ALVIN LEE: THE ANTHOLOGY REPERTOIRE REP 4970 Blues Matters Magazine Review

CD 1: KEEP ON ROCKIN' WAKE UP MOMA ON THE ROAD TO FREEDOM PLAY IT LIKE IT USED TO BE REAL LIFE BLUES BACK IN MY ARMS AGAIN AIN'T NOBODY'S BUSINESS LONG LEGS PUT IT IN A BOX BOOGIE ALL DAY LOVE LIKE A MAN JENNY JENNY LOVE THE WAY YOU ROCK ME THE BLUEST BLUES

CD 2: SHOT IN THE DARK MY BABY'S COME BACK TO ME YOU TOLD ME MADNESS HEAR ME CALLING LET IT ROCK I DON'T GIVE A DAMN MIDNIGHT SPECIAL HELP ME BABY I’M GOING HOME

This 24 track double CD mix of live and studio recordings with its playing time of over 2 hours provides the definitive statement of Alvin Lee's outstanding talent as a singer, songwriter and musician in the final third of the 20th century. This is not a Best of Ten Years After CD, rather the Best of Alvin Lee with a fine selection of songs which fully justifies his legendary status. I first saw Alvin perform in Nottingham in the mid 60s with The Jaybirds; 40 years later, having been privileged to watch the likes of Rory Gallagher, Eric Clapton, Jimi Hendrix and Stevie Ray Vaughan, I still haven't heard a better guitarist live on stage. This anthology proves the point and a lot more besides, reflected in Lee's versatility, vocal range and awesome guitar playing. There is no better exponent of blues/rock in the world today.

Let's start with the rock; Keep On Rockin' sets the scene and surely Alvin will keep his promise and rock until he drops; Jenny Jenny, a classic Little Richard type number and Play It like it Used To Be, with the classic line, "Go tell Madonna you don't do nothing for me." And then the blues; Wake Up Mama, Ain't Nobody's Business, Real Blues and The Bluest Blues. George Harrison plays slide guitar on the last two, with Bluest Blues an absolute classic which surely could have been a number one hit single if marketed as such. We also get boogie with Boogie All Day, R&B on Back In My Arms as well as the TYA classic rifts, Love Like A Man and Going Home; it is difficult to categorise Alvin's first solo venture, On The Road To Freedom but it represented a significant change of musical direction. My personal favourites are Williamson's Help Me, and it could be Sonny Boy on harp it's that good, the rhythmically mesmerising Shot In The Dark, the blistering guitar solos on Hear Me Calling, and the best ever recording of Midnight Special. Alvin adapts his voice to fit the genre and there are even shades of Robbie Williams on I Don't Give A Dam! Oh yes, apart from Harrison we are treated to guest appearances from Steve Winwood, Clarence Clemons and Zoot Money.

Alvin Lee has never sought fame and fortune or personal aggrandisement; not for him the endless interviews, T-shirt sales or self-promotion. He has remained true to his music and performs periodically for his legion of fans; such integrity is a rare commodity. Lee played an important part in changing the world in the 60s, the fast and furious playing of his red Gibson with its Ban the Bomb logo symbolic of a new freedom and a challenge to the status quo (remember Woodstock?). I hope that he is living in peace, satisfied with his life's work and content in the knowledge that he has given pleasure to millions. However, I cannot believe that there is not more incredible, innovative music to come from Alvin Lee in the 21st century; perhaps some contemporary real life blues and more of those riffs which took rock music onto a different plane. How about it Al? asks Dave "The Bishop" Scott.

DVD REVIEW

TEN YEARS AFTER: LIVE AT THE MARQUEE-1983
SANCTUARY SDE 2012

There are 3 good reasons to buy this hour long DVD:

1. Ten Years After were the supergroup of the late 60s and early 70s comprising exceptional musicians who blended perfectly and boasted the fastest guitar player in the west, Alvin Lee.

2. Alvin features in an excerpt from the classic sixties documentary Groupies which will bring back happy memories to all those who played in bands at that time and are now approaching old age.

3. For nostalgic reasons; The Marquee will soon be replaced by a purpose-built venue in Islington. The Soho club is to be confined to history but will live on in the memories of the 900 plus who sweated it out on a Friday night to watch TYA, Hendrix, The Who et al.

This DVD captures perfectly the atmosphere of the era, the club and the music. The re-formed TYA are in great form, performing their classics such as Love Like A Man and Good Morning Little Schoolgirl as well as giving outstanding performances of numbers such as Woodchopper's Ball. The night belonged to Alvin of course, tapping out lead lines with a drumstick instead of a guitar plectrum on Going Home and producing one scorching solo after another. Thank goodness someone had the foresight to record sessions like this exclaims Dave "The Bishop"Scott.