Record Reviews
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  | GREENSLADE ~ AT THE BBC
REPERTOIRE 1468 (Barcode: 4009910146828) ~ UK ~ Progressive Rock
Recorded: 1973 - 1974 Released: 2024
This is an archival album by the British Progressive Rock quartet GreensladeFind albums by this artist, formed by two members of the iconic ColosseumFind albums by this artist, following the band’s demise in 1971: keyboards wizard / composer Dave GreensladeFind albums by this artist and bassist Tony ReevesFind albums by this artist. They were joined by second keyboardist / vocalist Dave LawsonFind albums by this artist and drummer Andrew McCullochFind albums by this artist. The band lasted for only three years and recorded four excellent studio albums. This 2CD album collects their live BBC concerts captured between early 1973 and late 1974, covering material released on the first three albums, presenting a total of twenty tracks.
Dave Greenslade contributed most of the music but some of it was co-composed with Lawson, who also contributed the lyrics. Reeves also contributed some tunes and co-composed others. The band had a very specific and unusual sound and ambience, as it was guitar-less (which was almost unthinkable for a Rock / Prog band), and a double keyboards front line, and a very strong Jazzy swing, which in retrospect might easily earn them an early Fusion connotation, which I personally always liked a lot.
Dave Greenslade played mostly the Hammond organ and Mellotron, while Lawson preferred synthesizers and clavinet, but they often exchanged the instruments, frequently creating a “wall of sound” effect. Reeves was a brilliant bassist, strongly Jazz influenced from his earlier career, and McCulloch was a brilliant, universal drummer, who could play anything with the same ease and elegance. In short they were a rare and dazzling collection of superb instrumentalists, which made Greenslade one of the most interesting British bands in the early 1970s.
Overall, this is an excellent document of the British Prog scene, especially in view of the fact that the group never released a live album (there were some semi-legal live albums released much later). The BBC sound quality is excellent as one might expect and the music flows briskly and interestingly for the entire duration. Although most Prog material recorded at the same time sound dated and smells a bit “musky” today, this music retained much of its initial originality over time. Definitely worth being re-visited!
| | Updated: 10/11/2024Posted: 07/10/2024 | CD 2 Slipcase Remastered Recommend To A Friend |
  | GREENSLADE ~ GREENSLADE
WOUNDED BIRD 2698 (Barcode: 664140269828) ~ UK ~ Progressive Rock
Recorded: 1972 Released: 2006
1st album by the phenomenal Prog group GreensladeFind albums by this artist created by keyboards wizard Dave GreensladeFind albums by this artist, following the demise of ColosseumFind albums by this artist Mk. I. Greenslade joined forces with original Colosseum bassist Tony ReevesFind albums by this artist, a remarkable player with strong jazz background, who played both the electric and acoustic bass with elegance and sensitivity. To complete the group they enlisted the great (and sadly overlooked and under appreciated) drummer Andrew McCullochFind albums by this artist, who played with Manfred MannFind albums by this artist, King CrimsonFind albums by this artist (LizardFind albums with this title) and Arthur BrownFind albums by this artist and since the mid-1970s disappeared from the music scene almost completely. The fourth member of the group was the keyboardist / vocalist Dave LawsonFind albums by this artist (Episode SixFind albums by this artist, StackridgeFind albums by this artist), an excellent musician who handled the complex compositions with flying colors. Greenslade, a prolific composer, wrote most of the material for the group, with some marginal contributions by Reeves and Lawson (who handled the lyrics). He used a wide range of keyboards between acoustic piano, organ and synthesizers, creating complex and beautiful sound layers, amply supported by his fellow band members. The debut album is a classic showcase of Prog at its best: great melodies, superb instrumental work and a wide range of influences including jazz, blues, rock and classical music. A beautiful sleeve work by Roger DeanFind albums by this artist. An absolute must for any serious Prog lover.
