Gravy Train [Remastered] - Lou Donaldson

Advantages: Outstanding Progressive music....Superb Recording Quality
Disadvantages: None

...Not known to most i suppose but ' Gravy Train ' were one of Vertigo's best progressive rock bands. Formed in Manchester this is there first and best album which came out in 1970 .Definite ' Jethro Tull ' similarities at times and they shared much similarity to ' Raw Material ' another group of roughly the same period. Lots of great guitars from ' Norman Barratt ' and flute / sax work from J d Hughes. This is a music brimming with ideas. First five songs are all really excellent.....but the final song is a real stormer and worth buying the CD for alone! Clocking in at a little over 16 minutes ' Earl Of Pocket Nook ' will take you on a fantastic ride....with it's guitars , bass , drums and flute really stretching out and jamming big time! .The Guitar reminds me of some Bob Fripp at times .All in all ...Stunning! A must have for any... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average somewhat helpful

Advantages: superb sound, superb performances
Disadvantages: a couple of songs drag a bit

...Lou Reed himself originally wanted to call this album Lou Reed Talk And Talk And Talks. It's certainly an odd album, pitched midway between a straight live album and stand up comedy. There's over 100 minutes of music but only ten tracks which gives you an idea straight away that these are not simple live renditions of Lou's songs. By 1978 Lou had pretty much come out of his mid 1970s drug period. He was still not entirely clean, but was in better shape than he had been for at least five years. He had a superb band behind him, led by keyboard player Michael Fonfara, and most of them had been touring with Lou for a few years. The musicians were capable of playing the most tender ballad before suddenly and shockingly roaring off like a locomotive at full speed. Lou had a habit of extending or shortening songs on a whim, but the band... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful

Advantages: Wonderful, classic Bowie album
Disadvantages: Song for Bob Dylan

...Mick Ronson: Guitar Trevor Bolder: Bass guitar, trumpets Woody Woodmansey: Drums Rick Wakeman: Piano Production: Ken Scott & David Bowie Songwriting: All music and lyrics by David Bowie except "Fill Your Heart" by Biff Rose and Paul Williams Ronson, Bolder and Woodmansey made a solid and competent set of backing musicians for Bowie. But over and above this they gelled perfectly as a band, deserving to be thought of as just that, rather than as a collection of backing musicians in my view. And indeed they were soon to become collectively known as the Spiders from Mars in preparation for Bowie's Ziggy outing. Mick Ronson, who had received some classical training, was not only a stunningly good lead guitarist but was also responsible for the string arrangements on five of the songs, including "Life on Mars?". I think Bowie and Ronson... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average very helpful