Like Children

Jan Hammer | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (November 7, 2006)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Wounded Bird Records
• ASIN: B000IHYXDK
• Also Available in: Vinyl  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (11 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #9,632 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)
  • #3 in Music > World Music > Europe > Eastern Europe > Czech Republic
  • #29 in Music > Rock > Progressive > Electronic
  • #70 in Music > Jazz > Jazz Fusion

Editorial Reviews

First time on CD for this collaboration album by the two former members of Mahavishnu Orchestra, keyboardist Jan Hammer and guitarist/violinist Jerry Goodman. Features 10 tracks including 'Country And Eastern Music', an apt title that truly describes the musical feel of the album. Wounded Bird. 2006.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

15 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great stuff, hard to believe it was done by just two guys, March 14, 2007

By 

BENJAMIN MILER (Veneta, Oregon) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Like Children (Audio CD)

Two ex-Mahavishnu Orchestra guys decided to record together in 1974 and the results was Like Children, which became the first ever release on the Nemperor label. With just Jerry Goodman and Jan Hammer, you know them as a violinst and keyboardist respectively, and when you hear Goodman play guitar and Hammer play drums as well, you know right away they are fully capable on those instruments too. No one plays bass, although Jan himself would use the Moog for bass lines. The duo recorded at William James Guercio's Caribou Ranch in Nederland, Colorado (Guercio was the manager for well known brass rock groups Chicago and Blood, Sweat & Tears, and Chicago recorded a couple of albums at Caribou), as well as Trident Studios in London (where well known acts like David Bowie and Genesis had recorded, not to mention Mahavishnu Orchestra). Little wonder the cover features Rocky Mountain scenery, and the back cover featuring some rather rustic pictures of Jerry and Jan playing their instruments. Here you get treated to fusion, with the electronic and prog rock leanings that Jan Hammer would favor on his first solo effort, The First Seven Days released a year later, as well as rock and roll elements. Both also sing, and while they're never considered great singers, the vocals are never intrusive and works fine. "Country and Eastern Music" rocks with those trademark lead Moogs (that became highly influencial by many other jazz rock/fusion and prog rock artists), great violin work, and great themes too. "No Fear" is all Jan, with him experimenting with sequencers. This cut, obviously is something that wouldn't be out of place on The First Seven Days. "I Remember Me" is a more mellow and ambient piece, while the duo gets more funky with "Earth (Still Our Only Home)". "Full Moon Boogie" is a nice rock and roller, but with their twists, including Jan's Moog. OK, the only song that don't quite work out for me is "Giving in Gently", their attempt at soft rock, and believe me, the results aren't so pretty. But the rest of the album is simply amazing, and I highly recommend it. Listening to this, you can easily forget that Jan Hammer would ruin his credibility a decade later by scoring for the cheesy and overrated TV series Miami Vice.

10 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Like Children, February 6, 2007

By 

Jeffrey Wehrmeister - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Like Children (Audio CD)

My old cassette copy of this album wore out and I had to splice it, ruining some material. I was thrilled to see a remastered version available on CD. One of my Top Ten favorites between Beatles and Zappa, from The Flock to Mahvishnu Orchestra, this CD has memorable tracks that have stood the test of time. Jan Hammer has been able to morph with an electronic instrument like no one else.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars I wore out my copy also, October 27, 2007

By 

Richard Zencker (Scottsdale, AZ USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Like Children (Audio CD)

I never thought I'd see this on CD because it's so quirky, but I hoped I would since the original vinyl version of Hammer's synthesizer solo "No Fear" was subject to quite a bit of distortion. To be fair, that track did appear on a compilation CD a while back. But it sounds much better in context. It's worth remembering that the synthesizer had only been in use for around five years at the time this was recorded, and was still basically an analog, monophonic instrument. Hammer really was a pioneer in the field.

These are some of the oddest catchy tunes you'll ever hear. And even if they sound a little strange at first, you may find yourself listening to them over and over. There is this weird eastern European classical feel combined with rock rhythms and fiddling -- hence the "country and eastern music" reference.

The bass isn't missed too much, though Hammer doesn't overtly attempt to imitate one. Often there's echo/delay used, but frankly that's one of the things that makes Hammer's synthesizer playing so distinctive. I'm pretty sure this was the first time nearly anyone had heard him play drums, and he acquits himself pretty well.

Some of this material was apparently discarded from the first incarnation of the Mahavishnu Orchestra. One of the pieces (Steppings Tones) is actually by that group's bassist, who doesn't appear on this record. A version of this tune by the full band eventually surfaced on the "Lost Trident Sessions" CD.

To paraphrase Douglas Adams, this CD is filled with music that is almost, but not quite, entirely unlike anything these artists did before or since. Goodman "fits" better than Steve Kindler, whom Hammer played with for his next few albums before, apparently, giving up on violinists altogether. Goodman went on to do some work that was called "new age" and still shows up on the occasional jazz album. Hammer went on tour with Jeff Beck and then wrote music for the "Miami Vice" TV show. Well, he had to support himself somehow -- not too many people bought this album!