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Posts tagged Boz Burrell
Bad Company – Live Albuquerque 1976 (@256)
27 Sep 2010
(Review from allmusic, wikipedia)
Most Bad Company Fans have been waiting more than 30 years for a live album from the original band line-up, this first official live album was released in 2006, featuring Mick Ralphs’ private recordings, but due to legal dispute was withdrawn shortly after its release.
In 1976, riding high on the success of their Run with the Pack album, Bad Company embarked on their third U.S. tour. The Albuquerque gig fell early in their itinerary, the band was still fresh and raring to go.
Bad Company power through 16 songs, drawn from all first three of their albums. Fans are treated to fabulous versions of “Can’t Get Enough,” “Good Lovin’ Gone Bad,” “Feel Like Makin’ Love,” “Young Blood,” and, of course, the group’s eponymous theme song.
On record, Bad Company were an unadulterated, hard stompin’ band, whose sound was built on unquenchable beats, thick bass, hefty rhythm guitar, and Ralphs’ mortar fire leads. On-stage, the band added another level of excitement, which fed to and from the crowd.
Line-up:
- Paul Rodgers / vocals, piano, guitar, harmonica
- Mick Ralphs / lead guitar, background vocals
- Boz Burrell / bass
- Simon Kirke / drums
Track List:
CD1
01. Live For The Music – 4:47
02. Good Lovin’ Gone Bad – 4:19
03. Deal With The Preacher – 5:12
04. Ready For Love – 7:15
05. Wild Fire Woman – 6:39
06. Young Blood – 3:11
07. Sweet Little Sister – 4:24
08. Simple Man – 4:51
09. Shooting Star – 6:48
10. Seagull – 4:07
CD2
01. Run With The Pack – 6:49
02. Feel Like Making Love – 5:46
03. Rock Steady – 5:03
04. Honey Child – 5:01
05. Can’t Get Enough – 8:50
06. Bad Company – 8:33
Link in comments.
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
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
Link in comments.
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
Link in comments.
King Crimson – KCCC40 Live in Boston (1972) (@256)
28 Dec 2009
(Review from collectorsmusicreviews.com)
This archival live recording once again revisits the “Islands” era line up who played together in 1971 and 1972. The March 27th Boston gig was at the end of their second visit to the US and were supporting Yes, who were touring for Fragile. Such a situation was precipitated, according to the liner notes, by the instability of the band in their formative years. Nearly two years later in 1971 that the band returned to the USA. Having lost the momentum that a speculative tour during 1970 might have gained them, King Crimson were once again forced to “pay their dues” supporting bands such as Procol Harum and Yes.
This date survives in progressive rock mythology as the day when Bill Bruford (Yes drummer at the time) approached Robert Fripp about joining Crimson with Fripp’s famous reply “I think you’re about ready now, Bill…”.
The show itself is the perfect illustration of the band going in two directions. It is well known that Robert Fripp disbanded this line up in January only to be coerced into this final tour. The joy of playing this material is evident in the band except for the guitarist who voices his protest through his instrument.
The scorching “Pictures Of A City” starts the set. Mellotron tuning precedes the gentle “Forementera Lady” and in the long improvisation Mel Collins takes the lead saxophone. Fripp responds by playing the nasty angular riff that would used later in the year in “Larks Tongues In Aspic Part I”. The improvisation leads directly into the jazzy “A Sailor’s Tale”.
“Cirkus” from Lizard is one of the constants during these tours. Although it began as the opener by this time it was played in the middle of the set as a respite from the endless jams. “Groon”, which on a good night could push fifteen minutes lasts about nine in Boston. “21st Century Schizoid Man”, the only song from the classic first album to survive in the set, is segued with the preceding number. A seven minute funky improvisation lead by Boz serves as an introduction to “Cadence And Cascade” featuring a gorgeous flute melody before the tape cuts out.
This is another fantastic document from the most intriguing King Crimson line up.
Line-up:
- Robert Fripp / guitar, mellotron
- Mel Collins / saxes, flute, mellotron
- Boz Burrell / bass, lead vocals
- Ian Wallace / drums, vocals
Track List:
01. R.F. Announcement – 1:35
02. Pictures Of A City – 8:44
03. Formentera Lady – 8:33
04. The Sailor’s Tale – 7:26
05. Cirkus – 8:43
06. Groon – 10:18
07. 21st Century Schizoid Man – 10:03
08. Improv – 7:45
09. Cadence And Cascade – 4:16
Link in comments.
