The boys are back in this virtual town: some are students of the old school, while others study at the house of blues, and the rest have the Mad Professor to learn from.
One artist conveys a message about liberation, while another offers a style to make it easier to endure oppression, while the last discusses an escape to freedom through one song. But the music's not altogether serious, some of it's just straight-forward and entertaining. A few of the songs should have remained locked up.
You're own sentence is light, so kick back and enjoy the music right.
Thin Lizzy, BBC Radio One Live in Concert, (Griffin Music)
Thin Lizzy plays several other songs that deserve that stature, as well. For example, "The Holy War"
on this disc describes an adventure with the chosen people. "Baby Please Don't Go" is different than the
song K.C. & the Sunshine Band and others made famous, and it stands on its own merits.
"Are You Ready" and "Waitin' for an Alibi" are straightforward rockers and "A Night in the Life of a
Blues Singer" lives up to the image the title conjures in listeners' minds. Both "The Sun Goes Down" and
"Emerald" sound almost as good as "The Holy War," except neither depicts the same social relevance.
In general, the music sounds raw and somewhat muffled. The songs are good and convey more
energy than the studeo versions. But the price for greater vitality is a loss in sound range. It's still worth
it to hear the best songs in a band's repetoire performed in front of people instead of recording
equipment.
Click here to travel to a comprehensive Thin
Lizzy homepage.
Mad Professor, Black Liberation Dub (Chapter 1), (Real Authentic Sound)
His music combines several elements, including reggae, African and jazz, which blend to form unique
instrumentals such as "Psychological Warfare," "Black Liberation Dub" and "Riot in Capetown." The
first song includes an introduction saying racism has moved into a new direction. The Mad Professor
speaks only between tracks and in one case his message is recorded backward.
"Slavery 21st Century," however, features a good female vocalist, whose name isn't stated. This
song sounds great and stands out among the instrumentals. The song talks about how blacks are
stranded in strange lands and divided all over the world.
Curiously, the outer sleeve of the disc is colorful and filled with pictures of blacks rising up in the
streets. Inside, however, where lyrics and other information usually appears, there is only blank white
pages. That lack of information sends a stronger message than anything else about what the Mad
Professor stands for.
Without looking at the titles, the average white ear will enjoy the music. It is filled with catchy
rhythms and several interesting percussion instruments. Periodic horns also add a lot of style. After
wondering what the title of the happy sounding music is, however, listeners will find selections such as
"Freedom Must Be Taken," "Chip on the Slave Master Shoulder," "When Revolution Comes" and "Black
Skin White Minds."
The Mad Professor probably has a completely different outlook than the average listener,
but that doesn't make his any less valid. Also, music trancends race, and most will enjoy his.
Click here to see an unusual photo related to
the Mad Professor.
John Lee Hooker, Chill Out, (Point Blank Records)
"Chill Out (Things Gonna Change)" might help people beat the winter blues - the melody is catchy
and Hooker's guitars also bring a certain hook to the track.
"Deep Blue Sea" sounds pretty good, but "Kiddio" features mainly piano music and the sound of
Hooker's voice doesn't pull it off without his great guitar work. Pianos make a song more ragtime,
whereas a guitar translates a similar style into the blues. His deep voice and limited range reflect the
spirit of blues well, but people don't listen to Hooker for his singing ability.
The best track by far is "Serves Me Right To Suffer/Syndicator," which features Van Morrison along
with Hooker on both vocals and guitar. The two combine to create an excellent song. Booker T. Jones
also joins the duo on organ, but the guitar clearly dominates the song.
Two songs feature just Hooker's voice and his guitar. "Tupelo" could have used more residents in
the recording studio. It borders on boring. "Woman on My Mind," however, sounds good without anyone
else on the recording. The difference probably comes from the quality of each song.
"Annie Mae" has some guitar, but features piano more prominently, which reduces the quality of the
song overall.
In general, Hooker's voice matches his blues style well. Some of the songs could have been
improved by shifting the focus to his guitars, and others could have used the assistance of master
musicians, such as Morrison. His influence makes "Serves Me Right" the song it is. It would serve
listeners right to hear more like it.
(C) 1995 Daniel E. Klatt Enterprises.
OO
REGGAE
OOO
BLUES
OO
Ratings are based on a scale of up to four discs, with one meaning the music is a waste of
listeners’ money and four denoting an excellent disc that belongs on everyone’s shelf.