama – 2:02
03. Stoned Woman – 3:21
04. Good Morning Little Schoolgirl – 7:10
05. If You Should Love Me – 5:23
06. I Don’t Know That You Don’t Know My Name – 2:06
07. The Stomp – 4:30
08. I Woke Up This Morning – 5:30
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Ten Years After – Stonedhenge (1969) (@256)
14 Feb 2010
(Review from amazon)
Ten Years After’s third album is one of those artifacts that simply screams late ’60s, which is to say its production is more than a little trippy, and it’s also all over the stylistic map.
“I Can’t Live Without Lydia”, for example, features keyboardist Chick Churchill making vaguely Brubeck-ian noises on up to four overdubbed pianos simultaneously. The next track, “Skoobly-Ooobly-Doobob”, is a brief scat blues improvisation with guitar hero Alvin Lee playing and singing in unison, as Ric Lee’s drums, just barely audible, putter about in both stereo channels seemingly at random.
The album’s centerpiece, of course, is “Hear Me Callin’”, a sort of psychedelic take on John Lee Hooker-style blues complete with fashionable phasing effects — a substantial radio hit at the time. However, hardcore fans justifiably swear by the 55-second percussion version of “Three Blind Mice” that follows.
Line-up:
- Alvin Lee / vocals, guitar, piano
- Chick Churchill / organ, piano
- Ric Lee / drums, tympani
- Leo Lyons / bass, percussion
Track List:
01. Going to Try – 4:51
02. I Can’t Live Without Lydia – 1:23
03. Woman Trouble – 4:37
04. Skoobly-Oobly-Doobob – 1:44
05. Hear Me Calling – 5:44
06. A Sad Song – 3:23
07. Three Blind Mice – 0:58
08. No Title – 8:12
09. Faro – 1:10
10. Speed Kills – 3:41
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Ten Years After – Undead (Live 1968) (@256)
13 Feb 2010
(Info from wikipedia)
The band’s eponymous first album was bluesy, but less emotional and passionate, and so the band decided to record their second album live. “Undead”, recorded live at the small jazz club, Klook’s Kleek, is set out to give listeners a real feel to what it was like to hear Ten Years After.
The result iss a combination of blues, boogie and the sometimes remarkable jazz playing ability of the band members. The approach of the band on this album remains unique in that it is a rock/blues approach to swing.
And swing it does! Although the soloing remains almost exclusively in the pentatonic scale and adheres strictly to a basic 1/IV/V 12 bar blues (with no traditional jazz substitutions), the band manages to pull off a confident and aggressive post bop feel.
This album became the introduction that many aspiring musicians used as a learning tool to explore beyond rock and pop boundaries and into more improvised stylings.
Line-up:
- Alvin Lee / guitar, vocals
- Chick Churchill / organ
- Ric Lee / drums
- Leo Lyons / bass
Track List:
01. Rock Your Mama – 3:54
02. Spoonful – 6:42
03. I May Be Wrong, but I Won’t Be Wrong Always – 10:01
04. Summertime – Shantung Cabbage – 5:54
05. Spider in Your Web – 7:52
06. Woodchopper’s Ball – 7:38
07. Standing at the Crossroads – 5:12
08. I Can’t Keep From Crying, Sometimes – Extension on One Chord – I Can’t Keep From Crying Sometimes – 17:04
09. I’m Going Home – 6:24
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Ten Years After – Recorded Live (1973) (@256)
15 Oct 2007
(Review from starling.rinet.ru)
This “official Ten Years After bootleg” was culled from performances during nights in Amsterdam, Rotterdam, Paris and Frankfurt, and the sound quality of the live recording is just fantastic.
It’s interesting to compare this record to “Undead”. How ‘huge’ have they grown – almost in every sense. From a secluded club scene to large arenas in major European capitals; from a homemade lousy equipment to the Rolling Stones mobile; from half-hour gigs to extended concerts; from half-obscure jazz covers to international hits; finally, from the raw, unpolished, even though mighty energetic tones to a well-polished, professional, intoxicating ‘wall-of-sound’.
“Recorded Live” was recorded at a rather late period in the band’s career, when they were already almost spent creatively and on the brink of dissolution, but it is a well-known fact that live playing and “general creative state” are two absolutely different things. Live playing and its quality depend on quite a few factors, including, simply speaking, the particular mood of the band’s members on the day of the gig, which, in turn, may depend on the weather or the expression on that guy in the front row’s face. Luckily, most of the performances on this album were drawn from moments when the band seemed to be in relatively high spirits.
The album feature a lengthy run-through of their most driving and famous numbers. They kick off with ‘One Of These Days’, only to continue with the unforgettable riff of ‘You Give Me Loving’. Later on, the band, as usual, breaks in some of the oldies, like ‘Help Me’ and ‘Good Morning Little Schoolgirl’. On the way, Alvin displays some cute little tricks, like showing his prowess at classical guitar (‘Classical Thing’), resurrecting the ‘Skoobly-oobly-dooboob’ ditty (‘Scat Thing’) and just playing the fool (‘Silly Thing’).
The two highlights of the show are, of course, a terrific fifteen-minute version of “I Can’t Keep From Crying”, which is again transformed into tons of different things on the way, including even a few lines from “Cat’s Squirrel” and even “Sunshine Of Your Love” and “I’m Going Home”. “I Can’t Keep From Crying” was the central point for showing Alvin Lee as a ‘guitar experimentator’ – in particular, he liked to tune his guitar and play it at the same time. “I’m Goin’ Home” is predictably close to the Woodstock version, except that the various sections are interspersed in a different way and the drums are much more prominent. With all the ‘boo-boo-babys’ in place, and the old rockabilly classics medley in the middle, it’s simply a superb version.
