Customer Reviews

Rock & Roll Music to the World

5 star:		(15)
4 star:		(7)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

'Rock and Roll Music To the World' is Alvin Lee and Ten Year's After's ninth album, released in 1972. There would only be one more studio disc from the band, so by this point in time they were on the cusp of dissolving. Apparently there were strong personalities and a good deal of dissention within the band, which at times resulted in on-stage arguments complete with members refusing to play, or throwing bottles and other missiles at one another. You wouldn't know it to listen to the tight, blues-rock musicianship offered here, with all the tracks penned, sung, and in most cases defined by the lead guitar work of Alvin Lee.

Despite being a British band, Ten Years After only scored one top ten hit in their homeland, in June of 1970 when 'Love Like a Man' took them to number 10. In America, the Top-40 success was even leaner, with only one track, 'I'd Love To Change the World' (from their 1971 disc 'A Space In Time') barely reaching number 40. But the band was better known in America for two other achievements: being one of the most-toured bands circa 1970, and Alvin Lee's thrilling performance of 'I'm Going Home' at the Woodstock Festival.

While 'Rock and Roll Music To the World' is often panned as a shallow effort for Lee and Co., it stands as my favorite Ten Years After recording. I purchased the release on vinyl in 1972 due to the large number of quality tracks that were receiving airplay on the burgeoning FM radio dial. 'You Give Me Loving', 'Convention Prevention', 'You Can't Win Them All', 'Choo Choo Mama', and the title track all made the playlists. While a lot of the music is good, old-fashioned rock and roll, the compositions at times offer lyrical depth. 'Religion', for example, has the strongest philosophical bent, offering reasonings such as "once you're dead there's nothing left for giving, so life means fighting for your every breath". On 'Convention Prevention', one of my favorite tunes from the disc, Lee turns some nice phrases such as, "I'd like to reach out to you and learn just how do you do, so we can still relate; I'd like to open my mind so you can come inside, and see that we communicate". The 'dream' of the psycedelic '60's is given a final nod in 'Rock and Roll Music To the World' as Lee intones, "Give peace a chance, get up and dance". The album was for Lee what 'Court and Spark' was for Joni Mitchell: a cashing in on the total commercialization of the rock industry. No longer did bands view the music as art for art's sake, but were out to produce a salable product.

Fortuantely, Alvin Lee still had his lead guitar sensibilities adeptly in tow, cutting loose with exceptional lead guitar runs on nearly every track. Tracks 3, 4 and 8 are the weaker numbers, but each is worthy in their own right, the first two as blues-rock endeavors, with an emphasis on the rock ('Standing At the Station' gives keyboardist Chick Churchill and bassist Leo Lyons opportunities to solo), while 'Tomorrow I'll Be Out Of Town" queue's up as the lone country-rock track, again with an emphasis on the rock. The opener, 'You Give Me Loving', a six and 1/2 minute loping mass of metal and sound effects, and the roaring 'Choo Choo Mama' became staples at TYA concerts for a number of years to come.

For whatever reason, many of Ten Years After's discs are in relatively short supply. Most likely, people who purchase them tend to hold on to them. Not many are passed on for less than a ten-spot, although I was able to score my remastered, imported copy of this disc for only $6 (shipping included) on ebay, so deals can be had. The liner notes by Neil Slaven are fairly extensive, giving a detailed biography of the band, and the artwork from the original LP has been reproduced. This is one of those discs that you can count on to deliver the goods each time you slip it in the player. Alvin Lee and band always find that rock and roll groove. Six of the nine tracks warrant five stars, and the remaining three are three or four star efforts. No losers here, folks.

This is one of those albums from the postwoodstock period that you MUST have in your collection. As much as I love "A Space in Time", I find myself transfixed with this work. Alvin Lee blisters in the high energy numbers, while Leo Lyons' bass work (check out Religion) will shake the roof. This album flows and becomes a anthem in itself. From the opening number of YOU GIVE ME LOVING to the closing title track there is simply nothing in here that misses a beat. TURNED OFF T.V. BLUES still hits the mark, while STANDING AT THE STATION will cause you to duck and cover. T.Y.A. lives on through this classic. Turn it up and be mesmerized by the wizard of the Electric guitar.

Alvin Lee and Ten Years After are in top form on this rock n' roll extravaganza.This album was a favorite in the early 70's and still sounds refreshingly COOL! Best cuts are You Give Me Loving, Standing at the Station and of course Choo Choo Mama.This band rocks. Recommended.

For a long time I thought this was the last studio album before a prolonged break. It appears there may have been one other studio album, however I've never seen/heard it. This work represents all that T.Y.A & Alvin Lee were striving for throughout their recording career. Gone are the arty pretensions & self indulgent solos. What you have here is a serious group of talented individuals in there prime, lean, mean, free of filler - best! Tonally this is superior to other releases, as Chick Churchill introduces new keyboard sounds to his pallete. Check the intro to "Religion" for some seriosly tasty keyboard sounds. I was never a fan of the organ sound that so dated many bands of this era. Although the songs and solos are shorter, each member still performs some of their best work, as a tight rock'n unit. Production values are excellent also. This is the first review I have ever written. I love this album so much I wore out 2 L.P's & 1 audiocassette before c.d's come along! It is an all time little known classic. Much of 1973's excellent followup "Recorded Live", is based on this album, and continues the heighty performance of a classic band in it's prime. rock n' roll as art!

