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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.

I first wanted to add this information as a comment to the post on Wishbone Ash, the debut album of Wishbone Ash but after listening to the sound clips and watching the band on YouTube I thought the band deserved a posting. Truly they make a very good impersonation of not only in the quality of their music but like Wishbone Ash they have only four members. The bassist of Zizoh, Kenji Kozaki, like Martin Turner plays bass and sings with the twin lead guitarists Takao Yoshihama and Toshiaki Ohshima supporting him on the left and the right. Toshiaki Ohshima even plays the Gibson Flying V (or a guitar similar to the Flying V) like Andy Powell. And I must give credit to their drummer Manami Ohnishi who does a great job behind the drums. I must say it is not easy to play Steve Upton’s style. Check out her performance on “Vas Dis”, the song from Wishbone Ash’s second album “Pilgrimage”.

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

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“Get Ready” by Rare Earth

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.