King Crimson – KCCC35 Live in Denver (1972) (@256)
19 Dec 2009
(Review from planetmellotron.com)
Six months before the Mark 2 lineup dissolved, the band sound like they were having a whale of a time the night Live in Denver, March 13, 1972 was recorded.
“Ladies Of The Road” has Boz Burrell introducing “Fingers Fripp, playing his blues licks”, while various members are laughing too hard to sing their backing vocal parts. The rest of the set is at least played properly, but is a case-book study as to why Fripp eventually tired of their approach.
Apart from the evergreen Schizoid Man, the two tracks containing mellotron standout with a fine The Sailors Tale and a ripping Cirkus.
It’s a great shame Fripp threw the repertoire baby out with the bathwater for his next version of the band, as that line-up would’ve more than done the song justice.
Line-up:
- Robert Fripp / guitar, mellotron
- Mel Collins / saxes, mellotron
- Boz Burrell / bass, vocals
- Ian Wallace / drums
Track List:
01. Formentera Lady – 9:27
02. The Sailor’s Tale – 6:41
03. Circus – 10:00
04. Ladies Of The Road – 6:33
05. The Letters – 6:35
06. Groon – 17:16
07. 21st Century Schizoid Band – 11:42
08. Cadence And Cascade – 4:56
Link in comments.
Roger Chapman – He Was… She Was… You Was… We Was (Live 1982) (@256)
06 Dec 2009
(Review from allmusic)
One of the lost jewels within the Roger Chapman crown, He Was She Was You Was We Was was the double live album that confirmed the former Family/Streetwalkers frontman as a superstar in Germany in 1982.
Recorded late the previous year in Kiel and built around his Hyenas album, it blazed through his solo career with furnace-fire aplomb, with a pair of medleys — one commencing with the old blues shaker “I’m a King Bee,” the other with Larry Williams’ “Slow Down” — highlights that few live acts of the era could muster.
It is not an oldies show — anybody coming to a Chapman live album today would be certain to search for Family favorites. They are absent — this is the sound of Chapman at the top of his game, whether pounding through his own most recent material or dipping back to mash Jimi Hendrix’s “Stone Free” with Miles Davis’ “Bitch’s Brew”, while the band — led by the indefatigable Tim Hinckley — simply storms.
This edition of the album has one more moment of magnificence appended as a bonus track: a five-minute romp through “I Just Want to Make Love to You”.
Line-up:
- Roger Chapman / Vocals, Harmonica
with
- Geoff Whitehorn / Guitar
- Boz Burrell / Bass
- Tim Hinkley / Keyboards
- Poli Palmer / Synthesizer
- Nick Pentelow / Saxophone
- Steve Simpson / Guitar, Mandolin, Violin, Vocals
- Stretch / Drums
Track List:
CD1
01. Higher Ground – 6:07
02. Ducking Down – 5:35
03. Making The Same Mistake – 5:41
04. Blood And Sand – 5:50
05. King Bee / That Same Thing / Face of Stone – 9:07
06. Hyenas Only Laugh For Fun – 4:12
07. Night Down No. 2 A La Z.Z – 9:46
CD2
01. Prisoner – 6:07
02. Slow Down / Common Touch – 6:32
03. Juke Box Mama No.3 – 6:22
04. He Was, She Was – 6:07
05. Stone Free / Bitches Brew – 6:02
06. Unknown Soldier – 5:48
07. I Just Wanna Make Love To You (Bonus) – 5:45
Link in comments.
Peter Sinfield – Still (1973) (@256)
28 Aug 2008
Thanks to Bilek for the contribution.
(Review from progarchives.com)
It’s interesting to listen what kind of result comes from the musical vision of King Crimson’s court lyricist without the guidance of Robert Fripp. The album features the typical Peter Sinfield elements like poetical lyrics and often a cynical undertone.
Almost everybody who played with King Crimson is on this album. However, only on one track- ‘The Night People’- does the album sound all that much like King Crimson, and even then, it’s the jazzier 1971 period that produced albums like ‘Lizard’ and ‘Islands’. It fits in with tracks like ‘Formentera Lady’ and ‘Indoor Games’ well enough, with Sinfield’s stream of consciousness words fitting the jazziness fairly well.
The rest of the album arguably, and somewhat surprisingly, owes more to the pastoral splendour of a band like Barclay James Harvest. These are dreamy with a wonderful harmony of acoustic guitar, flute, strings and the warm voice from Sinfield. His high, thin, reedy voice may put off some listeners but others will probably find it fitting and original. ‘Envelopes Of Yesterday’, with its treated guitar work and spaced-out atmosphere, edges towards Pink Floyd’s ‘Echoes’!
