Chicken Noodles II by Buckethead and Travis Dickerson

If you thought you didn’t get enough with their first offering of melody jam from their album “Chicken Noodles”, Buckethead and his friend Travis Dickerson offer you more of the jam in a sequel titled “Chicken Noodles II”. This time they have a longer album with more songs than the first.

A review of the songs:

1. The chicken or the egg - Sounds bluesy; nice intro jam

2. Ovum Prophecy - Good song, reminding you of chicken noodles 1; faster one but shorter.

3. Concentric Motion - Long song. Starts lovely and melodious and towards the end comes with and nice string arrangements (programmed into the Rhodes?). Sounds Mark Knopflerish but this one is from Buckethead. The soulful playing starts well then gets into a fast pace and then sounds like shredding but just when you think it is going out of control or boring both the instrumentalists come back to end beautifully.

4. Oyster Crackers - Rockier riffs, bluesy notes, long song but doesn’t get boring and you can just let it play.

5. Heat and Save - A song with guitar chords at the beginning and towards the end of the song. Good small song you wonder why it wasn’t accompanied by vocals but the instruments sing instead.

6. Let it cool - Keyboard doubles as bass - Lovely Mark Knopflerish and bluesy sounding guitar for this blues instrumental.

7. Chicken Nostrils - More chords played in this song than single notes but song has an intriguing feel, at 3.45 more single notes are played.

Buy Chicken Noodles II by Buckethead and Travis Dickerson from Amazon.com.

In its heydays the album reached no.5 on the American Billboard Album charts but even that rank doesn’t make Al Stewart a household name as other albums that reached the same or lower status on the popular albums chart. It may have gathered interest in the 70’s but today this album is almost forgottten. Who wants to remember an album that went to no.5 on the U.S charts in 1977?

Engineered by Alan Parsons and recorded at Abbey Studios, 1976 this was Al Stewart’s finest and most popular work. Though considered a folk artiste I would like to put this album under the “Pop” category as it appeals to more that category or the pop-rock category.

Al Stewart is known fo his mellifluous voice, poetry like lyrics (which can be a pain after a while), using numerous and varied musical talent on his albums. Jimmy Page played on one of his earlier albums. Other greats with whom he had collaborated are Rick Wakeman, Peter White and Richard Thompson.

Al Stewart’s lyrics are often related to historical and cultural events and people.

All said, if there is one album of Al Stewart that you should be listening to, it must this one, “Year of the Cat“.

A review of the songs:

1. Lord Grenville - Beautiful opener for the album. Such soft singing is rare these days. Lovely string arrangements laced with melancholy. Lovely ending with melancholious guitar licks and the strings in the background.

2. On the border - One of Al Stewarts most popular songs. Good keyboards almost replace the strings as background music. Nice acoustic guitar too. Tamil movie music listeners may recall Shankar-Ganesh the popular music duo of yesteryears who had a knack of lifting popular tunes. Their song “Unakkaga engum intha pithanamma” a hit in the early 80’s was based on this song of Al Stewart. And writing about lifting tunes their “Devi Koondhalo Brindavanam…” from Hermans Hermit’s “Happy Together”. Even “Meghame” their evergreen hit for singer Vani Jayaram was tune for tune copy of Jagjit Singh’s popular song “Tum Nahin”.

Here is a video of Al Stewart and his boys playing “On the border”. Check out Peter White’s solo on the classical guitar and his shirt on stage. Really sweet.

3. Midas Shadow - A slower song with soft and lovely singing with a lovely keyboard solo.

4. Sand in Your shoes - Happier songs, starts rhymey but still makes for a lovely listen. An O.K guitar solo but well played accordion in the background.

5. If it doesn’t come naturallly, leave it - Faster paced song than the two previous songs. Good song. Lots of piano work on this one and a decent guitar solo.

6. Flying Sorcery - Good song. I love the harmonica on this one and it has a lovely guitar solo too.

7. Broadway Hotel - Violin on this one with a lovely solo at the end.

8. One Stage Before - Lovely guitar solo on this one and I like the bass on this one.

9. Year of the cat - Longer song, 6 min plus, co-written by the late Peter Wood this song reached No.8 on the US Billboard chart making it Al Stewart’s most successful single. Is also the longest song on the album with piano, acoustic guitar, background strings, lead gtr; keys and saxophone solo’s makes it a befitting final and title song to end the album.

