Alone Again - Paul Bley

Advantages: Fantastic display of Jazz composition
Disadvantages: Jazz isn't for everyone

...with Paul Bley on piano with rolling snare in the background. The piano sets a slow mood for around a minute but then is blown away by a mass introduction of six other musicians. This is obviously the beginning of the reincarnation. This formula is then repeated through the song, a slow part followed by a fast part followed by a slow part again… Vassarlean is the first really slow track of the album. It makes full use of Eric Dolphy on the Bass clarinet setting the sombre mood and the slow, purposeful steps taken by Mingus on Bass. This song could feature as the soundtrack to a depressed, drunken, falling-up-the-road scene in a fifties movie. Track four, "Stormy Weather", is the longest track of the album sitting at 13min 25sec and includes a three minute long bass solo that is quite different to most bass solos. It is slow and plodding... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average very helpful

Advantages: Classic album.
Disadvantages: Not their best.

...including. Of course Abbey Road is a classic album and any Beatles fan must have a copy, but I find that I have to be in a certain mood to appreciate most of the tracks. The one really great track is Here Comes The Sun. This I can listen to over and over again as it is a real Beatles classic and it is worth having the album for this track alone. I remember when the album was released the great fuss that was made about the cover picture. This is the picture of the four Beatles walking across a zebra crossing on Abbey Road. All the rumours at the time said that Paul McCartney must be dead and the picture depicted this. Because Paul had bare feet it depicted a corpse, John in white was the preacher, Ringo in black was the undertaker and George in casuals was the grave digger. The number plate on the white Volkswagen had the registration 281F... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful

Advantages: It's The Beatles, of course
Disadvantages: Will always suffer from being compared to Revolver

...concert in Memphis, Tennessee, during his 1993 tour, with this tune, and believe me, the song has lost nothing over the years. 2. Norwegian Wood (This Bird Has Flown)--This is an acoustic number featuring John Lennon on lead vocals. I think the song is about a one-night stand and the singer was somewhat frustrated because he "crawled off to sleep in the bath". When he awoke he was alone because "this bird had flown", "bird" being English slang for a girl. In the end before leaving he lights a fire--could he be setting fire to her flat? I don't know, but I don't think that the lyrics are as tame as they might appear at first blush. 3. You Won't See Me--This song features Paul McCartney on lead vocals and piano, and Beatle pal Mal Evans on Hammond organ. The tune features some outstanding background vocals by John Lennon and George Harrison... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful