Genre: rock
Rating: 2 stars **
Title: High Flyer
Company: Star People
Catalog: SPR-0013
Year: 1981
Country/State: Orlando, Florida
Grade (cover/record): VG / VG
Comments: writing on cover; blue vinyl
Available: 1
GEMM catalog ID: 5372
Price: $35.00
Guitarist Terry R. Brooks has an extensive discography and I've only heard a couple of his releases, so take my comments with a grain of salt since they may not be reflective of the rest of his work. Did that sound like a legal disclaimer or what ....
Brook's earlier material reflected a distinctive hard rock and psych edge, whereas his later stage material bounced all over the spectrum. Written, produced and arranged by Brooks, 1981's "High Flyer" was divided into 'Earth' and 'Space' side. The 'Earth' side featured three rock tracks while the 'Space' side showcased four of Brooks 'softer' efforts. Normally I wouldn't subject someone to a track-by-track description of an album, but based on its wrongheaded quotient this one deserved a little more insight. 'You Will Be Loved' started the album off with a patented slice of Brooks hard-rock moves. Complete with manic vocals, mind-numbing fast and crude guitar and dumb-as-a-doorknob lyrics you either loved it, or hate it. No in-betweens with respect to this one. Similarly 'Child of the City' and 'Rock and Roll Woman' both showcased Brooks' longstanding love of echoplex, sophomoric lyrics and headache inducing leads. Mind you Brooks could certainly play guitar, but he didn't have much of a style other than loud, fast, and largely tuneless. Starting off side two 'What Kind of Man' was clearly intended to showcase Brooks' as a deep and insightful artist ... Okay, 'My Lady and Me' sported cheesy synthesizers, hysterically funny female backing vocals, and had-to-hear-to-believe lyrics ('my lady and me are from another galaxy; we're here to teach love you see'). Complete with spoken word segment and an attempt at a falsetto (disturbing to say the least - our cat was not thrilled), 'Love of the Ages' underscored the fact Brooks wasn't born to sing ballads. The title track melded spacey lyrics, a surprisingly funky rhythm and a touch of Brooks' guitar prowess. There are folks that swear by Brooks, but this is one that simply leaves me wondering ...
There were apparently a couple of versions of the LP. This version is pressed on clear blue vinyl. I believe there's also a purple pressing.
"High
Flyer" track listing:
(side 1)
1.) You Will Be Loved (Terry Brooks) - 5:24
2.) Child of the City (Terry Brooks) - 5:30
3.) Rock and Roll Woman (Terry Brooks) - 4:26
(side
2)
1.) What Kind of Man (Terry Brooks) - 2:47
2.) My Lady and Me (Terry Brooks) - 3:50
3.) Love of the Ages (Terry Brooks) - 4:42
4.) High Flyer (Terry Brooks) - 3:50