Here’s Al Stewart on the “Old Grey Whistle Test” performing “Year of the Cat” with his talented friends.

The personnel on the album - Al Stewart (vocals, keyboards); Tim Renwick, Peter White (guitar); Graham Smith (harmonica); Phil Kenzie (alto saxophone); Peter Wood, Don Lobster (keyboards); George Ford (bass); Stuart Elliot (drums, percussion); Marion Driscoll (triangle); David Pack, Tony Rivers, John Perry (background vocals).

Al Stewart can get stale over repeated albums but certainly he is no one-hit wonder.

Buy Al Stewart’s Year of the cat from Amazon.com.

In all my music listening life I have been overwhelmed by a couple of bands and the moments when I discovered them. These were: listening to Wishbone Ash the first time, rediscovering the original progressive side of pre-Phil Collins-fronted Genesis, rediscovering Pre-Breakfast in America Supertramp and off late Canterbury based progressive rock band Camel.

What a joy and an honour to be writing about such a great band fronted and still lead by the talented Andrew Latimer, one of the original founders of Camel. It is interesting to note that the band, Peter Bardens’ On changed their name to Camel after a gig supporting the big band, the inspiration behind great-anonymous-albums.com, Wishbone Ash.

It’s a shame that such a great band must only be listened to by Camel’s cult following. Such a big shining star in the world of Progressive Rock Camel certainly needs more air play, listening and viewing. I have also become such an ardent fan of Andrew Latimer and I think he is one of the few guitarists out there who can reproduce the same guitar time and again on stage, that you heard inside the studio on the CD. I have watched him perform live on videos on YouTube and it is unbelievable how he can come up with such performances. His hallmark is his beautiful melancholy sound and his ear for melody and great tunes even shows up in the fast paced songs. The other musicians support him well on this album; Peter Bardens on keyboards, Doug Fergusson on bass and Andy Ward on drums.

Released in 1975, The Snow Goose was Camel’s third album. Mostly instrumental this is one of those beautiful prog-rock albums that you can take on the road or listen in private and will never wear you down. And unlike most prog-rock albums most of the songs are small but knitted together. The longest (just a couple of them) are only just a little over 5 min long and one over 4 min. After using “novel” based concepts in their breakthrough album “Mirage”, Camel decided to go with Doug Fergusson’s suggestion of “The Snow Goose” by author Paul Gallico. Earlier they had contemplated on Herman Hesse’s Siddhartha and Steppenwolf. When Paul Gallico who detested smoking decided to take the band to court (Camel is also the name of the popular cigarette) the band avoided legal action by adding the words “Music inspired by” before the title of the album “The Snow Goose”.

This album also showcased Andrew Latimer’s flute abilities that he did for the first time on the previous album “Mirage” and he doesn’t disappoint. This is not the energetic and distorted sounds like Ian Anderson’s flute of Jethro Tull but melodious as flutes normally sound.

Here’s a review of the songs.

The Great Marsh introduces the album with the sounds of geese in a marsh. Gradually Peter’s chords on the keys take over. Female vocals and Andrew’s guitar can also be heard. Bass and drums join in for a lovely small introductory tune.

Rhayader introduces Latimer on flute with Peter on Piano and with other musicians break into a lovely instrumental with solos on the flute by Andrew and later Peter on the keyboards and finally Latimer concludes with the flute tunes once again.

Rhayader goes to Town starts with a bang. Latimer switches to the Fender Strat and the band delivers a lovely instrumental with Latimer doing a delightful solo on his guitar engaging the tremolo. Peter, Doug and Andy Ward provide all the necessary support.

Sanctuary - Lovely little guitar instrumental from Andrew Latimer.

Fritha - Lovely little guitar instrumental from Peter on the keyboards, Andrew on guitar and Doug on Bass.

The Snow Goose is a beautiful instrumental (befitting the title song) from the four musicians and I have listened to it infinite times already. Andrew’s Les Paul is soulful and beautiful.

Friendship - A nice digression using wind instruments. Except for the keyboard played by Peter the rest (trumpet, horn etc) are played by guest musicians. (This can be seen in the video, link below.)

Migration - With drum roll on the snare this song features non lyric-vocals from the musicians. Check out the lovely bass notes from Doug.

Rhayader alone - Soft keys and lovely guitar, Peter and Andrew perform a beautiful little tune befitting the lonliness of Rhayader in the song.

Flight of the Snow Goose - Starts with silence, Peter Bardens’ keyboards then sets in and the musicians burst into a happy tune.

Preparation - Andrew uses his flute again starting softly then vocals are heard with the music in the background become a repetitive loop giving it the real prog-rock feel. Some other sounds can also be heard. Song kept reminding me of the start of Wishbone Ash’s “Pilgrim”, as though preparing for something exciting.

Dunkirk - The rythmic sound on the keys, bass and drums does make you inquisitive but the monotonous tunes that start go on for about three minutes but after that Andrew Latimer delivers a searing hot solo on his guitar.

Epitaph - We hear a similar loop that we did before in “Preperation” and it goes on to fade.

Fritha Alone - Beautiful piano tune from Peter Bardens.

La Princesse Purdue - Starts from silence and gradually violin strings break the silence and the band goes into a tune and then pausing for Peter Bardens to do his bit on his keys and later to continue the earlier tune again with background score. Once again Peter goes into solo mode on his keys and almost coming to a stop. Andrew now takes over with his melancholy tune on his guitar signalling a “Goodbye” with Peter mixing tunes from “The Snow Goose” instrumental. The Bass from Doug is almost identical to what he played on The Snow Goose. You could say this was a different version of The Snow Goose instrumental.

The Great Marsh - As conclusion a visit is paid to the marsh and sounds of the geese is once again heard. Peter Concludes with the same keyboard sounds that he used to start the album.

The YouTube link to the live performance of “The Snow Goose”, “Friendship” and “Rhyader goes to town” on the Old Grey Whistle Test recorded way back in May 9, (also my birthday anniversary), 1975, displays Camel’s fantastic live playing. Watch a shy Andrew and his friends play great tunes from The Snow Goose.

The album’s success also led to a prestigious sell out concert at the Royal Albert Hall, London, with the London Symphony Orchestra in the same year of the album’s release. In 1981 The Snow Goose reached Silver status but I really wonder if many good music listeners have listened to this lovely album.

A very different prog-rock album from one my all time favourite prog rock sounds, the Canterbury sound. You won’t regret it.

Buy Camel’s The Snow Goose from Amazon.com. The 2002 remaster even has additional bonus covers and unreleased versions of the songs on the album.

You can find all Camel related information on their official site www.camelproductions.com. Anderw Latimer is just recovering from a stem cell transplant operation to help him fight his blood disorder. Susan Hoover, Andrew’s wife reports regularly on his condition on the bands newsletter, also found on the same site under the link News. Also find all merchandise and recordings (Audio and Video) of Camel on the site www.camelproductions-store.com if you cannot get them on Amazon.

Colours of India is a fusion album that can rival some of the best fusion albums from India in the recent past. It was also my first review on my other music blog madrasbee where I review and write about music from the Indian sub-continent. If you thought Illayaraja’s “How to Name it” (1986), another very unpopular fusion album even among staunch Illayaraja fans, or “Conversations” from the late 80’s, the fusion album from L.Subramaniam and Stefan Grapelli were some of the finest fusion albums involving musicians in South India in the recent past, here’s an album that lives up to the reputation of a great fusion album. When it was launched I was sure it was going to be well received and certainly one that was going to be talked about for some time. However even the freshness or the recent release in 2003 doesn’t seem to be fetching the album its due credit and so it is here on great-anonymous-albums.com.

The notes on the website indicates that this is a live album. However that is apparent only on one song.

Brothers Ganesh and Kumaresh have been playing the violin since the age of 7 and 5 respectively. Sons of reputed musician Rajagopalan the early grooming helped them give over a 100 concerts by the time they were into their teens. Ganesh even starred in a K Balachander’s Tamil film in his later years.

The tunes on this album will please, elevate and soothe your mind.

Here’s a review of the songs starting with the best of the album.

1. “Taj Mahal” must be the first song you should be listening to. A beautiful instrumental befitting the monument. India has gifted the ultimate monument of love - the Taj Mahal - to the world. The composition ‘Tai Mahal,’ is set to the raga “Nalinakanti” is a tribute to the monument for which John Keats wrote “A thing of beauty is a joy forever”.

2. “Utsav”. Wait till you hear the vocals on “Utsav” based on the raga “Shuddha Dhanyasi”. You won’t believe that even vocals can get you on a natural high when Ganesh starts his singing. These two songs alone are worth the price of the CD. Ganesh-Kumaresh and company are going to be remembered for a long time for these two songs.

