Thursday, March 7, 2013

Alvin Lee And Mylon Lefevre - On The Road To Freedom (1973-74 uk/us, stimulating soothing guitar rock with country folk tinges, bonus tracks remaster)




‘Freedom is a heady wine’, they say, and guitar hero Alvin Lee certainly tasted plenty when he teamed up with American singer Mylon LeFevre to create this excellent 1974 album.

Alvin had spent many years performing heavy rock’n’roll with Ten Years After before he took the plunge and headed in a more soulful musical direction. With Mylon taking lead vocals on some of the tracks and writing fresh material, the album has a different, more relaxed feel that coaxed new sounds out of Alvin. He was also encouraged by a plethora of guest stars, notably Stevie Winwood on piano, Jim Capaldi on drums and Tim Hinkley on organ. There is even an appearance by one ‘Hari Georgeson’ who seems to perform George Harrison’s ‘So Sad (No Love Of His Own)’ with special feeling!….

This 12 track album is boosted by the inclusion of an extra bonus A-side single version of ‘So Sad’, and it also has comprehensive CD liner notes by Chris Welch, detailing the evolution of the album and Alvin’s blossoming solo career.

Guitar hero Alvin Lee headed in a more soulful musical direction on this 1974 album, with Mylon taking lead vocals on some of the tracks and writing fresh material. The album has a different, more relaxed feel that coaxed new sounds out of Alvin.

Features a stellar line up of guest musicians, including Stevie Winwood, Jim Capaldi, Tim Hinkley, Ron Wood with special guest appearance by George Harrison.
Tracks
1. On The Road To Freedom (Alvin Lee) - 4:13
2. The World Is Changing (I Got A Woman Back In Georgia) (Alvin Lee, Mylon Lefevre) - 2:45
3. So Sad (No Love Of His Own) (George Harrison) - 4:34
4. Fallen Angel (Alvin Lee) - 3:20
5. Funny (Alvin Lee) - 2:48
6. We Will Shine (Mylon Lefevre) - 2:37
7. Carry My Load (Alvin Lee) - 2:58
8. Lay Me Back (Mylon Lefevre) - 2:53
9. Let 'Em Say What They Will (Ron Wood) - 2:52
10.I Can't Take It (Mylon Lefevre) - 2:51
11.Riffin' (Alvin Lee, Mylon Lefevre) - 3:31
12.Rockin' 'Til The Sun Goes Down (Alvin Lee, Mylon Lefevre) - 3:08
13.So Sad (No Love Of His Own) (Single Version) (George Harrison) - 3:00

Musicians
*Alvin Lee – Vocals, Electric And Acoustic Guitars, Bass, Sitar
*Mylon Lefevre – Vocals, 12-String Acoustic Guitar, Bass, Percussion, Backing Vocals
*George Harrison – Dobro, Acoustic Guitar, Bass, Backing Vocals
*Ron Wood – 12-String Acoustic Guitar, Bass, Drums
*Steve Winwood – Piano
*Tim Hinkley – Piano, Organ, Backing Vocals
*Boz Burrell – Bass, Backing Vocals
*Bob Black – Steel Guitar
*Andy Stein – Fiddle
*Jim Capaldi – Drums
*Reebop Kwaku Baah – Congas
*Mick Fleetwood – Drums
*Ian Wallace – Drums
*Mike Patto – Percussion, Backing Vocals