U.K. guitarist Chris Spedding

[AmirBagachelles]

I've been enjoying Frank Ricotti's excellent Our Point of View from about 1970, especially fond of guitarist Chris Spedding's tasty high energy. I got to looking up Spedding, I see he is on a few of Jack Bruce's records from about that time.

Can anybody vouch for Harmony Row, or Songs for a Tailor? These look like no-brainers, too good to be true from googling etc. Thanks

Edited April 12, 2005 by AmirBagachelles

[sidewinder]

Agree with you re: Spedding on the Ricotti 'Point of View'. One of my favourite vinyls from that short-lived UK CBS series that also gave us the Oxleys and the Howard Rileys. Spedding used to crop up a lot in the early to mid 70s - I remember seeing his name credited on a David Essex album of all things (no, it was my sister's copy ) so he moved a lot between the jazz and rock worlds. He's also on the Mike Westbrook 'Love Songs'.

Edited April 12, 2005 by sidewinder

[Guest akanalog]

he is good on early nucleus stuff. the first two albums definitely he is on and adds a lot.

he is on some michael gibbs stuff too. i don't like gibbs very much-his compositions annoy me. this is why i don't like gary burton either since his book is 40% gibbs tunes.

but if you like spedding, he rocks on the last song on the gibbs album tanglewood 63.

also on the second nucleus album we'll talk about it later. i remember him abusing the wah nicely.

the jack bruce stuff which was what you were asking-i dunno.

[Guest akanalog]

i was listening to the westbrook album love songs the other night and my girlfriend told me it freaked her out and asked me to take it off. that almost makes me want to break up with her.

[Guest akanalog]

ok i am having a conversation with myself now, but if she cant take the westbrook, how is she going to put up with something like larry young's "mother ship"?

[sidewinder]

The Westbrook is a fine album. Very much of its time I guess but a nice one nevertheless. Strange that Mike Westbrook doesn't want a domestic reissue of this one either..

Was listening to 'Tanglewood' the other day and - yes - its Spedding on there too.

[BFrank]

If you like Jack Bruce, then "Harmony Row" is a masterpiece, IMO. I'm a BIG fan, but admitidly, his music is not for everyone.

Songs for a Tailor is a classic in its own right. Some tunes to listen to are:

"Never Tell Your Mother she's Out of Tune" with L'Angelo Misterioso on guitar (a/k/a George Harrison). Remember, he's on Cream's "Badge", too.

"Theme for an Imaginary Western" made somewhat popular by Mountain.

"Rope Ladder to the Moon" covered really well by Colosseum

Spedding also has quite a few solo albums that are interesting, if nothing else. Check out "I'm Not Like Everybody Else".

Edited April 12, 2005 by BFrank

[AmirBagachelles]

Thanks everyone, yes Clem I had wondered about the Pete Brown. I give five of those 8 Sony UK jazz titles from '99 absolute rave reviews - both Howard Rileys, both Ray Russells, and the Ricotti. (Had to scrounge Norman's, Downtown MG, and the web for these, tough!) The Ronnie Scott is actually terrific (straight ahead) too. The Oxleys kind of suck, too much microtonal bug music; I consider myself tolerant but I think Derek Bailey stinks, no ability to entertain me or swing.

[sidewinder]

I was listening to the Oxley '4 Pieces For Sextet' on vinyl the other day and quite like it. Derek Bailey isn't my usual 'cup of tea' but in smallish doses it can be quite stimulating.

[Guest akanalog]

is this frank ricotti album on CD and can i order it anywhere?

[clifford_thornton]

Yes, it was on the now OOP (AFIK) Columbia Realm reissue series. Probably still findable on Gemm, etc. ... great record!