The tracks for the album were originally recorded past times engineer Rudy Van Gelder at his Van Gelder Studio inward 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 thence considers the album an unauthorised unloosen as well as non business office of his discography.
This debut solo unloosen past times Allan Holdsworth has an "in the raw," coarsely presented, jam-session character consummate alongside warts as well as all, equally good equally existent gems of jazz fusion shining through. H5N1 get-go hearing of this unloosen inward its vinyl version mightiness provoke laughter at how genuinely bad it sounds compared to Holdsworth's other releases equally good equally his playing alongside other groups. As it turns out, Holdsworth himself abhors this unloosen (considering it "a existent terrible disaster"), as well as has taken legal activity as well as 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, Holdsworth had to hurry through each vocal as well as acre never obtained the masters to become over earlier release. In essence, the original unloosen was naught to a greater extent than than a taped rehearsal, packaged past times CTI equally an album without Holdsworth's permission. This recording has been bootlegged past times label afterward label, none of the musicians involved e'er saw whatsoever royalties, as well as no legal paperwork exists. (The recording's known labels as well as release/re-release dates include CTI Records [1976], King Records [1976], Epic Associated Records [CD, 1990], King Records [Japanese-only CD, 1994], as well as CTI Records [Japanese-only CD, 1997]. Velvet Darkness was equally good released inward 1997 on an unknown label inward Nippon equally a bootleg CD; an original re-create of the vinyl LP album had been transferred to the CD.) This 1990 unloosen alongside alternate takes (just to a greater extent than pieces dredged upwards from the jam-session exercise tapes) is indeed an interesting snapshot of immature stellar musicians doing their affair inward a laid-back but energetic fusion-funk-rock groove. It is for all the inward a higher house reasons that this is indeed a completist/collectors exceptional nowadays. Included are the immediately really rare recordings of Holdsworth playing acoustic guitar as well as violin, which he does really well. The alternate accept of "Gattox" is a special treat, featuring Holdsworth soloing alongside an intensity as well as emotive ability that echoes all the best dynamics jazz fusion could offering inward the '70s. Obtaining this unloosen second-hand is belike the solely as well as nearly proper means to uncovering it now.
I concur alongside the other reviewers that this is a FANTASTIC hold upwards from Holdsworth. Perhaps my favorite. (Hard to determine betwixt this as well as his completely reverse as well as awesome jazz album, None Too Soon.) The acoustic numbers on Velvet Darkness are incredible as well as beautiful. I would dear to hear a whole album of that. I wonder if at that spot are other songs from this session.
This album is really 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 i also. I met him i time during the I.O.U tour (25 years ago???), as well as he told me he hated this album intensely. In fact I asked him to sign mine, as well as he refused. He genuinely tried to BUY it from me!! He was non kidding. He said he wanted it out of circulation. I cannot imagine why.
I dear it alot, as well as uncovering myself nevertheless listening to it surprisingly oftentimes fifty-fifty afterward all these years. It has held upwards amend than many of his others thru the years. There are GREAT riffs on this. If y'all similar Holdsworth fifty-fifty a niggling 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 fundamental (3:11)
7. Las May (1:38)
8. Gattox (4:51)
Total Time: 29:55
1990 CD unloosen 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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