Ravers - Mick Mulligan & His Jazz Band

Advantages: Great First Release
Disadvantages: Some Cover Songs

...This Was is the bands first release from 1968 on the Island label to immediate critical acclaim. The album features a stunning mixture of blues, jazz and rock, the features which raised it above the releases of many of Jethro Tull’s blues contemporaries was the quirky songs and amazing breathy flute playing of Ian Anderson. The album features a cover version of jazz king Roland Kirks “Serenade To A Cuckoo”. “Cats Squirrel” is an excellent Mick Abrahams guitar piece. Within weeks of the album being released Mick Abrahams left the group so the album is widely known as This Was Jethro Tull.... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average somewhat helpful

Advantages: Absolute class music-making
Disadvantages: None at all

..., stylish and timeless, every one of these songs are gorgeous. 25 years later I'm still scratching my head as to why they never made it. The slippery basslines of Recchi are every bit as good as those of Mick Karn, ex of Japan; Harriss (note the extra "s") has a fabulous nasal delivery that fits the style to a T, and all these songs should strike a chord with anyone aged 21-35 who's ever been in, out, or in and out, of serious long-term relationships. So that'll be just about everyone then. Dave "Dee" Harriss left the band and went on to make an album (with Rick Wright, ex Pink Floyd of all people) under the guise of Zee in 1984. I also have this album, called "Identity" and it's pretty good too. By the time the band found a replacement singer, namely Alan Darby (who later when on to be in Eric Clapton's stage band... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful

Advantages: Fine rock and roll
Disadvantages: flags a bit towards the end

...a touch of Alice Cooper in it. The pace ups with one of Bowies very best compositions, Drive In Saturday, with good sax work and an epic chorus feel "his play was always funny...and she'd shrug and ask to stay" and later "she's uncertain if she likes him, but she know she really loves him", this was indeed a Crashcourse For The Ravers who lapped this one up. Remains one of my favourites to this day. Mick Ronson finally gets a solo with the rocker Panic In Detroit. The slightly odd paced intro into the chorus works perfectly here as the guitars go up a scale before flattening out. Feedback galore in the next offering, Cracked Actor, as DB tells the tale of a faded movie star - "forget that I'm 50 cos I just want your sex" who has fallen into drug abuse in Hollywood. Hmm, Our Hero would be living just like this himself two years... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful