Customer Reviews

Bruford Tapes (Reis)

5 star:		(7)
4 star:		(7)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

I don't have much to add, other than to say that the claims of this record's sound quality being p-poor have been blown out of performance. What's more, this record really is a bit of a revelation, truth be told. The performances stretch more than on the studio albums, yet the players are still rock solid, and very tight. Plus, it's great to have all of the good tunes from "Feels Good" on one record with the highlights of "One of a Kind," as well.

Okay, so the keyboard at the beginning of "Hells Bells" is a bit too distorted and high in the mix - by mid tune, it's been corrected, and otherwise, this is prog-fusion at it's very finest. I'd swear by this record. Oh, and I still have a hard time believing that the "unknown John Clark" isn't just a pseudonym for Allan Holdsworth.

Another one of those albums that got me thru the disco 70's. This one is mostly a live version of "One of A Kind", the difference being Allan Holdsworth being very ably replaced with the "unknown" John Clarke who rips with complete abandon on this. Jeff Berlin, Dave Stewart & Bruford kick it into overdrive all the way through. A fine example of fusion. Got to have this on cd, surprised to see it here, really. Crank it.

Berlin's bass solo in Travels With Myself is well worth the price of this disc. It is true that this isn't the cleanest recording... there is hiss that you would expect from a 1979 recording for radio broadcast. But also like other reviews it doesn't take away from the performance. In fact it's not really detectable in the busier pieces. Probably most noticable in Travels With Myself during quieter piano/light drum/bass parts.

If you are into instrumental rock this is something you should give a listen to. If you are a student of bass this is one to aspire to... I can play most of what Rush throws at me but still can't nail much of what Berlin plays in this recording. This is one of my "desert island" discs.

Recorded and mixed for Radio broadcast before a wildly appreciative audience, The Bruford Tapes was criticized on release for its relatively poor, near-bootleg sound quality (it is certainly packaged like one, and sold--Import only--suggested retail price of $5.98 printed right on the album sleeve itself). Given the current spate of "from the vault" and etc. live releases, it sounds more than acceptable today--kind of a neat little qualitatively expectational inflection, when you stop to think about it.

ANYWAY, T.B.T. is a more than decent live album. The band are obviously fired up, and play with a hard-charging energy that makes this the "rockiest" lp B.B. has yet to release under his own name. Bassist Berlin founts constantly inventive runs, Stewarts' keyboards provide commentary and structural nuance, and the "Unknown" John Clark proves a more than able replacement for departed guitar-guru Alan Holdsworth. And live, Bruford's drumming is far from the skitterish cymbals and fills that ornament his studio work; here the leader burnishes a rocker's power and a jazzer's finesse--truly the best of both worlds for real percussion aficionados.

Perhaps because they were playing live on the radio, the band reigned in (a little) the jazzier, improvisational elements, as these songs--though played with a real jolt of electric energy--don't vary all that much from the original studio versions; I saw this same band on the Gradually Going Tornado tour the next summer, and they stretched things out quite a bit more.

That said, this is a real fun Bruford Rock album. "Hell's Bells" opens out, and the audience is obviously going nuts. That excitement really comes across on record, and is the truest, best test of a live album. "Beelzebub" is that rare creature, an actual rock improvisation that works by building from ground zero up to full roar. Top notch!

p.s.--also printed on the front album sleeve are the cautionary words "parental guidance suggested", making this the first self-censored lp in history, and long before Frank Z. asked Tipper G. "Does humor belong in music?"

You might well arsk....

B+

I have a good amount of Bill Bruford's work from this period, with his own band, UK etc. This recording is worth it just for the first two tracks, Hell's Bells (love that synth!) and Sample & Hold. The latter is absolutely incredible as it translates live better than I ever thought it would. Jeff Berlin's bassline is astounding! The other tracks I haven't mentioned are great too. The audio quality is pretty raw but that somehow adds to the charm of it. It sounds like a live album should. That is, capturing the performance on the night with no overdubs or studio trickery. An added bonus is the banter from Bill between tracks. I always find him amusing to listen to. I should also mention the contribution of Dave Stewart. His keyboard playing ranks up there with best of the prog genre and is criminally underrated. Recommended for fans of 70's instrumental fusion.

I think this is my first Bruford CD. I was not in USA then. It was hard to get some good musics. One of my older colleague gave me this CD and Flags cause he was so nice guy and knew I liked Bruford (actually my love begun with UK's debut album). It was the very first time for me to see his face (from his Flags album with Patrick Moraz). Although Eddie Jobson, John Wetton, Allan Holdsworth as well as Bill, are all my favorite musicians at each field, I had never been excited like that. I am not going to say this is his best effort. The sound quality isn't good and there isn't any new stuff or else but I love this (and I think Jeff's bass in 5g of this live recording is better than original). It's like an old happy memory. BTW, I got his recent earthworks recording-sound of surprise. Wow~! The best thing with Bill is that he is always progressive. I happen to prefer "gradually going tornato" best but many people recommend "one of a kind". I like that one too. He is one of a few musicians I can trust he will make 'better' music as time goes by. --CYC

A great live fusion album. In order to fully appreciate this album you must buy One Of A Kind first and listen awhile before listening to the Bruford Tapes. Jeff Berlin's greatest performance on a recording. The sound quality is kinda bad (from original source tapes) but it doesn't take away from the sheer impact at all

I don't mind live recordings with "iffy" sound quality as long as the recording has some kind of revelation (rare live cuts,stuff that wasn't performed often, previously unreleased)to offer the collector of a particular artist. All of this is better heard on Bruford's studio albums. Really no need to get this if you have them.

Don't get me wrong, I LOVE the line up, BUT, the recording is poor quality. It's a live recording and the overall sound quality is a reflection of the technology of 1979. My suggestion is for you to buy Bill Bruford's " Master Strokes ". You will hear the same songs, with Allan Holdsworth on guitar and it's a studio recording, so the quality is superb. The live recording just drowns out the overall sound.

this was a great band from back in the days when bruford smacked the snare rather than today's fiddly cymbal work (hint: bill, your progressive rock/fusion drumming was/is far more interesting than your attempts to be an old-time jazz-o), but the recording quality is appalling, fluff such as the sponsoring radio station's promotional announcements were left in whilst decent songs were poorly faded out early to fit the 33-1/3 disk layout, and i did mention the recording quality is appalling. spend your money on bruford's studio recordings, "feels good to me" and "one of a kind" rather than this lame excuse.