Iou

Allan Holdsworth | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (July 1, 1993)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Restless Records
• ASIN: B000003BI0
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  Audio Cassette  |  Vinyl  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (22 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #362,778 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

1. Things You See (When You Haven't Got Your Gun)

2. Where Is One

3. Checking Out

4. Letters of Marque

5. Out from Under

6. Temporary Fault

7. Shallow Sea

8. White Line

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

23 of 24 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Was lucky enough to mix this tour..., March 13, 2006

By 

Mark Weldon (San Jose, CA United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Iou (Audio CD)

I met Allan on the beginning of the I.O.U. tour, and stayed through out most of the tour here and around the country mixing the live sound. I've worked with many, many amazing artists, from Classical greats to Jazz phenomes, but I still listen to this disc and am amazed. The melodies, the heart and soul, and the deft fingerings that were captured on the vinyl, and later on CD, is no less than marvelous. The early days had Gary Husband, and Paul Carmichael holding down the rhythms, while Allan would soar on inexplicable leads and chords. Paul had a voice that fit right in, and few could have kept the melodies and grooves going with this sort of playing. Later Jeff Berlin and Chad Wackerman joined up, and the last incarnation I mixed included Jimmie Johnson on Bass. I will never forget what a funny guy Allan is, what a good beer meant, and what a nice "Chasp" added to the mixture.

The night Allan and the band played with Eddie Van Halen live at The Roxy for two shows was a memory that won't fade. That was one night I wish I had taped. Well, I did, but I gave it to Eddie. Maybe some day I can get it back.... :)

Anyways, if you are looking for an eye opening experience into music perhaps you haven't heard before, excellent musicianship, writing that is innovative, daring, and fresh, take a listen. I think you'd like it.

Mark Weldon

12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars NO ARGUEMENT! HIS BEST EVER!!!!!!!!!, April 10, 2004

By 

Carl Johnson "budbear_5000" (Detroit, MI United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Iou (Audio CD)

I have followed AH since he first appeared on The Soft Machine album, Bundles from 1975. On the first I. O. U. record (this one), he takes chances he had never taken before or SINCE! For those of you that are not familiar with Allan Holdsworth's guitar mastery, he has RADICALLY influenced pop-jazz, rock, hard rock fusion and still have many a musician in awe over his continued musical masterful feats!
Each song of this record is a gem in it's own right, but heed some caution. Honestly, you may not like it on the first listen (I didn't), but it WILL intrige you and you'll come back again... and again.. AND again!
It is a marvelous masterpiece in fusion writing that also has a vocal focus. I never get bored. The songs do NOT contain a typical commercial "hook", but (over time) the songs grab your attention in an intense way. Challenge your mind some and get this record if you can find it. If you are not sure you are ready for this, try Road Games. That is possibly his most "commercial" and it is a good place to start exploring Allan Holdsworth. But this record is THE MAN! Unprecidented spin!

11 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Orignal released in 1982, November 17, 2002

By A Customer

This review is from: Iou (Audio CD)

I noticed the description did not contain an original release date, so I looked at my vinyl copy - it was released in 1982.

The guitar playing is absolutely revolutionary -- every guitar fan should own a copy of this record for that reason alone. Holdsworth even plays a nice violin solo on one tune.

The rest of the ensemble is not quite at the same "alien" (as another reviewer described it) level. The drummer (Gary Husband) is occasionally all over the map and doesn't really seem to be listening to what's going on in the rest of the band. The bass (Paul Carmichael) is mostly solid but uninspiring and quite muddy sounding. Paul Williams' voice (no, not that Paul Williams) is a lovely complement to the overall tone of the ensemble, and the vocals are solid, interesting, and quite unusual for the period. Holdsworth is right about the production values -- not the best, so the overall sound quality does suffer.

That being said, you still need to buy and listen to this album until you wear a hole in it (yes, that includes the CD). Not a bad tune on it, and every note from Holdsworth is a potential life-changing event.