Customer Reviews

Big Towne 2061

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

 

 

Sophomore release from Bob Welch's short-lived power trio. If you've found this you probably know the history: ex-Fleetwood Mac guitarist who graced some of their best pre-Buckingham/Nicks stuff (Bare Trees, Mystery To Me, etc.) forms group with ex-Tull bassist Glen Cornick, sets out to replicate Zeppelin -- and does! The consensus on this album is that it's closer to his Fleetwood Mac stylings than what's on the extraordinary debut, which sounds like some unreleased third disc to Physical Graffiti. In part that's because Ex-Nazz drummer Thom Mooney's cleared out, taking his Bonham-isms with him, and the new man on the traps, Hunt Sales (ex-Runt, future Tin Machine) doesn't have that style at all. Also, Welch has turned down the guitars and layered on the vocals. Nonetheless, the songs are as lyrical and melodic as anything else he's written, just not as heavy as what's on the first album. It still rocks (Blue Robin, Money Love, the title track) but with a funkier, groovier sound. The record closes magnificently, too: Janie is as good as anything on the debut -- it's this album's Narrow Gate, you could say. Great sci-fi artwork, as well. Get it!

What a band! Just listen to this LP: it's got everything good about the mid-70s--it's progressive, funky, heavy. If u dig Captain Beyond, Bob Welch's F. Mac, Atomic Rooster w/Farlowe, or Birth Control then check these guys out. It's a virtual supergroup--Welch, Cornick & Mooney. Get their 1st LP, too.

Bob Welch ESSENCE! Welch fans will love the continuation and refinement of his sound which began to be recognizeable in the earlier Fleetwood Mac albums like "Mystery To Me" & "Heroes Are Hard To Find" in the mid-70s.

Very bluesey, very dreamy, very Welch!

Enjoy!

Lenny

Another great album by Bob Welch and company, although not as good as their first release. This album features Hunt Sales (Soupy's kid)on drums and tends to have more harmonies throughout the pop sounding production. Not as much gutsy guitar work as the first album, but the lyrics are still haunting and soulful. The title song and Pale Horse, Pale Rider are great but tend to sound like Fleetwood Mac. Both albums are great, but those who bought the first album may be disappointed with this one.

I still own the vinyl copies of "Big Towne, 2061" and "Paris". I waited a very long time for both of them to be re-released on CD and I was just as enchanted with both albums this time around as I had been the first time I heard them. Having been a teen during the '70s, I have a large collection of dusty, little-known gems from that era and I count both Paris albums among them. That having been said, a few caveats for the unintiated.

Attention Bob Welch fans......

Even if you never heard his music pre "French Kiss", Paris is worth a spin. This is Welch's short-lived experiment with the power trio format and the music defies easy categorization. Think hard rock meets blues meets art rock meets pop. Welch, Glenn Cornick (bassist - formerly of Jethro Tull) and Hunt Sales (drums) have undeniable chemistry and Welch's compositions are interesting and challenging.
Unfortunately, this album suffers from over-production, especially when compared to the much more rock-oriented first album "Paris" (Thom Mooney - drums). In an apparent attempt to make the album more lush and less hard-edged, a very subdued sonic palette was used with lots of echo and muted frequencies. This technique was applied to "French Kiss" with great commercial success, but with the songs on this album, it was a serious miscalculation.

To summarize, if you like Bob Welch in Fleetwood Mac and are a fan of experimental rock from the '70s, you will enjoy "Big Towne, 2061". If you only know Welch from "French Kiss", this album will sound oddly familiar and yet will not satisfy your search for Welch's more pop side. Still worth a spin.

This is good (almost glam) rock in the same vein as Gary Wright (Dream Weaver). I had heard the title track in Dallas back in the 70s when the album was first released. SO I searched the internet for a while until this CD release came about. It is such a shame that we had to wait for this like we did the Frampton releases of Something's Happenin' and I'm In You.

A great record by a short lived "supergroup". Bob Welch at his best. Contrary to some reviews, Thom Mooney from Nazz was NOT the drummer on this second release.
Hunt Sales, son of comedian Soupy Sales, had taken his place. After playing together in Tony and The Tigers, Hunt and his bassist brother Tony, briefly played with Todd Rundgren. Shortly after getting the call to replace Mooney in Paris, Sales was once again looking for work.
He eventually ended up in another short lived "supergroup", Tin Machine, with David Bowie.

Bob Welsh has remastered this rare album. It is fantastic!!! I can't stop listening to it. It's hooky, funky and just very cool.