Line-up:
* Alvin Lee – guitar, vocals, harp
* Leo Lyons – bass
* Chick Churchill – keyboards
* Ric Lee – drums
Track List:
01. One Of These Days
02. You Give Me Loving
03. Good Morning Little Schoolgirl
04. Help Me
05. Classical Thing
06. Scat Thing
07. I Can’t Keep From Cryin’, Sometimes (part 1)
08. I Can’t Keep From Cryin’, Sometimes (part 2)
09. I Can’t Keep From Cryin’, Sometimes (part 3)
10. Silly Thing
11. Slow Blues In ‘C’
12. I’m Going Home
13. Choo Choo Mama
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Ten Years After – Cricklewood Green (1970) (@192)
06 May 2007
(Review from amazon.com)
‘Cricklewood Green’ is, for the most part, a bombastic rockfest. In fact, the three tune, fifteen minute opening salvo stack up nicely against any other trio of songs from any rock and roll disc. But any album aspiring to greatness must demonstrate diversity, and ‘Cricklewood Green’ does that as well, although I could have lived with the rockfest through a double-album of this electrifying material! In my mind of minds I imagine Alvin Lee felt the same, and included songs such as ‘Year 3000 Blues’, the lone country-rock number in the set, and ‘Me and My Baby’ a Steve Miller sound-alike track and the lone jazz-rock number, simply to show everyone that Ten Years After was much more than a one-genre pony. As if that wasn’t enough, one other genre is also explored with the acoustic folk-rock number titled ‘Circles’, which adds more than just diversity. The sweet chorus, “Doesn’t/does it matter what I do…” mixes with the bittersweet sentiments and smooth-as-a-smoothie melody to produce what we in the music review business call ‘a beaute’.
The remainder of the disc builds on the solid rock foundation established by the band in four previous albums. The two longest tracks on the disc, ’50,000 Miles Beneath My Brain’ and ‘Love Like a Man’ are epics in composition and performance.
‘Sugar the Road’ opens the disc, and it is the prototypical opening number for an album or a concert, featuring great basic and lead guitar riffs, fun lyrics, cowbells, etc. ‘Working On the Road’, another gritty rocker, follows, with the sweet chorus, “I’ve got a feeling for home…”. ’50,000 Miles…’ opens with a restrained acoustic intro which builds in nicely structured gradients into an anthemic rocker, very reminicent of Tom Petty’s best work, and ending with a fine, distorted, fuzzy guitar lead. ‘Love Like a Man’ returns to the melodic guitar hooks and fleshy fretwork from maestro Alvin, in addition to a great sounding bass bridge. The original vinyl finished with the lumbering rocker ‘As the Sun Still Burns Away’, which builds steam like a locomotive, and winds up in a fog of psychedelic sound effects.
Line-up:
* Alvin Lee – guitar, vocals, harp
* Leo Lyons – bass
* Chick Churchill – keyboard
* Ric Lee – drums
Track List:
01. Sugar the Road – 4:06
02. Working on the Road – 4:18
03. 50,000 Miles Beneath My Brain – 7:39
04. Year 3,000 Blues – 2:27
05. Me and My Baby – 4:18
06. Love Like a Man – 7:32
07. Circles – 3:59
08. As the Sun Still Burns Away – 4:44
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Ten Years After – Ten Years After (1968) (@256)
07 Mar 2007
(Review from wikipedia, rarebird)
After several years of local success in the Nottingham/Mansfield area as a band known since 1962 as The Jaybirds (its core was formed in late 1960 as Ivan Jay and the Jaycats (later Ivan Jay and the Jaymen) by Alvin Lee and Leo Lyons, Ivan Jay lead vocals (late 1960 to 1962) joined by Ric Lee in August 1965, replacing original drummer Dave Quickmire, who had joined the band in 1962), in 1966 The Jaybirds moved to London, where Chick Churchill joined the group. That November the quartet signed a manager, Chris Wright, and then they decided to change their name: Blues Trip, Blues Yard (under it they played a show at the legendary Marquee Club, supporting Bonzo Dog Band), and finally Ten Years After in Nov 1966. They became the first bands of the soon-to-be Chrysalis Agency. They secured a residency at the Marquee, and received an invitation to play at the renowned Windsor Jazz Festival in 1967. That performance led to a contract with Deram, a subsidiary company of Decca — the first band so signed without a hit single. In October, 1967 self-titled debut album was released.
The self-titled 1967 album was a stunning debut. It was in a definite blues-rock vein, but it was set apart from other such albums of its time by its subtlety. The band avoided psychedelia and other indulgences that many of their peers fell prey to, and made a solid effort marked by genuine talent and love of the music. The album is no-nonsense from start to finish; even during the closing ten-minute jam “Help Me”, Lee and company never lose control. Ten Years After is as soulful as any rock and roll album to come down the pike.
Line-up:
- Alvin Lee – guitar, vocals, harp
- Leo Lyons – bass
- Chick Churchill – keyboard
- Ric Lee – drums
Track List:
01. I Want to Know
02. I Can’t Keep from Crying, Sometimes
03. Adventures of a Young Organ
04. Spoonful
05. Losing the Dogs
06. Feel It for Me
07. Love Until I Die
08. Don’t Want You Woman
09. Help Me
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