Customer Reviews

Sitar Beat

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This album was originally released in the late 1960s, when the sitar and other Indian instruments enjoyed a certain degree of popularity in the West as 'exotic' flavors. Big Jim Sullivan was a British session guitarist, and a skilled sitar player. Once the Beatles popularized the instrument on "Norwegian Wood," it was only a matter of time before someone decided it would be a great idea to record an entire LP's worth of Indian-themed instrumentals with pop-rock overtones. Unlike most pop 'sitar' music of the day (which really used a specially designed electric guitar), Big Jim used the real deal.

Big Jim covered a few songs that are still well-known, including "Whiter Shade of Pale" and "Sunshine Superman." His version of "She's Leaving Home" is beautiful, while his version of "Within You, Without You" pales next to the George Harrison original. Most of the album, however, is devoted to mostly unfamiliar and original instrumentals. Some of these lean towards jazz, while others lean towards rock. Throughout, Big Jim is supported by orchestrations that range from pseudo-authentic to easy listening to freakout.

Overall, this is great background music if you aren't a purist and would like a little Eastern flavor injected into your day. This was probably a quickly-recorded album (many of the tracks fade out prematurely), but Big Jim does a good job of capturing the exotic playfulness that the sitar can add to an otherwise straightforward instrumental. If you enjoyed the sitar instrumental "Another Hard Day's Night" from the "Help!" soundtrack, you're going to like parts of this album. I rather like "Sitar Beat", but I also must admit that a little of Big Jim's sitar goes an awfully long way.

Big Jim followed this up with "Lord Sitar," which consists entirely of covers of flower-power rock songs. While this probably makes "Lord Sitar" a lot more accessible than "Sitar Beat", it's also exceptionally kitschy. If you're looking for a varied and enjoyable sitar experience, you should really pick up "Sitar Beat" and avoid the better known "Lord Sitar" instead.

I like this recording. The atmosphere of the compositions is reminiscent of early spy movies. My favorite is "She's Leaving Home". The overall feel of this collection of songs is optimistic. It's great ambient music.

As far as I know, this is the only sitar CD that he released under his name. It is very different from his other solo recordings.

If you seek further info about the artist Big Jim Sullivan, there is a DVD about him that is currently available online. In it you find out what a central figure in the studio scene BJS has been, having played on hundreds of sessions that yielded pop hits. (Sound Techniques: Guitar Maestro Series 1)