3. “Gambhira” is a lovely intro to what’s in store on the CD. The musicianship here is top notch. Arun is tight and fantastic on his drum set here. Some of this rolls and fills are a beauty to listen to, fast, furious and perfect.
‘Gambhira,’ is set to the raga “Gambhira Nattai” and according to the website composed as a tribute to that majesty of India.

4. Chanchal is a lovely jam in typical carnatic style showcasing the talents of the musicians without sacrificing composition. Starting as an ensemble and finishing off with solos from the percussionists this is a superb composition. ‘Chanchal’ in raga “Ranjani” is the one where the audience can be heard. A longer song but worth the listen to the amazing talents of the musicians. Arun’s drum solo is the last and what a treat it is.

5. “Ahimsa” is a delightful soft Hindi devotional song sung by Ganesh on non-violence that also calls and refers other religions.

6. “Colours of India” is the only spoilt song on this album. A long and out-of-place composition reflecting various music styles from around the country it fails to match the creativity and of the stellar compositions “Taj Mahal” and “Utsav”.

The musician who grabbed most of my attention was of course Arun Kumar. He made the drums sing and talk. There was so much meaning to the fast and furious playing.

Beg, borrow, steal, or buy this album. If you don’t have this album I suggest you make a bee line to your nearest music store and get it without fail. You could listen to complete samples on musicindiaonline.com.

The Artistes on the album: Ganesh-Violin and Vocals, Kumaresh-Violin, Keith Peters -Bass Guitar, Satish Kumar-Mridangum, Kanjira, Konaakol, Deena-Keyboard, Giridhar Udupa-Ghatam, Konnakol, Arun Kumar-Drums,Percussion and Moharsingh

I have had the privilege of watching them in two fusion concerts in Chennai and they hardly fail to disappoint. Ganesh and Kumaresh have gone to release two more fusion albums. Watch out for the reviews.

Buy Colours of India by Ganesh and Kumaresh from Amazon.com.

This is a shorter review.

Chicken Noodles is a much newer album and my prediction is that it is already anonymous or is going to be forgotten soon but in my opinion this is a landmark album. I haven’t heard of an entire album full of Jam as this. Miles Davis’s “Bitches Brew” was a double album of jam but it featured many artistes. However in this album you are only going to hear two instruments, the guitar and the keyboard. The musicians of the album are the highly versatile and immensely gifted guitarist Buckethead whose Monsters and Robots album I reviewed earlier on great-anonymous-albums.com. The other person and worthy of every mention is Buckethead’s associate on the Fender Rhodes, Travis Dickerson. I have listened to the duo on the Population Overdrive album and was very impressed with the keyboard skills of Travis but this albums takes their association to another level.

Running into a little over 50 min this album is enjoyable whether listened to with full attention or while doing other tasks. The album has only 4 instrumentals and they are: 1) Enter Tomorrow (13:07), 2) Loss From a Distance (18:01) 3) Sorrow of Discord (11:28) 4) and False Directions (8:24). Each one is sublime and beautiful in melody in its own way and is sure to transport you to another world of listening enjoyment.

As of today one one review of it exists on Amazon.com and I am not sure how many more will appear but do take a listen to this unusual but superb album from one of today’s finest guitarists.

I have also included it under Acoustic and Instrumental category though I would normally include Buckethead under Heavy Metal.

Buy Buckethead’s Chicken Noodles at Amazon.

Pilgrimage by Wishbone Ash

My all time favourite Wishbone Ash album and the album that lead to me Wishbone Ash and their great music.

It was the early 90’s and a few words about my audio gear in those days. I used to be the very happy owner of the Sansui CP7, a portable Cassette Deck, Tuner and Amplifier stereo that was fully detachable. The Tuner and Amplifier was a unit, the cassette deck another and of course the left and right two way speakers. But did I say cassette deck? Oh yes, you bet it was! I am not referring to another good cassette player/recorder but one where you could adjust the right and left channel recording levels while recording and where one could do a Dolby B, or C recording. Besides these the the LCD display for the tuner could also double as a digital clock with full timer control. Which means like the VCR’s of those days you could program the system to turn itself on at a particular time, perform a recording for a particular duration like when your favorite radio show would begin and end and after the recording turn itself off. Similarly you could even program to start playing music at a particular time like an “alarm” and automatically switch itself off after a particular duration. It was a one of a kind stereo and with a truly great sound. Sansui was only second to Nakamichi in those days when it came to making some of the finest cassette decks available. Enuff said! Now to how I first listened to this great album.