This edition also has two bonus tracks as well: the opener “Can You Forgive A Fool” which is very much pastoral and features some pleasant keys. The second one “Hanging Fire” is a candid and folk acoustic song.
Line-up:
- Peter Sinfield / vocals, guitar, synthesizer
with
- Chris Pyne / trombone
- Stanley Roderick / trumpet
- W.G. Snuffy Walden / guitar
- Ian Wallace / drums
- Tim Hinckley / piano
- Brian Flowers / synthesizer
- Don Honeywill / saxophone
- Keith Christmas / guitar
- Greg Lake / guitar, vocals
- Robin Miller / wind, cor Anglais
- Greg Bowen / trumpet
- Richard Brunton / guitar
- Boz Burrell / bass
- Brian Cole / guitar
- Mel Collins / celeste, flute, saxophone, wind, brass
- Steve Dolan / bass
- Don Honeywell / saxophone
- Phil Jump / Glockenspiel, keyboards, organ, piano, synthesizer
- John Wetton / drums, bass, percussion
- Keith Tippett / bass, piano
Track List:
01. The Song of the Sea Goat (6:08)
02. Under the Sky (4:24)
03. Will It Be You (2:42)
04. Wholefood Boogie (3:40)
05. Still (4:45)
06. Envelopes of Yesterday (6:19)
07. The Piper (2:51)
08. A House of Hopes and Dreams (3:57)
09. The Night People (7:56)
10. Can You Forgive A Fool? (Bonus) (4:21)
11. Hanging Fire (Bonus) (3:04)
Link in comments.
King Crimson – KCCC30 Live in Brighton (1971) (@256)
12 Aug 2008
(Review from progarchives.com)
Music is great, it’s just one brilliant King Crimson concert more. But the whole problem is sound quality, which makes this album not very listenable.
There are two rare live tracks : “Islands” sounds good, even if not as perfect as in studio version. “Letters” is played and especially sung very impressing.
Line-up:
* Boz Burrell – bass, lead vocals
* Robert Fripp – guitar, mellotron
* Mel Collins – saxes, flute, mellotron
* Ian Wallace – drums, vocals
* Peter Sinfield – words, sounds & visions
Track List:
CD1
01. Cirkus – 11:02
02. Pictures Of A City – 11:04
03. Formentara Lady – 7:14
04. The Sailor’s Tale – 5:30
05. The Letters – 8:05
06. Islands – 7:00
CD2
01. Ladies Of The Road – 6:52
02. 21st Century Schizoid Man – 24:55
03. Groon – 12:00
04. Mars – 10:11
Links in comments.
King Crimson – KCCC23 Live in Orlando (1972) (@256)
04 Aug 2008
(Review from progarchives.com)
Recorded on February 27, 1972 at the Kemp Coliseum; this performance took place one day after the Jacksonville concert. The sound quality of this (double) album is much better than the Jacksonville album and the playing is more inspired.
This incarnation is said to be more of a jam band and that may be true. That doesn’t mean however that they didn’t make some interesting, challenging music. Because they did. The jamming side is at its best in the jazzy rendition of Schizoid Man and in Earthbound. But this version of the band was also capable of more structured music, as in Cirkus.
Line-up:
* Boz Burrell – bass, lead vocals
* Robert Fripp – guitar, mellotron
* Mel Collins – saxes, flute, mellotron
* Ian Wallace – drums, vocals
Track List:
CD1
01. Pictures Of A City – 10:12
02. Formentera Lady – 8:24
03. The Sailors Tale – 6:57
04. Cirkus – 9:20
05. Ladies Of The Road – 6:07
CD2
01. Groon – 16:09
02. 21st Century Schizoid Man – 11:05
03. Earthbound – 6:31
04. Cadence And Cascade – 4:24
Links in comments.
King Crimson – KCCC18 Live in Detroit (1971) (@256)
30 Jul 2008

“Live in Detroit” was recorded at East Town Theatre, November 13, 1971.
