Gordon Beck & John McLaughlin

[Eric]

Picked this up from (where else) Dusty Groove (the bastards). Anyway, it is a Beck-lead quartet and they play the pop hits of the day (Sunny, Good Vibrations, I Can See for Miles, etc.) in an all-acoustic setting (well, except for McLaughlin).

Sure the heads are a little cheesy, but this really is a neat little record. I bought it for the early McLaughlin and he does sound great. The overall vibe of the CD is nice and there is a good mix betrween upbeat and ballady stuff. Worth checking out.

Eric

PS - from Dusty Groove - they are actually spot-on in their promo (errr, review):

"A perfect example of why the British jazz scene of the late 60s was so exciting -- as Gordon Beck works here with a young John McLaughlin, in an album of surprising delights! The format is, as the title states, "experiments with pops" -- late 60s soul and pop hits, given a really dynamic twist by the group -- which also includes Tony Oxley on drums and Jeff Clyne on bass. The tunes are all familiar -- "Sunny", "Norwegian Wood", "Monday Monday", "I Can See For Miles", and others -- but they're done in a mode that has free soloing, angular twists, and these really edgy guitar bits from McLaughlin -- never outside, but with a style that's quite refreshing, giving the material! Great stuff, and one of those records that keeps us digging through the Brit scene of the time!"

Edited March 3, 2004 by Eric

[A Lark Ascending]

I have this one. Very nice if, as you put it perfectly, a little cheesy on the heads. I'd recommend the slightly later 'Gyroscope' as a stronger disc. Available from the same source.

He also did around this time (and I'm not making this up):

Details here:

http://www.gordonbeck.net/gbdiscog.html

Becks discs are always worth checking out. The one I really want to hear is:

1. Waltz For Debby (5:33)

2. Orbit (8:41)

3. Five (7:00)

4. Twelve Tone Tune 2 (6:03)

5. Turn Out The Stars (6:25)

6. Peace Piece (5:18)

7. Peri's Scope (4:05)

Personnel:

Gordon Beck: Piano

Ron Mathewson: Bass

Tony Oxley: Drums

Stan Sulzmann: Tenor Saxophone, Soprano Saxophone, Flute

Kenny Wheeler: Trumpet, Flugelhorn, Cornet

Released in 1980 on MPS Records.

Edited March 3, 2004 by Bev Stapleton

[Eric]

Hey Bev,

Great recommendations - thanks. Gyroscope is next on the list!

Eric

[Bright Moments]

i just discovered beck!!! B-)