«Rock & Roll Music to the World» was the last essential release of the british blues rockers. Thirty five years after it's release, Ten Years After has been reduced to litte more than a bunch of fast, loud guitar runs in many people's minds. And there are memories of their stomping Woodstock performance. «Rock & Roll Music to the World» offers some blues, some ballads and of course the kind of simple rock an roll tunes Ten Years After always will be associated with: Choo Choo Mama, Tomorrow I'll Be Out of Town or the title track. Sure, this is the album of a band soon running out of steam. The strain of endless touring is beginning to tell. And sure, there's not much inspiration in Alvin Lee's guitar routines. But this is a suprisingly strong album. The band sounds tight and relaxed. Chick Churchill plays some interresting combination of synthesizer and organ lines. And there are even highlights like Standing at the Station or You Give Me Loving.

Alvin Lee is the greatest rock guitarist of all time, yet largely un-remembered today. This was TYA's best studio album and highly recommended. Turn up the volume when you get to Choo Choo Mama and Standing at the Station. Convention Prevention may be the best forgotten TYA song. Alvin and TYA at their peak. Also buy Cricklewood Green and A Space in Time. Look for Alvin's solo work also. In Flight, 1994, Pump Iron and Zoom are wonderful.

Rock & Roll Music to the World is quite possibly the most overlooked album by Ten Years After. It contains really strong songwriting, and perhaps its only drawback is that some of the songs are written in a predictable way, and the band plays it safe with the guitar solos more often than not. Still, I refuse to give it anything other than the highest rating because I enjoy it quite a bit.

The lyrics in "Religion" are easily relatable for many people I imagine (especially the first 3 or 4 lines) and the vocal melody is great, but the main selling point is the guitar soloing which is spectacular the entire way through. This song seriously should have been a hit. I'm surprised it wasn't. Something strange happens at the end of the song. It sounds like the guitar solo simply fades into what can best be described as a heavenly haze. It's odd to say the least.

"Standing at the Station" has some of that safe and predictable guitar soloing I mention above in that, while memorable and melodic, Alive Lee tends to keep his guitar work nice and, well, safe. Hey, it's not like ALL the guitar work throughout the album is being performed in a safe and restrained way- this song in particular has its share of quality guitar solos towards the end. The computerized solo in the middle (I think it's a synthesizer but I'm not entirely sure) sounds clunky and out of place at first, but the actual notes manage to keep my interest so I can't complain about it. It reminds me of Emerson, Lake & Palmer's commercial breakthrough period in the mid 70's. Even though it's hard to tell simply by reading my review, this is actually my favorite song on the album. I guess I just like the way it shifts into other guitar solos at a gradual and satisfying pace.

"Turned Off TV Blues" features magnificent guitar work in between the traditionally sung blues vocals, and I'm really amazed at just how much creativity can be found in just this track alone despite the band members supposedly on thin ice as far as the future of the band is concerned. I bet Rory Gallagher was a fan of this song. "You Give Me Loving" has a pretty good vocal melody but I really wish that brief guitar solo was extended an extra few minutes. It's really good, and for some reason reminds me of the one from Camel's "Freefall" (released two years later). Despite that, the vocal melody takes up most of the time, and I honestly don't believe it's good enough to repeat three times, but whatever.

"Convention Prevention" has an upbeat and highly enjoyable verse melody. Honestly, it sounds like it should have been a commercial pop song, but unfortunately it wasn't meant to be. The guitar solo near the end makes me cry. Alright, it appears from re-reading my review that I contradict myself by repeatedly claiming that the guitar work is safe and predictable but yet, I love the guitar playing to the point that I even compliment it in every single song I mention. Well... okay then, haha.

Overall, this is certainly a must own album for Ten Years After fans.

This is a Great underrated cd that has been long forgot about good to see it is on sale again Alvin Lee is a Very good Rocker we need to hear more of his Music being played

The best Blues-Rock-Jazz band fromthe 60's, 70's, and 80's. Alvin Lee is a master guitar player, the other band members are more than qualified musicians.

I think this is one of Ten Years After's best records...All of the tunes are really very good, with some terrific hooks ("You Can't Win 'em All", "You Give Me Loving" & "Tomorrow I'll Be Out of Town" all being faves), and as is true of "A Space in Time", the songwriting is more refined than much of the material on their earlier (but equally cool) LPs...An obvious change with "A Space In Time" and this record is how much better the production is...the recordings have a little more warmth and depth than their earlier LPs.
Highly recommended if you have a sweet tooth for the music of the british blues boom; TYA being one of the better yet less touted bands of that great era...