Customer Reviews

Paris

5 star:		(9)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Some of us have been waiting 20-plus years for PARIS to re-emerge from the mists, with good reason. This is a PHENOMENAL album! A brief recap: Bob Welch leaves Fleetwood Mac and forms a Zep-like hard rock band with Tull's Glenn Cornick & drummer Thom Mooney. The stated intention is "to rock, but with depth", and that they do - in spades. Rumored to have been produced by Page himself under a pseudonym (bear in mind there are MANY untrue rumors regarding Page and this might be one). The rumor probably got started after somebody heard the album, which has the Zep production sound down to a T. Too bad Bob Welch didn't go further with this, because he turns out to be an outstanding heavy-rock songwriter (his lyrics are far better than Plant's); the tracks on PARIS are short but skillfully crafted, and powered by ear-grabbing heavy riffs and stick-to-your-frontal-lobe melodies. "Nazarene", "Black Book", "Red Rain" and "Beautiful Youth" - great songs all - are just four random reasons to buy this. Plus that ever-present streak of erudite cheekiness that Welch has always brought to his music is of course present as well. A stone classic too long neglected...now howzabout a domestic reissue with some bonus material appended to the original lp's worth of tracks?

I had the Pleasure of seeing Bob Welsh and Paris live when Paris first did a US tour in 1975. It was in an obscure theatre in Youngstown Ohio. It was a full sound emanating from a highly polished ensemble and not embellished with "techno tricks" of the time as one reviewer stated. Apparently he or she was unaware that they ever toured.

This is one hard rockin' band. Short lived is an understatement. Every song is a gem and have not gotten old after all these years. Great riffs and excellent bass playing and drumming. I cannot compare them to any other band as they have a distinct sound all their own. If you still love 1970's hard rock then you will not be disapointed with this purchase.

This is a great album which never really saw the light of day. Bob Welch had shown a lot of songwriting skills with Fleetwood Mac (i.e. Miles Away on Mystery to Me) and here he again wrote great songs with much more powerful arrangements.

Don't miss this!!

Bob's later work, such as French Kiss which made him popular for a while, was pop pablum and paled in comparison.

This was first released in 1976, and it is such a strong work that frankly it sounds fresh and powerful even today, more than 30 years later. I bought "French Kiss" after this and it was a terrific disappointment. I don't remember Big Towne 2061 all that well and I think my LP of it is long lost.

I haven't heard this particular disc which is touted as a "remaster" but it is tempting to spend the $[...] and check it out. The sonics of the original are surprisingly good.

Finally a note about [...] to compare it with Led Zeppelin is as bizarre as you can get ("Bob Welch tackles the roles of Robert Plant and Jimmy Page by himself in this Led Zeppelin knockoff.") If that's the case, every rock band in which the singer plays lead guitar qualifies as a "Led Zeppelin knockoff". If you ignore the lyrics, vocal style, arrangements, guitar playing and everything about the production, you could say that it sounds just like Led Zeppelin. Why not compare it to Cher or the Little River Band? Sarcasm aside, it's good solid rock and you could imagine Fleetwood Mac going in this direction if they decided to get harder edged rather than going the 80s mega-production style...

I first got the album around 1980 and liked it right from the
start. This is the hardest bob welch ever rocked, and he pulled it off. musically anyone who likes hard rock should like this
cd. the lyrics are a little out there, but this album is about the music. the best tracks are black book and narrow gate. A solid hard rock album

This album,underneath the phase shifters(which are cool), is very dark,soulful and haunting with lyrics that are actually thought provoking. The music still lingers with me today...It is not mainstream which is why I was surprised that everyone I've played it for loved it. It is better and has a harder edge than Bob Welch's "French Kiss". I've been searching for this album on CD for years. This is the "other" side of Bob Welch...a great guitarist, superior vocalist, and extroadinary lyricist. The songs, Black Book, Religion and Narrow Gate are alone worth the price of this album. The other songs are a bonus.

I first bought this album in the mid-70's in a discount bin. Undoubtedly one of my best ever purchases. I literally wore out the vinyl, and the cassette as well, over the next few years. I've been waiting for a CD version of this gem for quite some time. At long last it's here.

This was far and away the best work Welch ever accomplished. For anyone interested in 70's era hard rock, you won't be disappointed. For that matter, at least in my opinion, Paris far exceeds mere "70's genre" music. This beast ROCKS! The lyrics, once you've deciphered them anyway, are intelligent, and a bit mystical - perfect stoner fare (as it no doubt was intended to be). Quite simply this is a musical snapshot of a band that had far greater potential than ever was realized at the time.

Of the ten songs here, I give six of them five stars, and the remainder four. I defy anyone to give this more than a couple of listens without becomming completely entralled.

This is "must have" record for Glenn Cornick, Wild Turkey etc.
collectors/enthusiast.
Music style/genre is: good energetic rock and some nuances from
early Fleetwood Mac, Led Zeppelin.
Booklet is ok, contains lyrics, not band information.
Check also Paris - Big Towne, 2061

I happened to see PARIS live somewhere in a small theatre in Los Angeles County, not sure where.
Bob had made a wireless mike out of a Coat hanger.
He wrapped one end around a mike then the other end he coiled around his head.
He was an ACE captivating front man, Showman material, refusing to stand still, while Cornick held down the fort.
Hunt was on drums since this was the Big Towne era.
If anyone has info on tour dates, hit me up.