Customer Reviews

The Anthology

5 star:		(2)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

It's funny how some music can transcend time and space- This is one such release from Alvin Lee, the former frontman for "Ten Years After", one of the premier groups to come out of the aftermath of the British Invasion- The range of selections on this double cd offering goes from basic 60s rock and roll to the pop sounds of the 70s to some great blues work that is essential to any musical era-
There is music on this release that can be appreciated by all, regardless of one's musical preference- This cd is musically sound and the vocals are first rate-
Anyone with roots in the 60s and 70s should make this a must have! And while you are at it, pick up a copy of "Ten Years After", 'Anthology', you'll be glad you did!
Beach

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.

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.

I had the early Ten Years After stuff on vinyl way back when, because I am an old guy, and I got my start listening to blues through the Brits, like The Stones, Animals, and Yardbirds. There were quite a few very, very good English blues players in the mid-late '60's: Clapton, Peter Green, Jimmy Page, Jeff Beck, Kim Simmonds, Alvin Lee, and others. Alvin seemed quite versatile, often injecting a jazzy feel to his recordings. Of course, he became famous from the Woodstock film, with his balls-to-the-wall, fastest gun in the West approach, showcased on "Goin' Home." About the only guy faster was, and is probably still is, Albert Lee. Seemed like Alvin was always trying to cram in as many notes in as short a time as possible. Johnny Winter also seemed to favor that approach. It's not my cup of tea at all. I believe in the "less is more" theory for just about everything: making each note count. Why play 500 notes when you can get an even more powerful message across with just 50? Economy is the key [see "Green, Peter"].

So I dismissed Alvin Lee as just another speed-freak guitarist, and I didn't listen to him for maybe thirty years. Lately I was cruising the Amazon music sites and thought I'd give this one, and his "Pure Blues" a listen via the samples. I was pleasantly surprised. First of all, I'm really glad that Alvin is still with us and still playing. He seems to have slowed things down a bit and is not spewing torrents of notes all over us like he used to do. Maybe he's mellowed a bit with age. He was, and is, a very talented and technically amazing player, and has continued to grow. I would like to see him try even more varied types of music, things beyond blues and rock standards. But the blues and rock standards he does play really have some power.
I'd recommend these albums to anyone who wants to hear Alvin Lee at his best.

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.

I can honestly say that after getting the anthology, I really dont like most of A.L.'s music...or should I say the bluesy rockabily type. Recording and mastering where very good on the CD. What I did enjoy was two songs on the CD that were different and very much displayed his skills.

A must buy for people looking to get a full CD library going.