Written by Alvin Lee, I’d Love to Change the World was released as a single in September 1971. The band’s only US Top 40 hit, it peaked at number 40 on the Billboard Hot 100. Filled with acoustic guitar, echoing vocals, and building electric guitar, Matthew Greenwald of Allmusic highlighted Lee’s guitar work as the “most expressive—and most tasteful—electric guitar performance of his career”, and added, “If there is a single song that can describe the overall vibe of the counterculture in 1969/1970, this may very well be it.”

Ten Years After were featured on the Record Set The First Great Rock Festivals of the Seventies: Isle of Wight – Atlanta Pop Festival. Two of the three discs in this collection were recorded at the Isle of Wight Festival and the other disc was recorded at the Atlanta Pop Festival, both in 1970 capturing their iconic performances at both of the iconic events. Throughout this time they were once again touring Europe and the US with massive concerts across the continents.

Recorded in various European locations including Amsterdam, Rotterdam, Frankfurt and Paris. The album covered two LPs and captured the show–stopping sets, that made them one of the most popular bands in the United States at the time. Recorded by the Rolling Stones Mobile Unit it featured some of their biggest hits, like “I’m Going Home” – “Choo-Choo-Mama” – “I Can’t Keep From Cryin´ Sometimes” – “Help Me” and “Good Morning Little School Girl”.

1973 also saw Alvin Lee’s first studio album away from Ten Years After. Recorded with American gospel singer Mylon LeFevre at home at Space Studios. The album featured guest appearances on tracks from the likes of George Harrison, Steve Winwood, Jim Capaldi, Ron Wood and Mick Fleetwood all members of the “Thames Valley Gang”. Featuring the singles “Fallen Angel” and the Harrison-composed “So Sad (No Love of His Own)” it was a new musical direction for Lee and was critically acclaimed for being at the forefront of country rock.

One night when Alvin Lee was visiting George Harrison’s home and chatting with Harrison’s advisor Terry Donan. Donan insisted that most musicians don’t possess enough independence to follow a direction of their own choosing.

“Well,” said Lee “I can choose to do whatever I want, whenever I want to do it.” Donan called his bluff. In response, Lee formed Alvin Lee & Company to play a show at the Rainbow Theatre in London in March 1974. The band comprised of bassist Alan Spenner, and guitarist Neil Hubbard (both former Grease Band members), ex-Vinegar Joe keyboards player Tim Hinkley, and two ex-King Crimson men, Mel Collins (horns) and Ian Wallace (drums), vocal backing were by Kokomo. Paul McCartney, George Harrison, and Rod Stewart were all in attendance and the set was recorded and released as a double live album.

Originally called “Let The Sea Burn Down” Alvin Lee’s second solo album “Pump Iron” was released on the 12th September 1975. ​​Hard-rocking but richly varied this was Lee’s first studio set after the break up of Ten Years After and featured various members of the band that made up Alvin Lee & Company. In late 1975, Lee also played guitar for a couple of tracks on Bo Diddley’s The 20th Anniversary of Rock ‘n’ Roll all-star album.

Did you know? The cover art of “Pump Iron,” features Lou Ferrigno, two years before he found fame in the 1977 TV series The Incredible Hulk

Alvin’s next solo album came in 1978, the driving “Let It Rock”. Alvin Lee always works with red-hot drummers and this album features the work of American funkster John Susswell who was visiting England when Alvin was creating this album. The classic stylings of Lee and the funky rhythm section that includes stalwart bass player Alan Spenner work to create awesome tracks like ‘Chemicals, Chemistry, Mystery & More’.

On the 15th September 1978 at the Grugahalle in Essen, Germany Alvin Lee played Rockpalast’s Third Rocknacht (‘Rock Night’) where he was one of three acts (the other two being Peter Gabriel and Paul Butterfield). It was Lee’s only Rockpalast appearance and he performed with fellow Ten Years Later bandmates Tom Compton and Mick Hawksworth. The entire show was taped and several songs were broadcast on the “Rockpalast Music Television Program” Alvin Lee post-show commented: “The best TV show I ever appeared in.” The concert was also released as an album in 2013.

Alongside more extensive touring Ten Years Later continued their driving return to rock with their second album. An incredible mix of studio and live recordings taken from their tours, it perfectly captures the band letting rip on new numbers and classics. Capturing the feel of early Ten Years After they produced rock that’s stripped to the bone and played with a real blues feeling.