Line-up:
- Boz Burrell / bass, lead vocals
- Mel Collins / flute, saxophone, mellotron
- Robert Fripp / guitar, mellotron
- Ian Wallace / drums, vocals
- Peter Sinfield / words, sound & visions
Track List:
CD1
01. Pictures of A City – 9:02
02. Formentera Lady – 9:08
03. Sailor’s Tale – 5:59
04. Cirkus – 9:14
05. Ladies of the Road – 7:54
06. Groon – 17:49
CD2
01. 21st Century Schizoid Man – 13:21
02. Mars – 13:22
03. In the Court of the Crimson King – 3:31
04. Lady of the Dancing Water – 2:25
Links in comments.
King Crimson – KCCC14 Live at Plymouth GuildHall (1971) (@256)
26 Jul 2008
Thanks to Bragi Taliesin for the contribution.
(Review from wikipedia)
Live at Plymouth Guildhall is a double live album, recorded at the Guildhall in Plymouth, UK on May 11, 1971. This concert was the fifth ever live performance by the Islands version of King Crimson. The CD release was adapted from the original soundboard tape, mixed by Peter Sinfield. An audience bootleg was added to repair the missing introduction to “Get Thy Bearings”.
“21st Century Schizoid Man” is sung by Boz with this line-up and his distorted voice sounds really demonic. It is surprising that a song like “Cirkus” (from Lizard) is performed on stage — it’s really tremendous that they would manage to re-create it on-stage, not losing it’s power, mystery and all the rest… Biggest surprise here is an early (pre-”Islands”) 15-minutes long version of “Sailor’s tale”, very different from the later one. We also have “Lady of the dancing water” and “Get thy bearings” (which is in fact rather an improvisation, with a slight hint to “get thy bearings”). Later on they delated “Get Thy Bearings” and played “Groon” instead. But in fact both are very free-form improves.
Line-up:
* Boz Burrell – Bass, Lead Vocals
* Mel Collins – Flute, Sax, Mellotron
* Robert Fripp – Guitar, Mellotron
* Ian Wallace – Drums, Vocals
* Peter Sinfield – Words, Sounds & Visions
Track List:
CD1
01. Cirkus – 10:08
02. Pictures of a City – 8:53
03. Sailor’s Tale – 15:32
04. The Letters – 4:48
05. Lady of the Dancing Water – 2:52
06. Cadence and Cascade – 4:24
CD2
01. Get Thy Bearings – 13:24
02. The Court of the Crimson King – 8:09
03. Ladies of the Road – 9:05
04. 21st Century Schizoid Man – 8:58
05. Mars – 9:12
Links in comments.
King Crimson – KCCC09 Denver Live at Summit Studios (1972) (@256)
21 Jul 2008
(Review from progarchives.com)
You can always rely on King Crimson to challenge your expectations, even in a 30-year old archive recording from arguably the least popular line-up of the band. If you only know this Crimson from their somewhat austere 1971 album “Islands”, prepare to have your eyes and ears belatedly opened, and better late than never.
At this point in the band’s history the signature King Crimson spirit of “energy, intensity, and eclecticism” had been all but reduced to just the eclecticism. But this live-in-the-station radio broadcast, recorded in Colorado during their final U.S. tour, offers a candid and surprisingly playful portrait of a group supposedly in disarray, and as a welcome bonus it sounds a heck of a lot better than the sub-bootleg concert tapes on the posthumous “Earthbound” album.
Forget everything you might have read about this being an unhappy quartet of mismatched talents, split by creative frictions: this set captures them in peak form and high spirits. Evidence of the informal nature of the gig can be heard in some of the goofy but affectionate banter between songs, including (in “My Hobby”) Ian Wallace doing his best Mr. Gumby impersonation, for an audience not yet acquainted with Monty Python (this from a drummer, keep in mind, who according to band biographer Sid Smith once performed for the goggle-eyed comedian Marty Feldman, while dressed as a duck).
Elsewhere the band’s enthusiasm (yes, even from the normally taciturn Fripp) must have been contagious, as more than half of their performance here was clearly unscheduled. The original four-song set opens with a tight, swinging variation of “Pictures of a City” (miles removed from the “21st Century Schizoid Man” similarity on the “Wake of Poseidon” album), and was meant to conclude with “Schizoid Man” itself, here in a more circumspect version played at a somewhat lachrymose pace, no doubt to accommodate the rookie bass guitarist.
But just as the studio host begins his closing acknowledgements and thanks, an irrepressible Ian Wallace starts a spontaneous drumbeat and the band kicks into another impromptu jam. “…Looks like we’re gonna get an encore”, drawls the DJ, and not for the last time that evening. There are at least two more false endings before the true final number: a long freeform arrangement of the Leon Thomas / Pharaoh Sanders composition “The Creator Has a Master Plan”.
