Mike Rutherford - (1980) Smallcreep's Day

Mike Rutherford - (1980) Smallcreep's Day

Studio Album, released in 1980

Before venturing off into Popland , leading his way too clean Mechanics and the once great Genesis to dizzying commercial success, Rutherford used his Rickenbakers wisely on the Anthony Phillips debut "The Geese and the Ghost" and on this, his first solo album. Thankfully, we have these testaments to treasure , this one in particular is a fine collection especially at a time (1980) when Prog was being brutally assassinated by the Lester Bangs and assorted British punk-journalists (none of whom had talent musically or in penmanship!) of the world, imposing their rather poor taste in music and forcing Prog's extended but temporary hibernation (Video killed the radio star but punk didn't kill the Progster!).While no record executive was looking, Rutherford was free to delve into the musical adaptation of a book by Currell Brown , enlisting his good friend (and ours too) Anthony Phillips to chair the keys , as well as another famed Phillips :drummer extraordinaire Simon (no relation to the Ant), as well as one of the best movers and shakers in percussionist Morris Pert . The vocals are well piped by former String Driven Thing Noel McCalla and guitars and basses handled by the leader. The main treasure here is the long suite dedicated to the routine gloom of the hopeless blue collar worker , a stellar brew of sweeping symphonics straight out of the "Winds and Wuthering" song book , ending conclusivey on the painfully majestic"End of the Day" , owner of a melodic hook that would startle the daylights out of Peter Pan! Don't be fooled by Rutherford's future quest for stardom, this is prime prog that deserves eternal recognition.While perhaps not a monument, the context makes this an essential document. 4.5 meek inheritors

Track Listings

1. Moonshine (6:23)
2. Time and time again (4:52)
3. Romani (5:25)
4. Every road (4:13)
5. Overnight job (5:43)
6. Smallcreep's day (24:38)
... I) Between the tick and the tock 3:59
... II) Working in line 3:06
... III) After hours 1:46
... IV) Cats and rats (in this neighbourhood) 4:49
... V) Smallcreep alone 1:33
... VI) Out into the daylight 3:49
... VII) At the end of the day 5:36

Total Time: 51:14
Line-up/Musicians

- Mike Rutherford / guitars & basses

With:
- Noel McCalla / lead vocals
- Morris Pert / percussion
- Ant Phillips / keyboards
- Simon Phillips / drums

JON ANDERSON - (1990) Song of Seven

This record is rock, globally slightly progressive, and quite progressive on the last song "Song of Seven". The bass is well played and sounds good; it is amazingly complex on "for you for me".

ANDERSON's voice is outstanding, as always. The keyboards are omnipresent, and there are many piano parts. There is also electric and acoustic guitars. Finally, everything is decent but not very good, until you listen the last track: "Song of Seven": a beautiful mellow progressive song, starting with emotional symphonic arrangements. Probably his best song ever!

Studio Album, released in 1980

Track Listings

1. For You For Me (4:23)
2. Some Are Born (4:06)
3. Don't Forget (Nostalgia) (3:02)
4. Heart of the Matter (4:21)
5. Hear It (1:51)
6. Everybody Loves You (4:03)
7. Take Your Time (3:09)
8. Days (3:30)
9. Song of Seven (11:16)

Total Time: 39:48
Line-up/Musicians

- Jon Anderson /vocals, keyboards, acoustic guitar, harp
- Ronnie Leahy / keyboards
- Ian Barinson / guitar, bass, vocal
- John Giblin / bass
- Morris Pert / drums, percussion
- Christopher Rainbow / vocals

WITH:
- Dick Morrisay / saxophone
- Jack Bruce / bass
- Simon Phillips / drums
- Clem Clemson / guitar
- Deborah Anderson / vocal
- Damian Anderson / keyboards

JON ANDERSON - (1982) Animation

This album belonged strangely to my brother when I was 14-15 and started to play our family's records. There were also some other influential albums including Yes: 90125, Rush: Signals, plus some Saga and Asia, that had something to do with prog - of which I at the time didn't know yet. Of all these albums Animation had the strongest impact on me; more precisely, it was the long title track. It simply blew my young mind and transferred me into new magical spheres of music, the kind I had never heard before. It was PROGRESSIVE instead of normal verse/chorus/verse song structure. So I could say it all started right here (honorary mention goes to 'Telegraph Road' by Dire Straits).

'Animation' is still written in my memory even if I have listened to it very rarely since 80s. It must be the deepest existing expression of emotions about childbirth - by a man who "was there". Some chaos, pain (described by instrumental sections), and after all has settled, love and amazement of life's wonder. "There is nothing like seeing the birth of a child." It is wonderful, but probably only if you totally surrender to it emotionally.

The rest of the album always remained less important. I liked some other songs too, e.g. energic 'Olympia' about sports spectacle, pastroral 'Boundaries' and colourful 'Much Better Reason'. Without title track I might say this is well produced - rather 80-ish - and arranged, but nothing very special, in a same category as 90125 or actually less interesting in compositions. But as it has that 9-minute 'Animation', I say sincerely it's clearly the best Jon solo album I've heard. (3,5* rounded up.)

