MR>  BH> The Meeting-Martin Barre
MR> 
MR>    I like Martin Barre, but I've never thought that he was quite right
MR>  for Jethro Tull.  However he's now so much a part of the band that it's
MR>  hard to imagine anyone else with them.  Anyway, I'm very interested in
MR>  whether he wrote the material on this album and what it sounds like.
This is second solo album. His first was in '94. I thougt it was a bit better 
than this one. He does write the material for his records. On the first one 
e
attempts a few lead vocals. On the new one he leaves the vocals to a woman. 
There are several excellant instramentals on the album featuring his flute 
nd
guitar playing(yes, he does play the flute). Some of this new album is 
Semistraightforward rock, but the rest of it sounds alot like TUll. Once 
heard, you notice how much of Tull's sound is due to Barre. On a scale of 
-5,
I give it ***1/2.
MR>  BH> Test For Echo-Rush
MR> 
MR>    I'm hearing good reviews about this one, albeit mostly from long time
MR>  fans.  ;-)   For some reason Rush never did anything for me during their
MR>  first decade or so.  I didn't become a fan until the late 80s - in fact 
MR>  the very first Rush album I bought was _Presto_ (1989)!  ;-)
It's better than their last one, but not as good as what I consider classic 
Rush, Moving Pictures, Hemispheres, A Farewell To Kings, Permanent Waves, and 
Exit...Stage Left. Once again, ***1/2.
MR>  BH> None Too Soon-Alan Holdsworth
MR> 
MR>    Is this a recent release, or something older?  Does he play mostly
MR>  his `Synth-axe' or guitar?  Also, are there any vocals on it, or is it
MR>  entirely instrumental?  And finally, what's your over all opinion of it?
This came out about two weeks ago. It's mostly Guitar although there is a 
little Synthaxe on it. It is entirely Instramental. Basically, It's a jazz 
album which is a nice change, since his last couple of albums had him doing 
lots of weedlyweedlywee on his guitar. I mean he's good at that style, but it 
does get old after a while. He Does a Coltrain tune and some jazz pieces by 
Gordan Beck, whom he has recorded with before.  Beck is also the Keyboard 
player as well. **** for this one. But Beware, it is a jazz record.
MR>  BH> Rolling Stones Rock and Roll Circus-Rolling Stones w/others
MR> 
MR>    With reference to the first item on your list, when Jethro Tull
MR>  played at the Rolling Stones Rock and Roll Circus, their original
MR>  guitarist Mick Abrahams had just left (he formed Blodwyn Pig) and Tull
MR>  were auditioning new players.  The guy filling in on guitar for this
MR>  particular date may have been under consideration for the job.  His 
MR>  name was Tony Iommi !!
MR>    Of course, Martin Barre eventually got the gig.  Tony Iommi met up
MR>  with Ozzy Osbourne and formed Black Sabbath instead.  ;-)
According to the notes, Mick Abrahams is the guitarist on this track, 
ecorded
12/11/68. I know Iommi was a temp replacement for abrahmas, But Iommi is not 
on this recording, according to the liner notes. ****1/2.
MR>  BH> Breathless-Camel
MR> 
MR>    It's been years since I listened to it, but I've always thought
MR>  _Breathless_ was a good album.
It is my first Camel album. I've only listened to it once, but I was very 
quickly impressed. I've known of Bardens work and also of producer Mick 
Glossup(Van MOrrison, Frank Zappa) so I'm not surprised I liked it. I will 
be getting more by Camel.****.
Regards,
Bill
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