Best of

Brian Auger's Oblivion Express | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (March 19, 1996)
• Original Release Date: March 19, 1996
• Number of Discs: 2
• Label: Polygram Records
• ASIN: B000001EIL
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #291,774 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

Disc: 1

1. Dragon Song

2. On the Road

3. Oblivion Express

4. Dawn of Another Day

5. Marai's Wedding

6. Fill Your Head With Laughter

7. Tomorrow City

8. Truth

9. Don't Look Away

10. Somebody Help Us

See all 12 tracks on this disc

Disc: 2

1. Whenever You're Ready

2. Happiness Is Just Around the Bend

3. Inner City Blues (Make Me Wanna Holler)

4. Voices of Other Times

5. Straight Ahead

6. Bumpin' on Sunset

7. Beginning Again [Live]

8. Brain Damage

9. Thoughts from Afar

10. Future Pilot

See all 12 tracks on this disc

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

13 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A truly complete 'best of' collection, January 26, 2000

By 

Rich Schneider (USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Best of (Audio CD)

Brian Auger's Oblivion Express is one of those bands that noticeably progressed as time went on. This collection has it all - from the early days when Brian sang/played the organ with Jim Mullen playing his unique style of guitar (Dawn of Another Day) through the days when Brian gave up doing vocals so he could concentrate on playing the B-3 as only he can. 'Happiness is Just Around the Bend' is the song that introduced me to this band and it remains a true classic. The band's version of 'Inner City Blues' is the best. This CD is a must for anyone who wants to experience jazz music by an artist who knows how to surround and captivate a listener.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Evolution of A Band, December 24, 2004

By 

Kurt Harding "bon vivant" (Boerne TX) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (TOP 1000 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Best of (Audio CD)

Over its lifetime, Brian Auger's Oblivion Express changed its personality and direction a number of times. It was a jazz rock band, a jazz funk band, a jazz fusion band, a disco jazz band, and sometimes all four at once! The Best of...shows the evolution of the band from its beginning to the point where Auger himself becomes more or less satisfied that it has achieved the distinctive sound he was looking for.
I came on board the Oblivion Express in the 70s with the issue of "Closer To It", which is just the point where the liner notes quote Auger as saying that the album was so named in honor of the fact that his current crop of musicians were close to attaining the sound he wanted. I agree completely. Though the band had showed remarkable progress with Second Wind, it is Closer To It and its follow-up Straight Ahead that gives Oblivion Express a firm place in music history.
The first disc gives an overview of OE's first three albums and begins with Dragon Song, a nice fusion number from his first album. On some of the early songs, Auger's sound is remarkably like that of Deep Purple's keyboardist Jon Lord, but his vocals are cheesy.
That problem was temporarily solved when Alex Ligertwood was brought on board. To me, his vocal style is a lot like that of Tower of Power's Lenny Williams and pushed the band in a funkier direction. The songs that feature Ligertwood on vocals are among the best on the first disc. Truth and Second Wind are very good, Somebody Help Us and Freedom Jazz Dance are excellent. But then Ligertwood quits and vocal duties fall back on Auger.
The second disc starts with some of the best tunes in the Auger songbook. Here, Auger's voice has matured and his work, both instrumentally and vocally, on songs from Closer To It is sensational. I like all four featured works from that album, particularly Happiness Is Just Around The Bend. Auger's Inner City Blues honors Marvin Gaye in being far superior to Gaye's original.
The great sounds continue with a couple cuts from Straight Ahead, the title cut of which once again features the capable Alex Ligertwood on vocals. Those who are fans of Eumir Deodato will not fail to notice how much Auger's play on Straight Ahead resembles that of Deodato when the Brazilian great was at his jazz/funk peak. Bumpin' On Sunset, the other cut from Straight Ahead, is a splendid 10 minute plus instrumental jazz workout composed by the late, great Wes Montgomery.
The CD finishes with a few snatches from later albums, the best of which is the soulful live number Beginning Again, the disco jazzy Brain Damage, and the hard-driving instrumental Planet Earth Calling.
Brian Auger fans should be pleased with this compilation overall though it is more of anthology than a "best of", unless you wish to say that the songs offered are the best from their respective albums. A couple of lame songs on the first CD knock a star off, otherwise The Best of Brian Auger's Oblivion Express is highly recommended.

5 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars energetic, spiritual!!!, March 14, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Best of (Audio CD)

Brian Auger, he is great. He's got all the elements of my personal inclination. Rock but jazzy, very professional in techniques but refreshingly clumsy(seventies?)It is like meeting someone who understands me and leads to express on behalf of my self. I always dream of a night club in which we can dance to "straight ahead".