The tracks for the album were originally recorded past times engineer Rudy Van Gelder at his Van Gelder Studio inwards New Jersey. According to Holdsworth, this was done during a rehearsal session, afterward which the tapes were released past times CTI without his or the other band members' consent. None of the musicians involved e'er received royalties for their work. Holdsworth so considers the album an unauthorised unloose too non part of his discography.
This debut solo unloose past times artist/allan-holdsworth-mn0000002252">Allan Holdsworth has an "in the raw," coarsely presented, jam-session lineament consummate amongst warts too all, equally good equally existent gems of jazz fusion shining through. H5N1 showtime hearing of this unloose inwards its vinyl version powerfulness provoke laughter at how truly bad it sounds compared to artist/holdsworth-mn0000002252">Holdsworth's other releases equally good equally his playing amongst other groups. As it turns out, artist/holdsworth-mn0000002252">Holdsworth himself abhors this unloose (considering it "a existent terrible disaster"), too has taken legal activeness too had it removed from production for several reasons. The original label used rehearsal tapes to compile it, deeming it unnecessary to finance existent sessions. During the recording session, artist/holdsworth-mn0000002252">Holdsworth had to hurry through each vocal too patently never obtained the masters to larn over earlier release. In essence, the original unloose was zilch to a greater extent than than a taped rehearsal, packaged past times CTI equally an album without artist/holdsworth-mn0000002252">Holdsworth's permission. This recording has been bootlegged past times label afterward label, none of the musicians involved e'er saw whatever royalties, too no legal paperwork exists. (The recording's known labels too release/re-release dates include CTI Records [1976], King Records [1976], Epic Associated Records [CD, 1990], King Records [Japanese-only CD, 1994], too CTI Records [Japanese-only CD, 1997]. Velvet Darkness was likewise released inwards 1997 on an unknown label inwards Nihon equally a bootleg CD; an original re-create of the vinyl LP album had been transferred to the CD.) This 1990 unloose amongst alternate takes (just to a greater extent than pieces dredged upwardly from the jam-session exercise tapes) is indeed an interesting snapshot of immature stellar musicians doing their affair inwards a laid-back but energetic fusion-funk-rock groove. It is for all the higher upwardly reasons that this is indeed a completist/collectors especial nowadays. Included are the directly real rare recordings of artist/holdsworth-mn0000002252">Holdsworth playing acoustic guitar too violin, which he does real well. The alternate get got of "Gattox" is a special treat, featuring artist/holdsworth-mn0000002252">Holdsworth soloing amongst an intensity too emotive ability that echoes all the best dynamics jazz fusion could offering inwards the '70s. Obtaining this unloose second-hand is belike the solely too close proper agency to notice it now.
I concord amongst the other reviewers that this is a FANTASTIC hold out from Holdsworth. Perhaps my favorite. (Hard to create upwardly one's heed betwixt this too his completely contrary too awesome jazz album, None Too Soon.) The acoustic numbers on Velvet Darkness are incredible too beautiful. I would dearest to hear a whole album of that. I wonder if in that place are other songs from this session.
This album is real raw. High energy. Crisp sound. Keyboards are cheesy sounding, but when were they non from that era? The drums are GREAT. Allan plays violin on this 1 also. I met him in 1 lawsuit during the I.O.U tour (25 years ago???), too he told me he hated this album intensely. In fact I asked him to sign mine, too he refused. He truly tried to BUY it from me!! He was non kidding. He said he wanted it out of circulation. I cannot imagine why.
I dearest it alot, too notice myself notwithstanding listening to it surprisingly oftentimes fifty-fifty afterward all these years. It has held upwardly meliorate than many of his others thru the years. There are GREAT riffs on this. If yous similar Holdsworth fifty-fifty a petty larn this.
Tracks Listing
1. Good build clean filth (5:20)
2. Floppy chapeau (2:46)
3. Wish (4:20)
4. Kinder (3:07)
5. Velvet darkness (4:42)
6. Karzie telephone commutation (3:11)
7. Las May (1:38)
8. Gattox (4:51)
Total Time: 29:55
1990 CD unloose bonus tracks:
9. Good Clean Filth 5:38
10. Kinder 3:07
11. Velvet Darkness 4:44
12. Karzie Key 2:15
13. Gattox 6:47
Line-up / Musicians
- Allan Holdsworth / electrical guitar, acoustic guitar, violin
- Alphonse Johnson / bass
- Alan Pasqua / piano
- Narada Michael Walden / drums
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