The variable mix of this track suggests it might have actually been a pre-show microphone check. After 15 minutes the whole thing finally unravels (with unaccountable tape splices spoiling the continuity), but not before another surprise, when the upbeat melody suddenly breaks into a filthy blues riff, inspiring even Fripp to throw his guitar (all too briefly) into some unlikely sonic contortions.
The unexpected and wholly American blues-funk flavor of this line-up still doesn’t sit well with doctrinaire Crimheads, and was never quite to Fripp’s own taste either. The guitarist himself is often the odd man out here, but it’s fascinating to hear him beginning to move away from the jazzier sound of earlier King Crimson albums toward the harder, more aggressive style soon to reach fruition only a few short months later with the “Larks Tongues” crew.
Some tantalizing hints of that uncompromising musical future are already evident. At the end of the “Summit Going On” improv you’ll recognize what would become the opening motif to “Night Watch” and the guitarist can later be heard test-driving some of the white-lightning riffs of “Larks Tongues In Aspic, Part One”, almost daring the rest of the band to follow him.
Some of this show would later appear on the haphazard “Ladies of the Road” collection, but the entire set, warts and all, might go a long way toward rehabilitating the undervalued reputation of this Crimson. For diehard fans in particular, this album fills in the blanks of an only half-sketched and long neglected chapter in the ongoing King Crimson biography.
Line-up:
* Robert Fripp – Guitar, Mellotron
* Mel Collins – Sax, Flute, Mellotron
* Boz Burrell – Bass Guitar, Lead Vocal
* Ian Wallace – Drums, Backing Vocal
Track List:
01. Pictures of a City – 9:38
02. Cadence and Cascade – 4:46
03. Groon – 13:49
04. 21st Century Schizoid Man – 10:10
05. Improv: Summit Going On – 11:39
06. My Hobby – 1:31
07. Sailor’s Tale – 6:52
08. The Creator Has a Master Plan – 15:26
Links in comments.
King Crimson – KCCC02 Live at Jacksonville (1972) (@256)
15 Jul 2008
This concert was recorded at the Baseball Park, Jacksonville, Florida, USA, February 26, 1972.
Line-up:
* Robert Fripp / guitar, mellotron
* Boz Burrell / bass guitar, vocals
* Mel Collins / saxophone, flute, mellotron
* Ian Wallace / drums, vocals
Track List:
01. Pictures Of A City – 9:46
02. Cirkus – 9:08
03. Ladies Of The Road – 6:39
04. Formentera Lady – 10:21
05. The Sailor’s Tale – 14:05
06. 21st Century Schizoid Man – 10:28
Links in comments.
King Crimson – Ladies of the Road (Live 1971-72) (@256)
27 Jun 2008
(Review from progarchives.com)
While not perfect, this release offers a very correct-sounding of the “Island” album line-up of King Crimson.
Unsurprisingly, the track listing is mostly axed towards Island with touches into the first albums but rather sparsely. One of the biggest disappointments with this album is that the debut title track is only a 45 sec bluesy spoof, but a rare (and quite different than single or previous live version) of Groon makes this interesting.
The second disc is rather a curiosity of sorts but reserved for crimsonic monarchy absolutist since it has some 11 parts of Schizoid Man, mostly improvised parts. Interesting to a point, but rarely up for a regular spin in your deck unless you are a 21st Century Psychotic Man.
Line-up:
- Boz Burrell / bass & vocals
- Mel Collins / saxes, flute & mellotron
- Robert Fripp / guitar & mellotron
- Ian Wallace / drums
- Peter Sinfield / FOH sound & VCS3 on Volume One
Track List:
CD1
01. Pictures of a City – 8:46
02. The Letters – 4:42
03. Formentera Lady [Abridged] – 6:41
04. The Sailors Tale – 5:43
05. Cirkus – 7:58
06. Groon – 6:52
07. Get Thy Bearings – 8:33
08. 21st Century Schizoid Man – 8:57
09. In the Court of the Crimson King – 0:48
CD2
01. Schizoid Men I – 1:44
02. Schizoid Men II – 4:46
03. Schizoid Men III – 3:12
04. Schizoid Men IV – 5:15
05. Schizoid Men V – 6:22
06. Schizoid Men VI – 3:56
07. Schizoid Men VII – 5:13
08. Schizoid Men VIII – 3:18
09. Schizoid Men IX – 5:01
10. Schizoid Men X – 3:23
11. Schizoid Men XI – 11:42
Links in comments.
