Record Reviews

ALAN BOWN ~ LISTEN ESOTERIC 2193 (Barcode: 5013929729322) ~ UK ~ Progressive Rock Recorded: 1970 Released: 2010 2nd album by excellent British Prog band Alan BownFind albums by this artist named after its founder and leader – trumpeter Alan Bown. One of the earliest Brass-Rock bands in the country, they incorporated Prog with Brass arrangements, creating a unique sound but not quite Jazz-Rock Fusion yet. The band also included lead singer Gordon NevilleFind albums by this artist (who replaced the original vocalist Robert PalmerFind albums by this artist heard on their debut album), keyboardist Jeff BannisterFind albums by this artist, saxophonist John HelliwellFind albums by this artist, guitarist Tony CatchpoleFind albums by this artist, bassist Stan HaldaneFind albums by this artist and drummer Vic SweeneyFind albums by this artist and together they were a formidable septet indeed. The album was produced by Mel CollinsFind albums by this artist of King CrimsonFind albums by this artist fame. An absolute beauty, which lost nothing of its charm with time!

CD 1 Remastered Recommend To A Friend

ALAN BOWN ~ STRETCHING OUT ESOTERIC 2194 (Barcode: 5013929729421) ~ UK ~ Progressive Rock Recorded: 1971 Released: 2010 3rd and last album by excellent British Prog band Alan BownFind albums by this artist named after its founder and leader – trumpeter Alan Bown. One of the earliest Brass-Rock bands in the country, they incorporated Prog with Brass arrangements, creating a unique sound but not quite Jazz-Rock Fusion yet. The band also included lead singer Gordon NevilleFind albums by this artist (who replaced the original vocalist Robert PalmerFind albums by this artist heard on their debut album), keyboardist Jeff BannisterFind albums by this artist, saxophonist John HelliwellFind albums by this artist, guitarist Tony CatchpoleFind albums by this artist, bassist Andy BrownFind albums by this artist and drummer Vic SweeneyFind albums by this artist and together they were a formidable septet indeed. This alum is slightly more Jazz-Rock oriented than its predecessors. An absolute beauty, which lost nothing of its charm with time!

CD 1 Remastered Bonus Tracks Recommend To A Friend

ALAN BOWN ~ THE ALAN BOWN! ESOTERIC 2190 (Barcode: 5013929729025) ~ UK ~ Progressive Rock Recorded: 1969 Released: 2010 1st album by excellent British Prog band Alan BownFind albums by this artist named after its founder and leader – trumpeter Alan Bown. One of the earliest Brass-Rock bands in the country, they incorporated Prog with Brass arrangements, creating a unique sound but not quite Jazz-Rock Fusion yet. The band also included lead singer Robert PalmerFind albums by this artist (one of the great voices of British Rock), keyboardist Jeff BannisterFind albums by this artist, saxophonist John HelliwellFind albums by this artist, guitarist Tony CatchpoleFind albums by this artist, bassist Stan HaldaneFind albums by this artist and drummer Vic SweeneyFind albums by this artist and together they were a formidable septet indeed. An absolute beauty, which lost nothing of its charm with time!

CD 1 Oversampling Remastered Bonus Tracks Recommend To A Friend

KEEF HARTLEY ~ LANCASHIRE HUSTLER ESOTERIC 2101 (Barcode: 5013929720121) ~ UK ~ Blues-Rock Recorded: 1972 Released: 2009 7th album (and the last of his DeccaFind albums on this label releases) by the great UK drummer Keef HartleyFind albums by this artist with another new version of his band, which included vocalist Jess RodenFind albums by this artist (Alan BownFind albums by this artist), vocalist / guitarist Junior KerrFind albums by this artist, guitarist Jim MullenFind albums by this artist, bassist Philip ChenFind albums by this artist, keyboardist Jean RouselleFind albums by this artist and organist Mick WeaverFind albums by this artist. Vocalists Elkie BrooksFind albums by this artist and Robert PalmerFind albums by this artist also helped out. The music is tight and has a strong Brass-Rock feel, mixing Blues, Rock, Jazz and some Prog elements. In retrospect the music still sounds great after all these years and Hartley´s fans will surely love to have this one in their collection.

CD 1 Remastered Recommend To A Friend

JONESY ~ SUDDEN PRAYERS MAKE GOD JUMP… NIGHT WINGS 01 ~ UK ~ Progressive Rock Recorded: 1974 Released: 2003 4th and last, never previously released, album by the British Prog band JonesyFind albums by this artist, which is quite a surprise. The band’s three previous albums (“No AlternativeFind albums with this title”, “Keeping UpFind albums with this title” and “GrowingFind albums with this title”) recorded between 1971 and 1974 and originally released on the DawnFind albums on this label label, are great examples of the Prog scene at the time, with strong King CrimsonFind albums by this artist influences and interesting contributions from the horn player Alan BownFind albums by this artist (on the 2nd and 3rd album). Following the release of the 3rd album the band simply split up, as happened to most bands at that time, due to tensions between the band members, leaving brothers John Evan-JonesFind albums by this artist (guitars, keyboards and vocals) and Gypsy JonesFind albums by this artist (bass, keyboards, violin and vocals) as the remaining core of the band. Together with three studio musicians: Ken ElliottFind albums by this artist – keyboards, Bernard HagleyFind albums by this artist – electric saxophones and David PottsFind albums by this artist – drums and percussion, they recorded their swan song, which was their most ambitious and elaborate project their ever attempted. Unfortunately due to contractual problems the album was not released on time and to make things worse the original master tapes were stolen from the studio, leaving the band with nothing, which led to the inevitable dead end. The only remaining testimony of the last album was a cassette copy, which is the source of this release. Remastered and cleaned up, it actually sounds pretty decently, and considering the great music it contains, the sonic quality is of secondary importance. This is a concept album, as fashionable at the time, presenting a psychic journey of a man experiencing a mental breakdown and his way to recovery. The music is complex and dense, with layers of sound overlapping and elaborate studio wizardry. The musical themes and the performances are first rate and overall it’s quite a gem, which now, 30 years after its recording, can be finally discovered and enjoyed by Prog fans everywhere. Definitely worth investigating.

CD 1 Remastered Recommend To A Friend