Ten Years After - Stonedhenge [4 bonus tracks] (1969)

Year: 7 February 1969 (CD 2002)
Label: Deram Records (Germany), 8828982
Style: Blues Rock, Classic Rock
Country: Nottingham, England
Time: 62:28
Format: Flac Tracks 16/44,1 kHz
Size: 327 Mb

Alvin Lee’s diciples of steel are well known for their heavy, row sound live as evidenced in “Goin’ Home” performed at Woodstock ’69. Although when listening to this album the careful explorer would notice half of the tunes are semi acoustic, even so avant-garde, they precede what’s on the cornerstone jazz-rock platter, M. Davis — ‘Bitches Brew’, released that same year. So rocker Lee’s still a non recognized trailblazer, leading the symbiosis of both genres at that time. “I Can’t Live Without Lydia” is a classic jazz piano piece dominated by the skilful fingers of Chick Churchill, echoing ragtime. “Woman Trouble” sees Lee in a Wes Montgomery mould thus long ahead of what John McLaughlin could express with Mahavishnu the next year. It’s emphasized by the duelling guitar vs J. Smith’s blend of electric organ chords.
“Skoobly-Oobly-Doobob” is a scat vocalizing piece preceding what Bobby McFerrin would symbolize almost a decade after (an unexpected reference to the band’s name surfaced). “Hear me Calling” & “A Sad Song” are standard old blues numbers, having nothing in common with what Hendrix & Clapton were doing in that same period. “Three Blind Mice” is a 0:58 purely percussion piece seeing what Airto Moreira would be best known for in the time to come. Almost a half of “No Title” is quite experimental, at times colored with moments of Lee’s rock guitar. “Faro” is also a guitar-bass nouveau tune. In the end only “Going to Try” & train imitating closer “Speed Kills” (co-written by Lee & Little Steven respected Mike Vernon — he’s the LP producer), can be viewed as typical rock tracks.
It should be noted it hit the UK Top 10 albums which makes it the 1st avant-garde work to do so. Imagine that nowadays! I’ll conclude with the wishful — rock critics give Alvin Lee & co a chance!
(headheritage.co.uk/unsung/reviews/ten-years-after-stonedhenge)

01. Going To Try (04:51)
02. I Can't Live Without Lydia (01:23)
03. Woman Trouble (04:37)
04. Skoobly-Oobly-Doobob (01:42)
05. Hear Me Calling (05:44)
06. A Sad Song (03:23)
07. Three Blind Mice (00:58)
08. No Title (08:12)
09. Faro (01:11)
10. Speed Kills (03:41)
11. Hear Me Calling (Single Version) (Bonus) (03:46)
12. Women Trouble (US Version) (Bonus) (04:51)
13. I'm Going Home (Single Version) (Bonus) (03:39)
14. Boogie On (Bonus) (14:26)

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