Great Rock Albums of 1981: George Harrison- Somewhere in England

Once again, I know that I'm repeating myself here because I did say this when I visited Mr Harrison's self-titled 1979 album but I feel the strange need to say it again. Of all the solo work from the members of The Beatles, it's George's the I like the best. I did really like Paul McCartney with Wings in the early 70s but I felt he went too disco at the tail end of the decade. For the more astute, you may have realised that I never visited Wings' 1979 "Back to the Egg" album, now you know why. However, George Harrison was consistent with his music throughout and didn't bow to trends in music. While the 1976 album "33 1/3" remains my favourite of his albums, "Somewhere in England" has to rank up there as well.

Warning, this is not a bang your head rock album. George Harrison's music has always appealed to my more mellower side and this album is no different. However, what comes through on most of the tracks is a subtle lead guitar in the background and for me, that makes most of the songs where it happens. Most notable is the opening track, "Teardrops" and "Unconciousness Rules." Other tracks have this guitar sound on it as well and there are one or two tracks that make you think George is going to let loose, especially with some of the guitar intros on a couple of tracks but the song goes into the more melodic sound that I know him for. Even so, he makes it sound really good and since the album was released just a few months after former band mate John Lennon's death, the single "All Those Years Ago" is not only a dedication to him, the other former band mates, Paul McCartney and Ringo Starr appear on the song marking a true tribute to Lennon.

Track Listing:

  Blood From a Clone

Unconciousness Rules

Life Itself

All Those Years Ago

Baltimore Oriole

Teardrops

That Which I've Lost

Writing On the Wall

Hong Kong Blues

Save the World

[caption id="attachment_1203" align="aligncenter" width="253"] George Harrison[/caption]

George Harrison- Lead vocals, guitars, keyboards, synthesisers

Alla Rakha- tabla

Gary Brooker- keyboards, synthesisers

Al Kooper- keyboards, synthesisers

Mike Moran- keyboards, synthesisers

Neil Larsen- keyboards, synthesisers

Tom Scott-Lynicon- horns

Herbie Flowers- tuba, bass

Willie Weeks- bass

Ray Cooper- keyboards, synthesisers, percussion, drums

Jim Keltner- drums

Dave Mattacks- drums

 I probably appreciate this album much more these days as I'm mellowing with age, although play a Slayer or Amon Amarth song and I will be going full tilt. Over the years before his death, George Harrison put out some good light rock and "Somewhere In England" is one of the best.

Next post: Rick Springfield- Working Class Dog

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Great Rock Albums of 1981: John Lennon- Double Fantasy

Like every year so far, I begin with albums that were actually released in the previous year but didn't come to my attention until the new year. In 1981 I had a good excuse. I spent the first two months of the year sailing around the Mediterranean on a ship. As it was the end of the deployment, there weren't many port calls although there was a field operation in Tunisia. Therefore, news of new record releases were very slow in making their way to my attention.

It is only fitting that since 1980 ended with the tragic murder of John Lennon, I begin 1981 with the album he released just before his death. It has been said in secret whispers that if John hadn't died so tragically, this album wouldn't have had the acclaim that it received. I am not going to argue one way or the other here. It's not the rockiest album I've heard, even from him and if it were up to me, all of the songs Yoko Ono sings would be removed from the album. In the same way Linda McCartney had over Paul, Yoko had a definite hold over John and that is why she appears so much on this album. The songs he does make the album for me. My favourite song has always been "Watching the Wheels" especially as I can relate it to what I was going through at the time. I would come to the halfway point of my enlistment and I was getting really fed up with the military bullshit. So, I would sing this song only changing the lyrics to "I'm just waiting for my EAS to come around." For those wondering, EAS means expiration of active service.

Another song that really stands out for me on the album is "Clean Up Time." This is probably the closest to a real rocker on the album. "Beautiful Boy (Darling Boy)" is amusing and there are the two other singles, "Just Like Starting Over" and "Woman." Both are decent songs but better to listen to when in a more mellow mood.

Track Listing:

1. Just Like Starting Over

2. Kiss Kiss Kiss

3. Clean Up Time

4. Give Me Something

5. I'm Losing You

6. I'm Moving On

7. Beautiful Boy (Darling Boy)

8. Watching the Wheels

9. Yes I'm Your Angel

10. Woman

11. Beautiful Boys

12. Dear Yoko

13. Every Man Has a Woman Who Loves Him

14. Hard Times Are Over

John Lennon

It has been suggested that the reason behind the mellow feel and soppy love songs that incorporate most of the "Double Fantasy" album is that John was repenting for his chauvinistic attitudes in the 1960s. Maybe so and if it is the case, then he can say he left the world paying back that debt because this album is in no way chauvinistic. It pours out his love for Yoko and his son and I don't think anyone should begrudge him that.

Next post: The Police: Zenyatta Mondatta

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1980 Ends in Tragedy

John Lennon

In spite of all of the great rock and metal happenings, the kick ass albums from the likes of Black Sabbath, Judas Priest and AC/DC to name just a tiny few, triumphant events like the first ever Donington Festival and even tragic departures in the form of John Bonham and Bon Scott; all of them were over shadowed by an event that not only shocked the music world but the world in general, the murder of John Lennon. Like other infamous tragedies such as Pearl Harbour, the assassination of JFK and 911, many people can remember exactly where they were when they first heard the news that John Lennon and been shot and killed. Personally, I was on the USS Saipan and we had just returned through the Suez Canal and was on our way to Italy when the ship news service told us of the murder. Naturally, we were all shocked and some of my comrades in arms thought it was a joke. However, when we realised the truth, there was much mourning and sympathy, even from those who would have not listened to Lennon's music and it caused what had been a landmark year in music to end on a tearful note.

John Lennon's murder was as unnecessary as it was tragic. If it had been any ordinary Joe or Josephine, I would still say that the way in which he was shot down was completely wrong. Even after all these years, I still fail to see any reasoning behind Mark Chapman's actions other than he simply wanted his fifteen minutes. Now, I am one of the biggest hippy liberals going but I have always maintained that if anyone callously and maliciously takes the life of another human being, then they should forfeit their own. Originally, Chapman was sentenced to 20 years to life in prison and I do feel a slight touch of relief after reading that he has been denied parole seven times.

The Fab Four

I know I'm once again preaching to the choir and stating the obvious, but influence that John Lennon and The Beatles had on music, even heavy metal,  lives on over thirty years after his death. For proof, listen to the Beatles song "Helter Skelter" and then look up the hard rock and metal bands who have recorded covers of said song. I know of at least one metal artist whose album I'll be visiting in the tour of 1981 had a song in tribute to Lennon. I'm sure I'll find others and more will re-emerge from the wastelands of my distant memories. So, in conclusion, as this coming Sunday marks the thirty-third anniversary of the tragedy, take a moment to remember this superstar. But also, as I close the door on the rock and metal of 1980, also remember the great musical triumphs from the year too. I'm not a psychic, but I think that's what John would have wanted us to do.

Next post: Tribute to Blues Guitarists

To buy Rock And Roll Children, go to
www.strategicpublishinggroup.com/title/RockAndRollChildren.html

Also available at Amazon, Barnes & Noble and Froogle and on sale at Foyles Book Shop in London