Starting Up: Roy Wood
[Legacy Music, 1985 (l.p.); Griffin
Music, 1994 (CD)]
Rating: 7
Review: Since disbanding the
ambitious and highly experimental Wizzard, new records from Roy Wood have been
frustratingly sporadic. With an artist of his stature, any release is
noteworthy, even if it may not be as groundbreaking as Wizzard’s Brew. Starting
Up is one of Wood’s true solo albums where, other than the strings on one song,
he sings, plays, and arranges every part. Wood’s prodigious talents in the
other areas help compensate for material that isn’t consistently among his
best.
Unconventional instrumentation—from oboes to
bagpipes—that distinguished other Wood records are absent, lending most of the
album a conventional mid-’80s rock sound. A heavy dose of drum machine and
dance beats on tracks like “Starting Up” and Hot Cars” demonstrate Wood’s
ability to work in virtually any genre he chooses. Other than a smoking sax
section on “Hot Cars,” though, none of the dance-oriented tracks stands with
his best material. More satisfying cuts include “Red Cars Are After Me,
featuring a trademark Roy Wood saxophone hook and guitar break, and “Raining In
The City,” with a smooth ‘60s sound reminiscent of “This Is The Story Of My
Love” from his Eddy and the Falcons album.
As a foray into contemporary rock, Starting Up is only
partially successful. Still, there are enough solid additions to the Wood songbook
to make the album worthwhile.
– James A. Gardner