King Crimson – Earthbound (Live 1972) (@256)
12 Jun 2008
(Review from progarchives.com, progreviews.com)
The recording quality of King Crimson’s first live album is little better than that of a bootleg with distortion aplenty, indeed, the sleeve notes actually state that the recordings were captured on a stereo cassette! To be fair, the cassette recorder was plugged into the mixer (sound board), this is not a microphone recording.
Looking through the mist, we find five tracks in total. An 11 minute rendition of “21st century schizoid man” kicks things off, the substantial lengthening of the song being due to improvisations on guitar by Robert Fripp, and sax by Mel Collins. It comes off in many ways more gloriously snaggle-toothed and mind-melting than ever.
As is clearly evident in listening to “21st Century Schizoid Man” and “Sailors Tale”; Fripp, Collins, and Wallace as a unit were none the want for instrumental earthshaking. The title track really doesn’t sound that far off from Miles Davis from the Black Beauty or Live-Evil era, the bass line at one point virtually duplicating that of his “It’s About That Time.”
The album shines an interesting flashlight on this short-lived line-up, with some of the material on here standing entirely at odds from anything any other line-up in King Crimson ever tackled. The general folklore about this line-up pursued a path devoted to more down-to-earth jamming of the blues-funk variety.
Though it has some locatable charms for the interested, the album stands very much alone in the Crimson canon.
Line-up:
- Robert Fripp / guitar
- Boz Burrell / bass, vocals
- Mel Collins / alto, baritone & tenor, saxophones, mellotron
- Ian Wallace / drums
Track List:
01. 21st Century Schizoid Man – 11:38
02. Peoria – 7:22
03. The Sailor’s Tale – 4:49
04. Earthbound – 6:14
05. Groon – 15:32
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Bad Company – Burnin' Sky (1976) (@256)
29 Apr 2008
(Review from rollingstone.com, wikipedia)
Burnin’ Sky was recorded in July and August of 1976 but its release was delayed until March of 1977 as to not compete with the band’s then-current album Run With the Pack.
Although Burnin’ Sky is firmly slotted into the comfortable menace of Anglo blues-rock growl, some credit is due Bad Company for loosening up sufficiently to nudge the limits of hard-rock convention. While it’s less than a break-through in terms of songwriting or musicianship, Burnin’ Sky does sport a crisp, streamlined sound and a noticeable softening of the band’s synthetic macho posing.
The title track lays down all of the comfortable parameters: dramatic major-chord drone, “ominous” vocals and the spare, elemental thud of the rhythm section, which is less boomy this time around thanks to engineer Chris Kimsey. Mick Ralphs continues to play full, hard chords and simple solo lines, but his rhythm and fills are becoming more sophisticated, while the nearly constant use of a phasing device gives his instrument much more effective bite.
“Morning Sun”, which follows, provides the usual hard-to-soft contrast with a traditional lament built on an acoustic 12-string figure. Unfortunately, vocalist Paul Rodgers’ lyrics on this, “Leaving You” and the quasiphilosophical “Like Water” still tend toward the instantly forgettable. A master at the art of the faceless lyric, Rodgers fashions safe little modules of contemporary thought that are really little more than skeletal reference points for Rodgers’ husky melisma slides.
This functional view of lyrics short-circuits during the album’s most perverse track, the jam/dirge “Master of Ceremony”, a two-chord organ-guitar vamp redolent with the inevitable. This sortie is dominated by really embarrassing lyrics on brotherhood (“You can be a redneck Jewish man, that’s all right with me”) and a distorted, meandering sense of phrasing. And what a perfect defamatory touch to start off with a quote from “Mystery Train”, the sacrosanct Presley classic.
Tasteless as it is, it is tracks like “Master of Ceremony” and the charming reggae spoof “Everything I Need” that give Burnin’ Sky its spark. The humor may seem a bit forced at times, but at least they’re trying.
