Customer Reviews

Lady Coryell

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

 

 

A cult has grown around Larry Coryell's first two albums, of which Lady is the first. Known for his virtuoso jazz fusion guitar playing, he has never (or nearly never) sung again on a record. A tragedy, no less.

Few moments can match the sensation of the world screeching to a halt upon listening to something so powerful. It doesn't happen often, but it came full force with Lady Coryell. I've had this for two decades and still can't get enough. The impossible blend of hard acid blues, pointilist jazz, and heavy rock -- together with touches of delicate classical and even lilting country rythms -- are forever fresh. And that's not to mention the VOCALS. Oh my, those VOCALS. I agree with the previous reviewer, shoot the man who told Larry to shut it. The torn, ragged, completely unschooled, and intimate singing is as effective as Larry's masterful handling of the axe. Listen to "Herman Wright" and try to stay standing -- it's so unassuming and unaffected you'll think all music should be this magical and real.

The follow-up, Coryell, is also brilliant, but Lady takes the prize. No wonder Larry was seen as Jimi's most serious contender at the time. Strangely, however, Coryell would appear to be dismissive of these two records as songs from them have never been revisited on any of his live albums. Stylistically, they're miles away from the technique-driven cerebral free jazz he quickly branched out into, which hardly ever touched on anything remotely close to the spectacular worlds of Lady and the follow-up. To the detriment of Larry's career, too, if you ask me.

So, go and give us the deluxe edition please. And then dig up a live one. Go on.

I came to the music of Larry Coryell through his more recent jazz, fusion, and educational efforts. After meeting him and taking my first lesson with him, we were at Starbucks, and he quipprd rather unexpectedly: "music for getting loaded."

It has taken many years for me to get around to checking out these earliest efforts. Indeed, some records are downright raw.

On first listening to this, I was a bit put off by how noisy many tracks are, but that annoyance pretty well departed on my first review. This album has a ton of character, and the arc of the progressions from track to track take the listener on an adventurous sonic journey. I quickly found myself a fan of the whole disc. The mixing is rough, some tracks feel almost incomplete, and yet, this if a great specimen of a musical mind breaking rules and searching for something as of yet undiscovered.

I could offer examples, but I think you should purchase this CD yourself and check out what all the hype is about. This is a brilliant work of sonic art you will enjoy again and again. And you don't have to be loaded to appreciate it. Thanks, Larry! I'm blown away again.

Larry Coryell is a top-notch guitarist, always excellent. Track 8, "You don't know what love is" is worth the price of the Disk! Thanks Larry!

Yes, everyone knows how great a guitarist Mr. Coryell is, but his vocals are nothing short of amazing. Whoever told him to stop singing should be drawn and quartered! This disc is in my personal top 5 greatest discs in the history of the universe!