In those days Madras B was one of the two big channels on radio in Chennai (then Madras) and one that played western music regularly. However western music be that rock, pop or classical were played only at particular times of the day. Real FM programming was a distant thing. Most of my music in those days on radio were heard almost only on this channel.

It was one of those summer afternoons when I came home and switched the radio on on the Sansui that I listened to something I have never heard before. The program had already begun and the music so good, I was dying to know who the band was. I could hear great drumming that I was not used to, terrific guitar playing that told me instantly that it couldn’t come from just one guitar and singing that hardly had any lyrics. I only became mad with curiosity. This was exotic stuff. I was actually listening to “Vas Dis” but I didnt’ know then. Then the song concluded in style and the next song started. The DJ hadn’t paused the broadcast to mention anything about the Band, Album or song. The next song was more exotic than the first, beginning with slow acoustic guitars playing for alomost over a minute then getting into a roaring start with the drums and bass. The drummer was making me dumbfounded with some super fast playing. Then the singing began which resembled the chants of monks. It went for a short while and then more music and then again the chant. I knew there wasn’t time for the song to conclude but whatever I heard was literally “out of the world” stuff for that time. Imagine the effect it can have on a rock fan who was listening to this for the first time. I begged God to make the DJ announce what she was playing and God did answer my prayer. I would never forget her precious words. “And that was The Pilgrim. In this afternoon of western music you were listening to Wishbone Ash….” and that was all I wanted to know.

Next stop, Stereovision, the shop in Chennai that had almost any album you wanted under the Sun. Steriovision had the best and biggest album collection on LP and EP and if you couldn’t find a Pre-Recorded Cassette in the market you could always go to them to get a recording made onto a blank tape. Was that illegal? I am not sure but that’s how we used to listen to rare songs and albums in those days. The recordings were very good. So I go there and open one of those huge binders where details of albums are listed sorted alphabetically. I scroll down aphabetically to W and check out the albums there. I am happy they carry Wishbone Ash and under the list what do I see? An album called “Pilgrimage”. I knew instantly that was the album that contained the song “The Pilgrim”. I double check this with Babu, one of the guys who does the recording about the contents of the album and I confirm the album and the song. I give him a blank cassette and he tells me the album would be ready in a couple of days. I cannot wait. Two days later I get the recording. Back in my room I slip the cassette into my Sansui and lock the doors of my room. From the small scratches I hear at the cassette plays I know that the recording is from an old LP. The drum roll of “Vas Dis” begins and the room is filled with rock bliss for the next 30 plus minutes.

Here’s my review of the songs from the album.

1. Vas Dis
A great opener for a great album. If this is your first Wishbone Ash recording that you are listening to then be prepared to be blown away. Steve’s drum roll begins and Martin’s thundering bass joins in, followed by the lead guitars from Andy and Ted. As for the singing it is only scat from Martin sans any lyrics but it is enjoyable. Musicians flex their music prowess and Steve brilliant at his drum kit almost gets into a solo at the end.

2. The Pilgrim
Highly creative and done in progressive rock style. Andy and Ted begin this song chipping on their guitars creating the atmosphere of a monastery for a while. Again no lyrics on this one too. Then the musicians simply explode and unleash their music finesse. When the singing starts it resembles the chanting of monks. A classic punctuated with guitar and drum solos. Steve’s drum solo is smaller but he compensates for it with terrific drumming throughout the song.

3. Jail Bait
Nice Rock N Roll number and great for a live act.

4. Alone
The softer numbers begin with this one. A small introduction to the other slow numbers that are to follow. It is amazing to hear Andy and Ted play their lead portions at the same time, so typical of their finesse defining their trademark twin lead harmony guitar sound. This and the next two slow numbers can be played repeatedly and you’ll never be tired of them.

5. Lullaby
Guitaring that will put you to sleep, a song that features only the guitarists, Andy, Ted and Martin. Beautiful melody you can’t get enough of.

6. Valediction
On one ocassion my sisters friend had visited her. They were alone in a room where I was playing the album. As I left when they came in Alone had just begun. When I came back after a while to check on them, Valediction was nearly coming to an end the music had already put them to sleep. Lovely singing, great melody and great guitar work.

