“Essential”,
by Ten Years After, is something of a
rarity as I find it faultless in collecting
together on one CD what is the “Essential”
recordings. In other words, a true “Bests
Of” Ten Years After.
“Ten Years After” were the classic case
of a band with limited talent, but they
aimed all their time and effort at what
they’d got, and worked their fingers to
the bone. They must still hold the record
for a major band touring the states, completing
a total of 28 coast-to-coast tours. The
main object of their talent was fastest
guitarist in the west Alvin Lee, who also
handled all the vocals, wrote all the
songs, and stood center stage leaving
the others very much in subordinate roles.
They weren’t cute; they definitely weren’t
trendy. (Alvin Lee used to come on stage
wearing that well known Rock ‘n’ Roll
footwear, a pair of Dutch clogs.) However,
England’s Ten Years After were one of
the most electrifying groups from the
late 60’s and early seventies. At a time
when blues based bands were two a penny,
Ten Years After towered above the opposition
with a sizzling combination of tough rootsy
songs, both their own compositions and
well chosen covers, and driving power
house ensemble work, highlighted by perhaps
the hottest guitar licks in the universe.
Just listen to Alvin’s guitar breaks on
their version of Chuck Berry’s “Sweet
Little Sixteen” recorded live at the Isle
of Wight Pop Festival as the group’s final
encore from their album “Watt”, and you
will never of heard anybody play faster.
Mind you, drummer Ric Lee (no relation)
sounds as if he is thrashing away at dustbin
lids not high hats.
At the time Alvin Lee was the ultimate
axe hero. He sprayed searing blues notes
from his red Gibson like a crazed machine-gunner
mowing down live audiences in their masses,
and adding that certain hint of danger
that made their studio albums stand out
from the crowd.
Ten Years After always had the knack
of being in the right place at the right
time. Their appearance in the movie of
the Woodstock Festival is possibly the
standout contribution, and when you consider
they were lined up against Santana, Hendrix,
The Who and Joe Cocker, that’s quite an
achievement.
The proof is all here in this action
packed set of 14 tracks spanning their
entire career, with a couple of live tracks
to boot. Their blistering signature tune
“I’m Going Home” from Woodstock, all ten
glorious minutes of it; American radio
station favorites like “I’d Love To Change
The World”; “Me And My Baby”, which reminds
us Lee was a soulful singer not just a
devastating Rock ‘n’ Roll outlaw. Ten
Years After also had one worldwide hit
single “Love Like A Man”. Here we get
the full unedited version. And then of
course there is all the no holds barred
no nonsense classic foot stomping Rock
‘n’ Roll. From a scorching version of
Little Richard’s “Goin’ Back To Birmingham”
to the supersonic boogie of “Choo Choo
Mama”. (Z.Z. Top took a page or two from
the Ten Years After book when they laid
down their blueprint.)
Alvin and the boys could rattle windows,
and shake walls with a feverish intensity
rarely witnessed since rock’s first generation
of stars (who were saluted by the bands
very name).
Taken as a whole, some of Ten Years After
albums could be a little patchy and none
of their studio releases clocked in over
38 minutes. But with “Essential” you get
over an hour’s worth of them at their
very best, which testifies to the timeless
appeal of stripped down, high-octane Rock
‘n’ Roll. Slip the CD in your player,
crank the volume, and feel free to boogie
one more time.
Pawed by Mott The Dog
Remastered by Ella Crew
E-mail: review@mott-the-dog.com
