Ten Years After

The Essential Ten Years After Collection

Chrysalis

Once upon a time, in the early Sixties, there was a blues group from Nottingham, England called the Jaybirds. Unable to survive as just a blues band, they became the backing group for the Ivy League, a lame pop trio. Although this gig put a shilling or two into their empty pockets, they were immediately bored backing a pop group and resorted to playing such diverse numbers as Woody Herman's 'Woodchoppers Ball' during the Ivy League's breaks. Eventually, the Jaybirds insisted on being booked in a Manchester blues club. It was soon obvious that they were completely different from all the other popular groups at the time. A four piece band sporting a great rhythm section and Alvin Lee, "the fastest guitarist in the west," did not go unnoticed. They signed a management contract after the first few club dates, changed their name to Ten Years After and recorded an eponymous debut album in three days. The rest is, as they say, history.

The Essential Ten Years After, is a chronicle of their early '70s recordings for the Chrysalis label. A sheer delight for T.Y.A. Fanatics and a self contained history of a talented, important but largely ignored band for the rest of us. And although a good number of the classics are here, this could have easily been a two disc set. The tunes included, although not in chronological order, fit together well offering a broad overview of an effervescent career. Alvin Lee and company have been saddled with the blistering " Woodstock" version of "I'm Going' Home" since 1969, while the bulk of their work is sadly ignored. Perhaps this new collection will change that. The disc opens with "Rock And Roll Music To The World", the title cut from their album released in 1972 and ends with "Baby Won't You Let Me Rock And Roll You", from A Space In Time, released earlier that same year. What falls in between is a comfortable, somewhat familiar anthology culled from several albums recorded during the band's peak. From 1969's Ssssh, comes "I Woke Up This Morning", a blues-rooted romp. Cricklewood Green and Watt both released in 1970 are represented by the breezy swing of "Me And My Baby", the urgent,"Love Like A Man" and a delirious cover of Chuck Berry's "Sweet Little Sixteen", repectively. Definitive versions of "Good Morning Little School Girl" and "I'm Going Home" are taken from, Recorded Live (The Official Ten Years After Bootleg), recorded during their 1973 European tour. They released one last studio album, Positive Vibrations, featuring the tune,"Goin' Back To Birmingham", which is included here and then disbanded in late 1974. (They have since recorded a few albums as TYA and Alvin lee has recorded more than a few excellent solo albums...)

The remainder of this assembly is a overflowing smorgasbord that leaves one hankering for more. All of the original songs have been lovingly remastered for CD with the help of original producer, Chris Wright and all sound wonderful. A recommended starting point would most likely be, A Space In Time, their most polished studio album. After that you're on your own to sift through the entire catalog and there should be no problem in choosing at least a few more ( if not all of them) to round out your collection. (SC)

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