This underappreciated effort from pop-rock historians Jellyfish contains some of the best tunes that the Beatles, Badfinger and the Beach Boys never wrote. The Inside Story is definitely a high-water mark of Ford’s affair with fusion, and it’s one jazz-rock record that will never sound dated. Another high point is “Tee Time for Eric,” a funky, up-tempo number with tricky changes that Ford tackles with astonishing skill. On “North Carolina,” for example, Ford wraps up his solo in a riveting duet with harp player (and brother) Mark Ford. It’s hard to say how much of the album was shaped by the production hand of Steve Cropper, but the R&B guitar legend deserves credit for presenting Ford as a cutting-edge jazz artist with wailing blues chops. Even when stretching his newfound jazz muscles on such soaring cuts as “For the One I Love,” “There’s No One Else” and “Far Away,” Ford’s gutsiness remains intact. But unlike the syrupy L.A.-jazz releases of the era, Ford’s music simmers with earthy soul. Express, Jimmy Witherspoon, Joni Mitchell and George Harrison when he cemented his status as a solo artist with this fusion-oriented album. Robben Ford was a veteran sideman with Tom Scott & the L.A. Bukowski could never call you out on your comprehensive knowledge of bitchin’ guitar recordings. So check a few of these babies out, and ensure that Mr. But just for fun, the Guitar Player staff voted on a list of 50 under-the-radar albums graced with performances every guitarist should assimilate into their trick bags. Of course, there are thousands of closet classics out there, and short of a 50-pound coffee-table book, there’s scant chance of cataloging them all. These records were produced by heroes and wackos alike, and they resonate with just as much passion as many of the annointed albums that make up the typical guitarist’s list of desert-island discs. Deep in the grooves and digital data streams of under-appreciated and forgotten releases are moments of brilliance that deserve another chance to inspire legions of guitarists. Nor does it always embrace established classics, technical masterpieces and mammoth hits. And yet, the legacy of recorded guitar does not rest solely upon the discographies of Hendrix, Clapton, Beck, Page and other six-string deities.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |