Plain and Fancy: Ten Years After – Rock 'n' Roll Music To The World (1972 uk, excellent classic rock, Audio Fidelity remaster)

Friday, March 28, 2025

Ten Years After – Rock 'n' Roll Music To The World (1972 uk, excellent classic rock, Audio Fidelity remaster)

Alvin Lee, lead guitarist and singer with Woodstock luminaries, Ten Years After died on 6 March 2013 aged just 68. Like so many heavy rock heroes, he emerged from the industrial English midlands (from the Nottingham-Mansfield area rather than the Black Country of Sabbath et al) and played on a world stage unimaginable to most. Owners of the triple vinyl Woodstock soundtrack will be familiar with Ten Years After's blistering performance of I'm Going Home. Their history dates back to the early 60s but the Ten Years After name and line up were consolidated in Nottingham 1966, and the band were nationally active from 1967-1974, then got back together from 1988 onwards. Their name comes from their homage to Elvis Presley's peak year of 1956 and its relationship to their 1966 formation.

This HDCD features 9 tracks put together as an album by Alvin in 1972 for the Chrysalis division of Columbia. Lacking the vinyl original, all comments apply to the HDCD. The sound is lively, dynamic and nuanced. This album finds them maturing musically, which makes this an ideal audiophile outing. Audio Fidelity have been reviewed positively on TNT-audio before. Their limited edition CD's, HDCD's and SACD's often sell out soon. With International Record Shop Day just behind us, it is encouraging to be reminded that physical formats still have a place in music dissemination. Holding these 24kt gold discs is a delight.