Studio Album, released in 1983

Track Listings

1. Olympia (4:58)
2. Animation (9:07)
3. Surrender (3:53)
4. All in a Matter of Time (3:06)
5. Unlearning the Dividing Line (4:56)
6. Boundaries (3:20)
7. Pressure Point (3:20)
8. Much Better Reason (4:27)
9. All God's Children (4:25)

Total Time: 41:32
Line-up/Musicians

- Jon Anderson / vocals, producer, engineer
- Jack Bruce / bass
- Henry Lowther / horn
- David Sancious / keyboards
- Simon Phillips / drums
- Chris Rainbow / vocals
- Dave "Clem" Clempson / guitar
- The Delme Quartet / strings
- John Giblin / bass
- Billy Kristian / bass
- Ronnie Leahy / keyboards
- Dick Morrissey / saxophone
- Morris Pert / drums
- Blue Weaver / keyboards
- Ian Wallace / drums

Peter Gabriel - (1990) Shaking the Tree

I’m usually now a fan of compilation albums as a “real fan” would always prefer to have all original studio albums rather than just some compilation disc. Usually it also tends to reek after some “cashing in” by the artist as many artist come up with some compilation albums when they are long lost and forgotten. This is one would be an exception to the rule I think, since Mr. Gabriel has still released many fine albums after this one. I guess it’s not a bad one to start with if you didn’t already own some (or all) of his preceding studio albums…

The track list of “Shaking the Tree” is top notch with indeed 16 golden tracks on it. However: if you don’t own this one yet I would rather go for the 2003 release “HIT” as it is a double disc set which has 15 tracks more on it. Once again the track list of “HIT” is also top notch. Since I only owned the album “SO” until “Shaking the Tree” was released this was a very nice addition to my PG collection. 4 stars once again.

Boxset/Compilation, released in 1990

Track Listings

1. Solsbury Hill (4:20)
2. I Don't Remember (edit) (3:48)
3. Sledgehammer (slight remix) (4:56)
4. Family Snapshot (4:25)
5. Mercy Street (edit) (4:44)
6. Shaking The Tree (1990 remix) (6:24)
7. Don't Give Up (edit) (5:56)
8. San Jacinto (6:41)
9. Here Comes The Flood (new recording 1990) (4:31)
10. Red Rain (5:36)
11. Games Without Frontiers (edit) (3:57)
12. Shock The Monkey (edit) (3:58)
13. I Have The Touch (1983 remix) (3:44)
14. Big Time (4:26)
15. Zaar (2:59)
16. Biko (edit) (6:54)

Total Time: 77:21
Line-up/Musicians

- Peter Gabriel / vocals, piano, fairlight, prophet, CS80, percussion
- Tony Levin / bass, stick (1-3,7,8,10,12,13), drumstick bass (14)
- Steve Hunter / guitar (1)
- Robert Fripp / guitar (1,2)
- Larry Fast / synthesizers (1,8,11-13,16)
- Alan Schwartzberg / drums (1)
- Jerry Marotta / drums (2,4,8,10-12,16), drumstick bass (14)
- David Rhodes / guitar (2-4,6,7,8,10-15)
- Manu Katche / drums (3,6,7)
- Phil Collins / snare drum (4), surdu (16)
- John Gilbin / bass (4)
- Larry Klein / bass (5)
- Youssou N'Dour / vocals (6)
- Habib Faye / bass, guitar (6)
- Kate Bush / vocals (7,11)
- John Ellis / guitar (8)
- Daniel Lanois / guitar (10,14)
- Stewart Copeland / hi-hat (10), drums (14)
- Peter Hammill / backing vocals (12)
- Simon Philips / drums (13)
- Simon Clark / bass (14)
- Shankar / doublin violin (15)
- Nathan East / bass (15)

ASIA - (2000) AURA

TrackList:

01. Awake (6:08)
02. Wherever You Are (5:14)
03. Ready To Go Home (4:50)
04. The Last Time (4:56)
05. Forgive Me (5:26)
06. Kings Of The Day (6:51)
07. On The Coldest Day In Hell (6:25)
08. Free (8:51)
09. You're The Stranger (6:05)
10. The Longest Night (5:28)
11. Aura (4:14)
Bonus Tracks:
12. Under The Gun (4:48)
13. Come Make My Day (5:01)
14. Hands Of Time (5:23)

Line-up:
- Geoff Downes / keyboards
- John Payne / vocals, bass, guitar

Guest:
- Ian Crichton / guitar
- Vinnie Colaiuta / drums
- Guthrie Govan / guitar
- Steve Howe / guitar
- Luis Jardim / percussion
- Tony Levin / bass
- Gary Liederman / bass
- Neil Lockwood / backing vocals
- Simon Phillips / drums
- Elliott Randall / guitar
- Chris Slade / drums
- Michael Sturgis / drums
- Pat Thrall / guitar

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