Customer Reviews

The Introduction

5 star:		(11)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

There's a reason Steve Morse is one of the most respected guitarists alive; he's a virtuoso that can speak, sing and cry through his instrument with a sense of melody that touches on the divine. Like seemingly every Morse album I've ever heard, The Introduction is the kind of disc you spin once to give a good first listen, then end up spinning incessantly for the next week just because there's so much to hear. It touches on any style it comes across but leaves no mistake just who you're listening to. As an introduction, though, it's probably not the best one to pay full price for. I'm happy my first buy was the wonderful Structural Damage instead.

First off: there's a lot to recommend this album. The opening "Cruise Missile" ranks with the most powerful, blazing road anthems the man's produced. The rock/jazz/country diversity he showed through all those Dregs albums is in fine form, as you can probably guess from titles like "Mountain Waltz" and "General Lee." The playing is skilled enough to make fellow musicians grit their teeth with envy. It's heavy enough to wail out of your speakers and happy enough to bring a bright ray of sunshine into any day. Most importantly, the writing is just as important as the performances themselves; those who like good string-bending and those who look for a good composition will both find a lot to enjoy here. Those who like a good lyric should just be warned that Steve does instrumental work.

Then why does it not quite live up to its title? For one thing, it stands at a quick 34 minutes. For another, it's in dire need of remastering - it sounds pretty good if you crank the volume up a lot, but it lacks the near-perfect sound mix of later offerings like Major Impacts. Forgivable, true (it was 1984 after all), but along with the fine remastering treatment some of the Dregs catalogue has been receiving, The Introduction is past due for a sonic overhaul of its own. The guitar world will be just that much better for it. If you know Morse's music already and want to hear more, you wouldn't want to be without any of them. If not, a good starter would be Structural Damage (if you can still find it), High Tension Wires or this year's Split Decision. It only takes one to get hooked..

It's nice to see positive comments about something in which I personally was involved--especially on the 25th anniversary of the Steve Morse Band. I sincerely thank the previous posters.

It made me a better player, for sure.

This recording, althouth not of best quality regarding sound, is an excellent start of Steve Morse's post-Dregs carrer. His compositions show great maturity in structure and wonderful involvement of his drummer and bass player. Cruise Missle is extreme fun but also pay attention to the wonderful meter changes in The Introduction and the lighthearted Mountain Waltz is a beautiful exchange between Steve and T Lavitz. Also check out the solos between Steve and guitar virtuoso Albert Lee on General Lee. A must album for guitar players.

After leaving the Dixie Dregs, Steve Morse, along with Jerry Peek and Rod Morgenstain, recorded this instrumental album. The performance is brilliant, showing the virtuosity of the musicians. The opening track Cruise Missile has a big amount of energy. In contrast, The whistle is a classical guitar performance, showing the versatility of Morse as a guitarist. Along with "The Inner Mounting Flame" by the Mahavishnu Orchestra, "The Introduction" is one of the best fusion albums.

I own and cherish everything Steve has ever put out or played on, and he is my main source of inspiration for playing the guitar. All his stuff is brilliant and I can't possibly review it all, but this disc is so varied and beautiful that I had to at least touch upon it.

There are more musical styles not only covered, but MASTERED here on one album, than most artists would even attempt in a lifetime. Everything from metal to Southern rock, country to Celtic, folk to fusion, as well as anthem-like soundtrack stuff (such as the gorgeous title cut) are included. There's even a modern atonal piece in the intro to Huron River Blues. This guy is truly one of the best composers I've ever heard-bar none; he would go down in music history just for his amazing written music. The amazing thing is that he's also heralded as one the best guitarists around the world, and in my humble opinion there is NO ONE better. Many guitarists would agree with me. Buy this, as well as High Tension Wires and the Dixie Dregs' Dregs of the Earth (heck, buy all of his stuff) before it's out of print forever.

I can still remember the very first time I heard this album, back in the mid-eighties. It completely floored my young ears at the time - I had never heard such amazing guitar playing. 15 years later, this record remains one of my all-time favorites - the recording quality is a little dated, but the performances from everyone are just fantastic. A great blend of virtuosity and taste by musicians who love their craft. One of the best of Steve Morse's solo records, in my opinion. I would also recommend Southern Steel, High Tension Wires and Coast to Coast.

Before releasing this album, Steve Morse was the leader of The Dixie Dregs. The music in this release is quite similar to the Dregs in terms of diversity of musical styles, but much more guitar oriented, in the vein of Jeff Beck, but much more jazzy. The compositions are quite catchy and memorable, without sounding commercial, and the musicianship is top notch, as anyone might expect from such players like Morse, joined by Dregs' drummer Rod Morgenstein and Jerry Peek on bass. Guest artists Albert Lee on guitar and T. Lavitz on piano, deliver the goods also. This one is argueably the best Morse's solo album. Highly recommended for fusion & jazz-rock and guitar-oriented-rock fans.

If you have to buy only one Steve Morse Band Album, this is the one. Probably the best of all Steve Morse compositions to wind up on a solo CD, Cruise Missle, is the opening track. It is a fusion tour de force. Steve is at his usual high level with Rod slammin a double bass shuffle and Jerry Peek showing why he is the best bassist to ever play with Morse. If you enjoy this CD have a look at 'High Tension Wires'. It is more of a textural venture but no less amazing.

One evening 20 or so years ago in a poorly attended gig at a small club (The Palamino) I saw Albert Lee and Steve Morse. I have never really seen or heard anything like it before or since. I had followed Albert around quite a bit, but it was the 1st time I had seen Mr. Morse. One of those rare nights that concert goers live for, so damn mindbogglingly, unbeleiveably turn you on your head good.... So good in fact that to this day I have a hard time with the recorded output vs. the memory of that night. The true bane of seeing a performance like that from anyone. You run out to buy the lps (at that time ) and sit there listening, going what the #^%$* is this.... Even though the lp or cd is actually quite good. Do yourself a favor. Pick this up. Look around for the Dregs and Deep Purple yes, Deep Purple and everything in between. Enjoy. Then sit back and plot and plan. Watch for the guy on tour. And maybe, just maybe, you'll be as lucky or unlucky as I was . Ruined. And someday someone will ask you about Mr. Morse and you will just sit there shaking your head as they wait for you to explain the unexplainable.

I'd give this five stars but the sound quality is really poor. If you listen to this back-to-back with one of Steve's newer recordings, it sounds flat and lifeless in comparison. It's a shame because this is one of the best CDs Steve has made. If this were remastered I'd be as psyched as I was when I first saw that Satriani's "Surfing With The Alien" was being remastered.