Record Reviews

KRZYSZTOF KLENCZON / TRZY KORONY ~ THE COMPLETE RECORDINGS 1970-1972 KAMELEON 29 / 30 ~ POLAND ~ Classic Rock Recorded: 1970 - 1972 Released: 2013 This is a reissue of the only solo album recorded in Poland by legendary vocalist / guitarist / composer / bandleader Krzysztof KlenczonFind albums by this artist, who was a founding member of Poland´s most popular Pop group in the 1960s, Czerwone GitaryFind albums by this artist. Klenczon was the group´s leader and principal songwriter from 1967 until 1970, when he left the group to pursue a solo career. Many of his songs recorded by Czerwone Gitary are among the Polish Pop evergreens still popular in Poland almost fifty years later. After leaving the group Klenczon recorded the eponymous album with his new group Trzy KoronyFind albums by this artist, which also featured his cousin guitarist Ryszard KlenczonFind albums by this artist, bassist Grzegorz AndrianFind albums by this artist and drummer Marek SlazykFind albums by this artist, soon to be replaced by Piotr StajkowskiFind albums by this artist. The group also recorded several sessions for the Polish Radio and all these recordings are collected here as bonus tracks on the first CD and the entire second CD. A bonus DVD with two video clips recorded for the Polish TV is also included. Klenczon left Poland in 1973 for the USA, where he continued his musical career and died tragically in a car accident in 1981. Listening to this album makes it immediately clear why Klenczon left Czerwone Gitary, as the material he recorded on this album has a much "harder" edge than the soft and melodic Pop the group created in the 1960s. Fuzz and distorted guitar solos and typical Rock rhythms prevail here, although his compositions (almost all the tracks on this album, with just three exceptions, were composed by Klenczon) remain mostly very melodic and somewhat melancholic, which always characterized his compositions. The Rocky arrangements basically do not change the true nature of these songs, which deep down remain quite serene and romantic. It is obvious that Klenczon had a great sense of melody and his songwriting was second to none. Many of the bonus tracks show Klenczon returning to the Pop formula rather than pursuing the Rock side of his music. In retrospect, however, this material sounds dated and lost much of its charm in the process of aging. The music lacks focus and often sounds like Pop dressed up in Rock arrangements, rather than true Rock. There are some great moments here, but overall this album is probably exciting mostly to Klenczon´s die hard fans and nostalgic listeners. The production of the reissue, with so much bonus material, great packaging and informative liner notes is, as usual with the Kameleon label, first rate. The music, however, although an important chapter of the Polish Pop / Rock story, suffers greatly from the passage of time. But of course many listeners will find this album indispensible.

2CD+DVD 3 Digipak Remastered Bonus Tracks Recommend To A Friend