7. Where were you tomorrow
Good bluesy number recorded live.

8. Jail Bait (Live) - This is a bonus track available on the CD recording.

I now recall what a miss it had been that Wishbone Ash had performed in Chennai with the Boomtown Rats and I didn’t go to see them. How many times had they advertised in “The Hindu” regarding the same. Was this the reason why I remembered the advertisement in the popular newspaper so well even after all these years?

If there is only one Wishbone Ash album that you consider listening to, then pick this one, “Pilgrimage”. Originally released in 1971 it is unbelievable that this album can still stun listeners to this day after well over three decades. Most of the band members were only in their early twenties at the time of this recording.

Buy Wishbone Ash’s Pilgrimage at Amazon.

“Teabreak” by Mynta

Mynta is a Swedish band. Two Indian musicians feature prominently in their line-up. Fazal Qureshi on tabla and Shankar Mahadevan on vocals and of the two Fazal Qureshi is a permanent member and Shankar guests more often. Early Mynta music and took a jazz rock direction. In 1987 when the band toured India they met Fazal and Shankar and their music took another turn with the subsequent collaboration.

Fazal is the younger brother of Zakir Hussain the well known tabalist of the popular fusion band of yesteryears, Shakti. Shankar Mahadevan is already a popular singer in India and part of the famous trio Shankar, Ehsaan and Loy. The trio have composed music and songs for several Indian films. Both Shankar and Fazal have performed the world over.

The Swedish musicians are - Santiago Jimenez on violin and keyboards, Max Åhman on guitar, Ola Bothzén on percussion, Christian Paulin on bass and Dallas Smith on Flute and wind instruments. Together the four musicians slant the music in the Nordic direction, inflecting a jazz feel into the mix. Initial albums even featured a regular singer. Besides the drums Ola plays a very strange “box” like percussion instrument where he sits on the box and plays the box by slapping this hands on on side of the box.

Mynta have been together since 1979 and have made several albums. They have made impressive music over the years but this is one album where I liked many or most of the songs unlike the rest where only a few songs impress.

Here’s my review of the songs on the album.

1. Teabreak - Not the usual Mynta start for the opener and even sounds a bit techno in the beginning. Great vocals from Shankar Mahadevan and well mixed too.

2. Song from Brahmaputra - A classic and this could also have been the opening song for the album. After the initial “Aalap” and where the percussion and the other instrumentalists step in you think the song really belongs to Christian Paulin on bass. The bass gives you such a “rush”. Then Santiago Jimenez enthralls us with beautiful violin solo followerd by a lovely guitar solo too from Max Åhman.

3. Jaane Kya Hua - A song that should have been removed from the album. The only song with Hindi lyrics, it seems straight out from a Hindi film. Reallly wonder who put it there or why the band wanted this song in this album.

4. Fuzzy - You think this is going to be another Techno from the way the song starts but let not that fool you. Nice “jugalbandi (an Indian version of a Jam session)” like song with Fazal on vocal and percussion on side and violin, and acoustic guitar on the other. Violin and guitar stealing the limelight.

5. OA’s Celtic dance - Lovely violin from Santiago reminding you of the music from the Highlands. Lovely mix of Indian raaga vocals with the music. Although there is a nice little solo the violin can get a bit repetitive.

6. Sunset in Beijing - My favorite from the album. Simply hauntingly good singing from Shankar though it is just “ragaa singing” i.e without any lyrics.

7. Red Departure - Faster beats and you have a great song bursting with Shankar’s vocals singing his raagaas. Acoustic Guitar and Saxophone solos follow with steady accompaniment from the percussionists and the bassist.

8. Ten Years After - First time I hear the electric guitar on a Mynta song some DJ induced sounds too. Sounds very modern. Christian Paulin delivers some great bass and wait till you begin to hear the vocals from Fazal and Shankar. Nice stuff.

9. Bohccui - Lovely singing and lovely music, particularly guitar. Flute is also heard.

10. Dancer in the Night - Nice and easy filler with some Spanish & Flamenco feel. Pleasant.

11. Small and Angry - Sounds like a song from the Highlands again and a very Celtic feel to it with Flamenco tapping towards the end. Dallas Smith and Santiago carry the song through. Not a boring song.

12. Mr. Coy - Sounds very Kenny G like for the most of the song followed by Shankar’s not very impressive vocal solo. Not a worthy concluder.

13, 14, 15 - Remix versions of the earlier songs that I care to listen and therefore will not be reviewing.

If you are into fusion this album is highly recommended.