Line-up:
* Mick Ralphs – Guitar, Keyboards
* Paul Rodgers – Guitar, Accordion, Piano, Vocals
* Boz Burrell – Bass
* Mel Collins – Saxophone
* Tim Hinkley – Keyboards
* Simon Kirke – Drums
Track List:
01. Burnin’ Sky – 5:09
02. Morning Sun – 4:06
03. Leaving You – 3:23
04. Like Water – 4:19
05. Knapsack – 1:20
06. Everything I Need – 3:23
07. Heartbeat – 2:37
08. Peace Of Mind – 3:25
09. Passing Time – 2:30
10. Too Bad – 3:52
11. Man Needs Woman – 3:45
12. Master Of Ceremony – 7:13
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King Crimson – Islands (1971) (@256)
23 Sep 2007
(Review from progarchives.com)
‘Islands’, released in 1971 and was King Crimson’s fourth studio record. The band has changed a lot in the meantime and left only Robert Fripp and Pete Sinfield as original members, who signed all the tracks, but the two instrumentals together. From the more symphonic outfit of the beginnigs, the band moved into jazz rock with Mel Collins on sax, Boz Borrell on bass and lead vocals and Ian Wallace on drums, plus some guest artists from the jazz-rock field like Keith Tippet and Marc Charig. The overall athmosphere is the typical Frippish one of tension, threat and danger which he supports all through the record with his trashing biting guitar play, alternating with some sweeter passages.
‘Formentera Lady’ starts of slowly with a bowed bass, flute, piano and chimes and a first beautiful theme, alternating with a second theme over a funky ostinato bass line, that will later on be elaborated by guitar, mellotron, a sax solo and soprano vocallizes blending into….
‘Sailor’s Tale’, a syncopated up-tempo jazz instrumental with flute and sax , giving way to a slower heavy funk rhythm change over which Fripp plays thrashing razor blade chords and a threatening mellotron.
‘The Letters’ starts with a delicate guitar, a mournful melody, before the brass section and distorted guitar come crashing in, followed by a baritone sax solo and a second part with angry desperate vocals ponctuated by the guitar and an A Capella outro.
‘Ladies Of The Road’ starts a as a slow blues with guitar and tambourine, followed by a howling tenor sax and heavy drums until the chorus gives place to a Beatles like Barbershop vocal arrangement and a sax solo.
‘Gulls’ is a classical elegy for strings and oboe, a sweet melody played by the oboe over pizzicato strings.
‘Islands’ the title song presents a perfect balance of lyrics and music a masterpice of Fripp and Sinfield. A beautiful melody accompagnated by piano and flute and leaving place to a second theme played by cornet and a harmonium and then by mellotron and oboe. All the second half of the long track functions as a long outro over a distant and discret rhythm a cornet solo, harmonium and mellotron chords fading slowly out.
This vastly underrated album of King Crimson’s discography, is a great fusion of elements from their previous two albums mixing the lyrical style of “In the Wake of Poseidon”, and the orchestration and improvisation found on “Lizard”.
Line-up:
- Robert Fripp / guitar, mellotron, pedal harmonium and sundry implements
- Mel Collins / flute, bass flute, saxes and vocals
- Boz Burrell / bass guitar, lead vocals and choreography
- Ian Wallace / drums, percussion and vocals
- Peter Sinfield / words, sounds and visions
with:
- Keith Tippet / piano
- Paulina Lucas / soprano
- Robin Miller / oboe
- Mark Charig / cornet
- Harry Miller / string bass
Track List:
01. Formentera Lady (10:14)
02. Sailor’s Tale (7:21)
03. The Letters (4:26)
04. Ladies Of The Road (5:28)
05. Prelude: Song Of The Gulls (4:14)
06. Islands (11:51)
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Bad Company – Run With The Pack (1976) (@256)
05 Aug 2007
(Review from amazon)
By 1976, Bad Company was really beginning to make a name for themselves. If you thought Straight Shooter was a bit of a step down from Bad Company’s debut, any feelings you may have had about the band’s quality diminishing should be shattered by Run With The Pack. Although it didn’t have as many hits as, say, the band’s 1974 debut, the quality of music is nothing less.
Starting things off is the classic rock anthem Live For The Music, which is unquestionably one of the finest tunes the group ever recorded. “Simple Man” and “Honey Child” are lighter numbers that are no less excellent, and show off those amazing vocals only Paul Rodgers can do. And then we get the title track, which was a minor hit. This song is a classic rock masterpiece, combining elements of harder classic rock with more melodic ones – and even employing some orchestral arrangements. After that we go right into the album’s big hit, Silver Blue And Gold. Bad Company actually recorded quite a few ballads, but this one just might be the best of the bunch. Combining a melodic song structure with elements of classic pop-rock, the band succeeded in creating a masterpiece. The strangest on the album track comes next – it’s a cover of the old Coasters song Young Blood. Though not the best work on here, it’s still solid. And closing out the album are several underrated Bad Company tunes you’re not likely to hear on the radio any time soon, including the masterful Fade Away.
