Customer Reviews

So Who's the Bass Player: The Ox Anthology

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

 

 

John Entwistle is my biggest musical influence, as a bass player and musician. As a song-writer he is wry and deadpan, at times musically and lyrically brilliant, but with an equal amount of just plain awful songs. This collection is worth "Bogeyman", alone. "Bogeyman", "I Wonder", and much on disc 1 are solid. It is the mid-to-late 80s and 90s work that someone needed to talk John Entwistle out of.

I have seen him and his solo bands many times and realize his desire for heavy-metal/hollywood-hair band music styles, but hearing the results are painful, embarrassing, and, I hope, forgettable.

This could be a 5-star rating if it was a complimentary cull from his writing with The Who: "905", "You", "When I Was a Boy", "I've Been Away" are all fantastic examples of Entwistle compositions. I guess he needed the wisdom of Daltrey, Townshend, and Moon to temper and hone his songs to greater brilliance. Competing egos tend to have a positive influence on your own inability to view yourself with clear eyes. I will caveat that by also saying I believe there is nothing a solo Beatle did, with any consistency, that holds a candle to the combined effort of The Beatles.

Grab Entwistle's Whistle Rhymes album. That is an Entwistle solo album of track-to-track brilliance. Short of that, pick and choose all his songs written with The Who and some nuggets from his solo work and then you will discover a gifted, wry musician - make sure it includes "When I Was a Boy".

While his first two solo albums are untouchable, John's other works are also of great merit and value (yet, sadly, they are at times either overlooked or misunderstood). But here, on this wonderful anthology, you will find a little bit of everything, for everybody.

For those unfamiliar with the OX, here is a terrific place to start...

Two CDs, housed in a slipcase, with excellent liner notes and pictures, what more could you ask for? Personally, I love the live cuts. Not just because they sound great, but also because they are vintage in recording, circa 1975. The live version of 'Whiskey Man' alone is worth buying this set.

For true Entwistle fans, this was a long time coming, even if we just sit around and skip through our favorites.

Rest in peace, John.

We'll all be listening.

This collection makes it very clear how unecessary anything in his solo catalogue but 'Smash Your Head Against The Wall' and 'Whistle Rymes' are. His first two albums are dark, clever and clearly were comprised of material he'd had brooding inside for quite some time.

Frankly I find any of the tracks on which Entwistle himself doesnt sing on, and there are a few in this collection, utterly pointless. The CD features some live cuts as well, which are forgettable, though it should be noted this is the only time 905 was performed live.

The only saving grace for the second disc is Bogeyman, featuring a 'Who Are You' era Keith Moon on drums and simple bass and synth, making it a stripped-down treasure for Who and Entwistle fans alike.

So go buy his first two albums and hunt down 'Bogeyman' by some other means.

For those of you out there who aren't sure about a John Entwistle solo career, do yourself a huge favor and purchase this terrific double cd of "The Ox" at his best. This title is for anyone who absolutely thrives on classic rock, and abhors anything less. The style ranges from The Who, to Alice Cooper (who showcases several songs), to straight forward rock like Cheap Trick. And, let's not forget, this bass player is one of the best to ever touch the instrument (along with Chris Squire of Yes, and Geddy Lee of Rush). You may not love this double CD upon the first listen, but give it a couple of straight through listens, and I guarantee you will be stuck listening to these songs over and over again in your head. Rest in Peace, John Entwistle, and thanks for all of the great memories, both as a member of the greatest band of all time, The Who, as well as your solo efforts !!!!!!

This album is a must for fan and newcomers alike! This album has an excellent sample of John Entwistle's work, from his early solo records up to the Music for Van Pyres. There are even live songs of his Who classics such as Boris The Spider and Whiskey Man. All the music encompasses different styles so be prepared to hear early rock and roll up to 80's style hard rock. Also, as is typical of Entiwstle's style, his bass sound evolves over the course of the music. This album is a must for any bass player who is schooled in rock!

John Entwistle is part of a number of great musicians and authors relegated to remain under the shadow of other very talented member of his band. That club is called: "the quiet ones" and among its members are George Harrison (the Beatles), Dave Davies (the Kinks), John Paul Jones (Led Zeppelin), Bill Wyman (Rolling Stones), Jack Bruce (Cream), Tony Banks, Anthony Phillips & Steve Hackett (Genesis), Chick Churchill (Ten Years After), Greg Rolie (Santana), the late Tom Fogerty (Credence Clearwater Revival)and many many others. This is an excelent place to start to know his solo music and includes songs from all his solo cds to date including the little unknown "Flash Fearless" cd and even 3 new songs with Keith Moon on it. Still some excelent solo songs are missing, particularly from "Wistle Rymes" his best solo cd ever and maybe the best cd ever recorded from a member of the Who. Also there are no songs from his concerts with Ringo Starr (see Ringo s cds), his cd with Steve Hackett (Wind and the Willows), his recordings with the Strawbs guitar player Steve Lambert and other live recordings. Even with that this is an excelent colection of songs from The Who s bass player and one of rock masters.

If you are a fan of Entwistle's songs for The Who or his bass playing, you will enjoy this collection. I was unfamiliar with his solo work before listening to this album. After listening to the album, it seems a good place to start investigating him. Someone not looking to dig too deep into his solo work, but wanting a taste will also enjoy it. Some Who songs are on here (Heaven and hell, Whiskey man, Boris the Spider.....)and songs that I had never heard before but now love (Try me...). Having some live material makes the collection all the more enticing. I definitely suggest that anyone wondering about Entwistle who-less pick this up. If you're already a fan of John solo, I would check to see how much of this material you already have, but the live versions are still a lure.
I give it 4 stars when comparing it to his work with The Who. It is very good, but his best moments are still with the band we've come to know him in.