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LIVE AT THE FILLMORE EAST
Ten Years After
(Chrysalis/EMI)
Our uncle was a jazz buff with a stunning record collection. Rare 78s, first-pressing lps, he had 'em all.
But between his Jack Teagarden and Cal Tjader albums, he also had one rock band: Ten Years After. We never really understood why -- until we heard this two-CD set recorded live in New York back in 1970.
No, there are no sax solos or scatting divas. But believe it or not, this quartet of blues-rockers led by guitar hero Alvin Lee approached live performance in much the same way as a jazz combo -- take an old standard (Good Morning Little Schoolgirl, Sweet Little 16 or Spoonful, for instance), lay down the opening groove for a minute or two, then spin off into 10 minutes of adventurous, improvised soloing.
Hell, when you get right down to it, the boogie-rock of tunes like I'm Going Home is really just swing in love beads and long hair. And like an old Charlie Parker side, it still sounds damn good after all these years.
Our uncle obviously knew more than he was letting on.
Track Listing
1. Love Like A Man
2. Good Morning Little School Girl
3. Working On The Road
4. The Hobbit
5. 50,000 Miles Beneath My Brain
6. Medley: Skoobly Oobly Doob, I Can't Keep From Crying Some
7. Help Me
8. I'm Going Home
9. Sweet Little Sixteen
10. Roll Over Beethoven
11. I Woke Up This Morning
12. Spoonful