Run With The Pack captures the band in a prime no other did. Admittingly, this is a bit more of an acquired taste than the band’s self-titled debut (which is where new fans should start), but if you’re already into Bad Company, get this one — you won’t regret it.
Line-up:
* Paul Rodgers – Vocals, Piano, Guitar
* Mick Ralphs – Lead Guitar
* Boz Burrell – Bass Guitar
* Simon Kirke – Drums
Track List:
01. Live for the Music – 3:58
02. Simple Man – 3:37
03. Honey Child – 3:15
04. Love Me Somebody – 3:09
05. Run With the Pack – 5:21
06. Silver, Blue and Gold – 5:03
07. Young Blood – 2:37
08. Do Right by Your Woman – 2:51
09. Sweet Lil’ Sister – 3:29
10. Fade Away – 2:54
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Bad Company – Straight Shooter (1975) (@256)
04 May 2007
(Review from allmusic.com)
One year after Bad Company’s multi-platinum self-titled debut, the British band returned to London to record a follow-up. Utilizing material written earlier in 1973, vocalist and songwriter Paul Rodgers wrote two acoustic-based rock ballads that would live on forever in the annals of great rock history. “Shooting Star” and the Grammy-winning “Feel Like Makin’ Love” helped Straight Shooter rise quickly through the charts. However, critically and commercially the album never achieved the tremendous success of its predecessor, largely due to the lack of strong follow-up singles and supporting tracks. Simon Kirke stepped out from behind the drum-set to help produce and write “Anna” and “Weep No More,” two slower and less aggressive ballads indicative of the overall diminishing quality of the album. Following the release of Straight Shooter, Bad Company headlined their first North American tour.
Line-up:
* Paul Rodgers – Vocals, Piano, Guitar
* Mick Ralphs – Lead Guitar
* Boz Burrell – Bass Guitar
* Simon Kirke – Drums
Track List:
01. Good Lovin’ Gone Bad
02. Feel Like Makin’ Love
03. Weep No More
04. Shooting Star
05. Deal With the Preacher
06. Wild Fire Woman
07. Anna
08. Call on Me
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Bad Company – Bad Company (1974) (@256)
09 Mar 2007
(Review from wikipedia, allmusic.com)
Bad Company were an English hard rock supergroup founded in 1973, consisting of band members from Free (Paul Rodgers, Simon Kirke), Mott the Hoople (Mick Ralphs) and King Crimson (Boz Burrell). Managed by Peter Grant, who had also guided Led Zeppelin to massive success, the band would go on to enjoy great success throughout the 1970s.
Bad Company’s 1974 self-titled release stands as one of the most important and accomplished debut hard rock albums from the ’70s. Though hardly visionary, it was one of the most successful steps in the continuing evolution of rock & roll, riding on the coattails of achievement from artists like the Eagles and Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young. From the simple electric guitar lick on “Can’t Get Enough” to the haunting bassline in “Bad Company” and the fast beats of “Movin’ On,” Bad Company exemplified raw rock & roll at its best. Erupting out of an experimental period created by the likes of Pink Floyd, Bad Company signified a return to more primal, stripped-down rock & roll. Even while labelmates Led Zeppelin’s Houses of the Holy and IV featured highly acclaimed, colorful album artwork, Bad Company’s austere black and white record cover stood out in stark contrast. Six years later, AC/DC used the same idea on their smash Back in Black. Throughout the 35-minute album, Paul Rodgers’ mesmerizing and gritty vocals hardly vary in tonal quality, offering a perfect complement to Mick Ralphs’ blues-based guitar work. Several songs include three-chord verses offset by unembellished, distorted choruses, filled rich with Rodgers’ cries. Bad Company is an essential addition to the rock & roll library; clearly influential to ’70s and ’80s hard rock bands like Tom Petty, Lynyrd Skynyrd, and Boston.
Line-up:
* Mick Ralphs – guitar, keyboards
* Boz Burrell – bass
* Paul Rodgers – guitar, piano, accordion, vocals
* Simon Kirke – drums
Track List:
01. Can’t Get Enough (Ralphs) – 4:15
02. Rock Steady (Rodgers) – 3:46
03. Ready for Love (Ralphs) – 5:02
04. Don’t Let Me Down (Ralphs/Rodgers) – 4:21
05. Bad Company (Kirke/Rodgers) – 4:50
06. The Way I Choose (Rodgers) – 5:05
07. Movin’ On (Ralphs) – 3:20
08. Seagull (Ralphs/Rodgers) – 4:06
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