Most Helpful Customer Reviews
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1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Players' picks, May 16, 2007
This is an interesting mix that was part of Alvin Lees' defining himself after TYA. Makes for quite an insight into the music that he thinks defines him. All really good choices for anyone who doesn't have a good collection of Alvin Lee (with and without) Ten Years After, or just wants a good CD to listen to.
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2 of 3 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
The best guitar player there with a mix of his solo work, October 26, 2003
Alvin Lee is simply the most underrated and under-appreciated guitarist/singer/song writer/musician in the business .
His riviting performance at Woodstock labeled him as a type as kind of a one gtrick pony. And after doing all of the singing/writing/lead and only guitarwork/arranging for the sound he carved out for Ten Years After, people have know idea how much he was held back by people screaming "I'm going home" at concerts and by the inferior musicians who Alvin carried who were way too inflexible to play all of the music that the prolific Alvin Lee wrote. Good musicians, but totally lacked creativity, but meshed great with that one sound that Ten Years After produced. There is a reason that none of the three never were able to back up anyone or hook up with a new band.Alvin's music frang some great old type rock, (Jennie, Jennie) to one of the most beautiful, perfect blues songs with George Harrison playing a searing slide guitar The Bluest Blues. Alvin also is fantastic with his spiritiual ballad and a classic album, just got released on a CD, backed by Steve Winwood, George Harrison, Ron Wood with " On the Road to Freedom " Made back in 1972, wiht Alvin writing a wonderful ballad and his first venture away from the limitations of the flexibility and talent level of Ten Years After. Be aware, that Alvin just got back from Nashville and cut an album with his boyhood idols. It will be a rockbilly album of Alvin's own songs, cut at Scotty Moores place with Scotty playing a some songs with Alvin along with the rest of the guys who backed Elvis. It is going to be great. To learn more, you can check out www.alvinlee.com Fans be careful, there is a phoney, damaged group caling themselves Ten Years After that is a revival act with some 25 year old nobody imitating Alvin's licks. It is pretty ugly, but don't be fooled. Ten Years After broke up years ago.
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3.0 out of 5 stars
Lee is capable of more than that., June 22, 2009
I've been an Alvin Lee fan for about 40 years now. Of course, Ten Years After's "Woodstock" performance put them/him on the map. When I lived in UK, I missed Alvin's performance at Rainbow Theatre which later came out as an album, then a CD, both of which I have.
And while I was in UK also, he released with Mylon LeFavre, "On the Road to Freedom" which to this day I like more than most others.
But after listening to this set, I'm again disappointed. Lee could do so much more with his talent. I think of Jorma Kaukonen. He played at Berkeley in the late 60s, and the album of the performance, "Hot Tuna," revealed that Jefferson Airplane limited his talent as a true musician. He did some fine accoustic blues one wouldn't expect from Airplane.
I believe Alvin, if his producers would let him, could do something more than the 12 bar.
Yeah, yeah, there's a little more on it than "I'm Goin' Home." I'm just now listening, for example, to "Help Me Baby." But by and large it gets old listening to this collection.
Note that I gave it three stars. I didn't say it was bad. Just that I think Alvin is capable of more than is on the CD. I hope he experiments and we hear more of him, with more variety.
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