Customer Reviews

Ten Years After

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2 star:		(1)
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Before degenerating into the musical masturbation of whining heavy metal guitars and boring drum solos, the socalled British Blues Boom of the mid-60s was a passionate and innovative scene. Ten Years After's 1967 eponymous debut is a remarkable albeit often overlooked document of that time.

Hearing of Ten Years After's reputation as one of the best live blues-rock acts around, Decca's A&R man/producer Mike Vernon snapped them up without having so much as a demo. Once they got into the studio, the group put together an album showing themselves as firmly grounded in jazz as they were in blues: "Advenures of a Young Organ," an original collaboration between organist Chick Churchill and guitarist Alvin Lee, owes more to Jimmy Smith and Wes Montgomery than Booker T and Steve Cropper; the band's version of Al Kooper's "I Can't Keep From Crying," goes even further, proving Alvin Lee's debt to George Benson as well.

In it's original format the album opened with the speedy blues of "I Want To Know" (a number credited to one 'McLeod,' who was actually Manfred Mann vocalist Paul Jones); it closed with "Help Me," a chilling 10 minute rendition of Sonny Boy Williamson's "Help Me, Baby."

This CD reissue includes the original debut album, plus six bonus tracks from 1968. Except for the previously unreleased version of Woody Herman's "Woodchoppers Ball," these additional songs are all Alvin Lee originals: "Portable People," "The Sounds," "Rock Your Mama," and "Spider In My Web," come from the group's first two singles, while "Hold Me Tight," was previously available only on the 1972 compilation ALVIN LEE & COMPANY.

For this reissue, along with the original scribblings of Marquee Club manager John C. Gee, are updated liner notes from group drummer Ric Lee, who provides a track-by-track commentary and some interesting insight into the band's early history.

Ten years after is one of the most underated bands around. Mostly known for there performance at woodstock or there FM hit "i'd like to change the world". This there first album is pure blues and jazz unlike there later rock and psychedelia. I've played this cd at work and around family and friends and everyone likes it. They're like who are these guys? Great cd from a great band.

As for the other CD's of Ten Years After I bought in the last months I am enthusiast of the great feeling this record gives me.
The quality of their music is already full throttle as they are off their excellent start: no need for gradual growth of their thypical style.
The risk in this my personal opinion is that I'm influenced by my hystorical musical background: are really TYA a great group? May be their cultural impact wasn't as revolutionary as other English groups in the 60/70's but I do hope that new generations will enjoy this sound

One of the most under appreciated bands to ever exist along with one of
the most underated guitar players to have ever lived. Alvin Lee and Ten
Years After's music is style viable in today's market if people would
only listen. A real treat!

Studio versions of their then hot shows according to the great liner notes.., TYA on this their 1st studio set came out with this album of the then current blues standard with a jazzy feel courtesy of the keyboard work and Alvin Lee's guitar playing which takes off but with a nod to professionalism rather than flash...
We have here some standards such as Spoonful also covered by Cream, The excellent Blues Project song I Can't Keep From Crying,Sometimes..I want to Know, about 30 minutes of extra tracks not on original release making this a value at the price shown here.
The psychedelic cover is a good representation of the music released in 1967, the moody blues payed by Ten Years After as a band has it's parallels to other UK bands of the day such as Cream,and Savoy Brown yet TYA carved out a niche for themselves as a very hard working touring band with limited commercial success...their entire output is well worth listening too.

"Help Me" is the best song on the whole cd . Just totally awesome ! Play it at midnight on Halloween night . Alvin Lee just rocks . Love it !

I have the original old vinyl, but I wanted this classic recording on CD, but could never find it in a retail store, so I finally ordered it online. It seems, for some reason, that this is only available as an import. Well worth it! Every bit as good as I remembered it, and lots of bonus tracks that are well having for any fan of this band. Ten Years After, fourty years after (and counting), still great! Rock on!

If you're time tripping, skip over this one and go right to Undead. This for the most part is just dead.

I found this a couple of years after I had RRM2TW, STNHNGE, SSSSHH.
"spacey" sound like later "Here They Come" and "50,000 miles"
1. Sounds
5. Portable People
8. Hear Me Calling
Rock&Roll and Blues
2. Rock Your Mama
3. Hold Me Tight
4. Standing at the Crossroads After
Jazz influenced Blues
6. Boogie On
7. Spider in My Web
ROCKIN BLUES
9. I'm Going Home