| | | CD 1 Recommend To A Friend |
  | KALEVALA / NIMBUS ~ POP LIISA VOL. 07 & VOL. 08
SVART 012 (Barcode: 6430050667153) ~ FINLAND ~ Jazz-Rock Fusion
Recorded: 1973 - 1974 Released: 2016
The legendary and sadly short lived Finnish Prog / Fusion group KalevalaFind albums by this artist, which managed to record their debut album "People No NamesFind albums with this title" in 1972 about one year before the live radio broadcast presented on this record. The band included vocalist Harri SaksalaFind albums by this artist, multi-instrumentalist Sakari KukkoFind albums by this artist, guitarist Matti KurkinenFind albums by this artist, bassist Juha SalonenFind albums by this artist and drummer Alf ForsmanFind albums by this artist. They perform seven original songs, six of which were composed by Kurkinen and five featured lyrics by Saksala and one was an instrumental. The last song was written (music and lyrics) by Saksala.
Only one of the songs originates from the debut album, and all the rest of the material is new and was never released on record. All the lyrics are in Finnish in contrast to the debut album which featured lyrics in English. Kukko was not in the band when the debut album was recorded and his presence changed the sound and musical direction of the band significantly, adding marvelous Jazz-World Fusion accents and virtuosic flute / saxophone parts. The reworking of the song from the debut albums turns into a lengthy piece featuring superb soloing by Kukko and Kurkinen.
The lineup appearing here never managed to record an album and after Saksala and Kukko left the band the second album "Boogie JungleFind albums with this title" was released in 1975, but the music changed into straightforward Blues-Rock. A few months later Kurkinen was killed in a traffic accident and the band disappeared into oblivion.
NimbusFind albums by this artist were an even more obscure Finnish band, which did not record an album yet when this live radio broadcast was captured on tape. They managed to record the album "ObusFind albums with this title" later on in 1974, falling apart a few months thereafter. The band included vocalist Pasi SaarelmaFind albums by this artist, organist Pekka RautioFind albums by this artist, guitarist Harri SuilamoFind albums by this artist, bassist Juha JokirantaFind albums by this artist and drummer Matti JokirantaFind albums by this artist. They perform six pieces, five of which are original compositions by Suilamo (one instrumental and four songs with his lyrics) and a cover of a composition by Dave GreensladeFind albums by this artist with lyrics by Dave LawsonFind albums by this artist.
The music has both deep Prog roots with impressive organ work and Fusion elements echoed by the guitar playing. Considering the rarity of this material and the limited recorded legacy left by this group, these tracks are of course priceless!
Overall this is some of the most staggering music created in Europe in the early to mid 1970s that one is able to hear and for Fusion and Jazz oriented Prog-heads this is an absolute must have!
Side Note
The Finnish independent label SvartFind albums on this label Records released an unprecedented series of albums called Pop Liisa and Jazz Liisa, which present priceless historical recordings of Finnish Rock, Progressive Rock, Jazz-Rock Fusion and Jazz music, recorded live and broadcasted from the Liisankatu Studios in Helsinki under the "Popstudio" and "Jazzstudio" monikers between 1972 and 1977. The studios were owned by the YLE (Finnish Broadcasting Company), a public broadcasting service, which not only allowed the burgeoning Finnish music scene at the time to be exposed but also carefully archived the recordings for future generations. All this incredible music was previously unissued and collectively is probably the most important document of Finnish music from that period ever assembled.
The music was released on 36 LPs (Pop Liisa Vol. 01 to Vol. 18 and Jazz Liisa Vol. 01 to Vol. 18) and on 18 CDs with every two consecutive volumes combined on one CD.
The sound quality is absolutely superb, often better than the sound quality on the LPs released by these artists at the time. Many of the groups appearing on these albums never managed to record an album and these recordings are the only recorded legacy in existence of their activity. The released are accompanied by well researched and intelligent liner notes.
This archival project is an outstanding example of how Cultural Legacy should be treated as well as of exemplary dedication to record producing professionalism.
| | Updated: 04/05/2020Posted: 04/05/2020 | CD 1 Remastered Recommend To A Friend |
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