Record Reviews

GRAHAM BOND ~ MIGHTY GRAHAME BOND ESOTERIC 2240 (Barcode: 5013929734029) ~ UK ~ Progressive Rock Recorded: 1969 Released: 2011 Following the demise of the Graham Bond OrganizationFind albums by this artist, British saxophonist / keyboardist / vocalist / composer Graham BondFind albums by this artist left the UK for a brief residency in US, where he recorded two little known solo albums, of which this was the second. Bond was probably the most influential figure on the British music scene in the mid-1960s, when he led a group consisting of the finest musicians in the land, which practically invented Jazz-Rock Fusion. Sadly his troubled personal life, which included mental instability and heavy drug abuse, prevented him from achieving the success he so richly deserved and eventually led to his tragic death. But his recorded legacy is with us forever and everything he recorded is worthy of attention. Bond is joined by a great set of musicians on this album: guitarist Harvey MandelFind albums by this artist, saxophonist Frank MayesFind albums by this artist, bassist Harvey BrooksFind albums by this artist and drummers Drachen TheakerFind albums by this artist (another British hero resident in US at the time) and Eddie HohFind albums by this artist. He composed all the music / wrote all the lyrics. The material is amazing, as always, with heavy Jazz influence, but also Rhythm And Blues and Soul references. Bond plays some extraordinary organ parts and his vocals are also excellent, probably the best vocal parts he ever recorded. Considering the fact that this material was not available on the market for over 40 years makes this reissue a momentous occasion. A must to the numerous Bond fans, wherever they might be.

Updated: 08/05/2023Posted:

CD 1 Oversampling Remastered Recommend To A Friend

BOB DYLAN ~ 1970 COLUMBIA 194398564128 (Barcode: 194398564128) ~ USA ~ Classic Rock Recorded: 1970 Released: 2021 This is a sensational archive album by American prophet / singer / songwriter Bob DylanFind albums by this artist, which collects three and a half hours of unreleased studio recordings from sessions that took place between March and August of 1970. These two sessions produced two Dylan’s albums released the same year: “Self PortraitFind albums with this title” and “New MorningFind albums with this title”, which are dramatically different from each other, and as we can now hear, consisted of only small part of the music that was captured during these sessions. Dylan is accompanied by wonderful musicians, like organist Al KooperFind albums by this artist, guitarist David BrombergFind albums by this artist, bassist Harvey BrooksFind albums by this artist, drummer Russell KunkelFind albums by this artist and others, but perhaps the most astonishing personal appearance on this album is that of George HarrisonFind albums by this artist, who plays guitar and sings on nine tracks during the May 1st session. The album presents a mixture of original songs by Dylan and songs by others, mostly American songwriters and one BeatlesFind albums by this artist song, as well as a bunch of folk songs. Most of the material written by others appeared on “Self Portrait”, whereas most of the original material appeared on “New Morning”. There is no need to say much more about this music and try to be innovative, as Dylan and his music was already analyzed by so many music writers. As to the fact that his music has been archived more extensively than any other musician in history in an extensive series of the archival releases, most comprehensively on “The Bootleg SeriesFind albums with this title” (up to now in 15 volumes) and other Box Sets, has always kept me wondering how much of it is really historically necessary and revealing, and how much was just milking money in the process. History will most probably decide… I have always been a great admirer of Dylan and he undoubtedly is one of the most influential artists in the Soundtrack of my Life, probably more as a poet, a rebel and a prophet than as a songwriter. But he did write some of the greatest songs of the 1960s, which live forever. With Harrison on board, this album will probably rise more interest than most of the other archival material by Dylan, but nevertheless it is a wonderful time capsule, definitely worth revisiting.

Updated: 14/03/2021Posted: 14/03/2021

CD 3 Mini-Sleeve Remastered Recommend To A Friend