MONICA TÖRNELL/INGICA 6316 017 (-72) SWEDEN

 Already posted her second and third albums  https://monolover.blogspot.com/search?q=t%C3%B6rnell  . Now it's time for the debute. After being spotted by troubadour Cornelis Vreesvijk when singing at her fathers pub one evening he fixed her a contract with Philips Records, gathered a good background - among others Björn J:son Lindh arranging and playing keyboards and flute, Janne Schaffer on guitar, Jan Bandel on drums and Stefan Brolund on bass. Apart from "Vardag" , which she co-worte with Björn J:son Lindh, all here are version of other composers songs, among them Melanie, Alf Hambe, Carl Michael Bellman, Carl-Axel Dominique and Cornelis Vreeswijk. Check songlist below for who's behind what. An album grounded in Swedish folk tradition, though sometimes dressed in modern drag, as rock or jazz. Well put together by solid backing to sweet airy vocals. I really like her deliverance, keen and personal, making every tune matter. Hard to pick favourites, but why not "När Jag Var Ung" (When I Was Young), "Faster Fantasis Visa" (Aunt Fantasy's Song) and "Telegram Från En Bombad By" (Telegram From A Bombed Village) . To my knowledge only issued in Sweden. 2012 CDr (06025372106-7) and 12xFile FLAC on Universal. Vinyl had label as shown here in a fully structured cover.  (FÄV*)  (SCÄ*)  (CCÖ*)

                                                                               

                                                                              

                                                                     

                                                                                 

                                                                                 

 

 

THE KINKS/LOW BUDGET AB 4240 (-79) US DJ COPY

                                                                                  

 To my taste Kinks was one of the catchiest bands of the sixties and early seventies. After that I lost close contact, but curious to hear what came later on. This was their eighteeth studio album. It did well in the US, reaching #11 on Billboard, but not that ok in UK. As I've been told earlier it's a mix of punk and arena rock which might be fine, but I'm also interested if it has some of the old style gripping stories and melodies. Listening though now this is not The Kinks I expected from 1979. Gone are the sweet melodies and the empathic lyrics, instead I get something harder hitting, not offering an excess of catchy moments, but it sure makes me sit straight in the listening chair. Far from elaborate masterpieces as "Village Green..." or "Muswell Hillbillies", instead back to basics with some reminding of the early days and stuff that eventually would earn them epithets as "first hard rock band" or "fathers of punk". Much of it up-tempo rock and even if not as downright catchy as before certainly good listening. Also the audio is excellent allowing me to get in. It all sticks very well together, but if to choose some favorite tracks it'd be  "Attitude", "Moving Pictures" and "Low Budget".  Issued and reissued pretty much all over the world on vinyl and CD through the years, also as US, reel, cassette and 8-track. Japan 2013 CD on Konk (UICY-25364) came with three extended edits as bonus. This US DJ copy differs a little from the official ones I've seen since it is without tracklisting on rear sleeve. Maybe an early draft, then changed for stock ones. It should also have a lyric inner, sadly missing with this copy. (YZÄ*)  (KYX*)

                                                                              

                                                                                       

                                                                                

                                                                               

                                                                                 

                                                                                 

THE LESLIE WEST BAND BPL 1-1258 (-75) US

 Been a long fan of Mountain's groundbreaking rock'n'roll. The blend of outstandingly raw and soft melodic, often with meaningful lyrics, always gets me. For more on them check this  https://monolover.blogspot.com/search?q=%28M%C3%96U*%29  . So when I saw this in a bin a while ago I had to pick to see if it had some of the old band's magic. It was his second album after Mountain and the West, Bruce, Laine project. His old drummer mate Corky Laine still in while Pappalardi was gone and here replaced by Don Kretmer (Blues Project) on bass. Mick Jones (Spooky Tooth, Foreigner) fills in on guitar and renowned studio musician Ken Ascher plays keyboards. All cuts, except "Dear Prudence" and "We Gotta Get Out Of This Place" written by the band. Listening today I do get some of the old magic.  The heaviest numbers - "Money (Watcha Gonna Do)", "By The River" and "The Twister" - sounds just like Mountain in a very good way and the instrumental "Sea Of Heartache" comes with an appealing doomsday feeling. I know it's futile to compare the bands, but on some parts here I really miss Pappalardi's softer, more melodic, input. Especially on the covers. Both very ok listening yet to my taste non of them come close to the Beatles or Animals originals. In all still a very good rock album and I guess a must for any remaining Mountain fan. Released on vinyl also in Canada (RCA Victor BPL 1-1258) and UK (Phantom PHS 701), plus as US cassette and 8-track. Japan 2010 CD on Air Mail Archive AIRAC-1578). First US had label as shown here in a laminated cover. (YZÄ*) (MÖU*)