True to its identity the album is not available on Amazon.com. However it is available at www.cdon.com a site referred by Mynta’s web site, www.mynta.net.

Mynta has performed in Chennai twice. They had come in 1987 and in 2005. I went to see them in 2005. Shankar wasn’t there and they had another veteran guest for their performance in Chennai, Vikku Vinayakram on the Ghatam. It was a good performance. It could have been much better had only performed more on the drums and Santiago’s violin hadn’t developed the tuning problems.

There are other albums that have catchy songs and I’ll review them there after I take a good listen.

Any band that promotes Wishbone Ash’s music is great in their own right. Great music. Rock on Zizoh and keep the Wishbone Ash flag flying high.

Zizoh

New post coming soon.

I first listened to Rare Earth and their hit “Get Ready” while still in college in the late eighties, on a rock compilation album. One unusual thing about the song was the amazing bass solo that concluded the song. But little did I know that the bass solo was only the tip of the iceberg and that there was more to this amazing song and the album from which it came, which I will get into in a moment. First some details about the band.

“Rare Earth” was a rare thing in the history of Motown because not only were they one of Motown’s few white bands (maybe the second band but not the first) but because they also played rock. Most Motown bands with the exception of a few were, into Pop and R&B. Coincidentally Rare Earth’s big hits were cover versions of songs of other Motown artistes like the The Temptations but they had their own hits too. The beauty of their music was their unique sound, using Saxophone, Bongo’s and a lead guitar played very differently.

Get Ready was their second album, and their first after signing with Motown. The title track is their most requested and played of all their material.

1. Magic Key
Just note how the guitar wakes up on this album and song, just as an engine would, coughing and spitting as it starts. It then wails and howls throughout the song. The electric guitar is used like this throughout the album. Lovely sixties beat and a lovely wake-up call to the album. Lovely drumming too, the main beats reminding you of the typical late 60’s early 70’s rock beats used in songs like Beck’s “New Pollution”.

2. Tobacco Road
Well sung song and sung with style. The song finishes well too with some humorous lines. This is a slower song but one that showcases the talents of the instrumentalists decently well. Nice mini solos from Saxophonist and keyboardist.

3. Feelin’ Alright
Lovely bass riff that holds the song together from the start till the end. Nice guitar solo. Before the second solo you can hear “…excuse me while I play my axe..”

4. In Bed
A short song but the duration justifies the material.

5. Train to Nowhere
The music really starts off like a Train in motion, moves along and concludes in style. The solos in between the singing where the drums is played with a heavier bass beat is lovely and worth listening a second time. Check out the unison of the bass and snare drum during these solos.

6. Get Ready
Welcome to the killer title track and a great rock recording. Normally this song is condensed and played in its 4 minute version but listening to the smaller recording is such a shame when you realise what is in store in the 20 minute plus version. A very rare recording in the history of rock music and for a recording as this for its time, it is probably the first and only song that features solo’s from most of the band’s instrumentalists namely, bass, keys, guitars, sax, and drums. On the LP version this track occuppied all of side B. At around 11 minutes into the song (after the bass, keyboard solos)during the guitar solo, the drummer changes his beats to avoid the monotonous offering from him. Increase the volume on your music system and concentrate on the beats to find out how beautiful they really are. Bass and drum then provide accompaniment culminating with the drum solo in the end. Simply awesome!

The only “corny” thing about this recording is the very artificial applause that is thrown in at the end of every solo to give the song a “live” feel. This could be easily avoided or done better. Let us hope it is corrected in a future release.

The musicians on this album are - Gil Bridges on Flute, Saxophone and Vocals, Kenny James on Keyboards, Rod Richards on Guitar, and Vocals, Pete Rivera on Drums and Vocals and John Parrish on Bass.

Rare Earth is popular in Germany. Though many of the original members are no more they play regularly at the Lady Luck Casino, Bettendorf, Iowa (February/March)and with members of Iron Butterfly and Sugarloaf perform at the Tutty Baker Festival at Freeport, Illinois. I narrowly missed the former but I was there for the festival at Illinois in 1998. I am not sure how regular they are the second venue though.

You can find a live version of “Get Ready” in two parts on You Tube. Check out the links below. The song is done differently and with a different line-up as the band went through several changes over the years.

Part 1
http://youtube.com/watch?v=kUG07cwpDZs

Part 2
http://youtube.com/watch?v=vo5svnNHer4

You can purchase Rare Earth’s Get Ready at Amazon.