ANDY FAIRWEATHER LOW
''SWEET SOULFUL MUSIC''
AUG 2006
45:33
**********
1. One More Rocket/2:32
2. Hymn 4 My Soul/3:19
3. What'd You Take Me To Be/2:54
4. Ashes and Diamonds/4:21
5. Bible Black Starless Sky/3:58
6. Don't Stand/3:36
7. Life Ain't No Competition/3:08
8. Zazzy#/3:22
9. The Low Rider/3:18
10. Unbroken Love/3:17
11. I Don't Need/3:55
12. Sweet Soulful Music/2:44
13. Life Is Good/2:48
14. When I Grow Too Old To Dream/2:11
All Tracks By Andy Fairweather Low
**********
P.P. Arnold /Vocals (Background)
Dave Bronze /Bass
John "Rabbit" Bundrick /Organ, Piano
Ian Jennings /Double Bass
Katie Kissoon /Vocals (Background)
Andy Fairweather Low /Guitar, Harmonica, Mandolin, Ukulele, Vocals
Henry Spinetti /Drums, Percussion
Paul "Wix" Wickens /Accordion
**********
REVIEW/AMG
Hal Horowitz
Andy Fairweather Low's first solo album in 26 years, Sweet Soulful Music retains the charm of the long out of print trio of discs he released on A&M in the mid- to late '70s. Those albums sadly, but perhaps not surprisingly, flew under the radar in the States because their straightforward and very British charisma was out of sync with the slick dance and hard rock scenes that were then popular. But Low's approach has pretty much stayed unchanged, so this delightful set of 14 tunes isn't likely to garner much more attention. That's a shame because the singer/guitarist has tapped into a minimalist, engaging groove that feels as comfortable as sinking into an old easy chair. Credit noted producer Glyn Johns -- who worked on 1975's La Booga Rooga and 1976's Be Bop 'N' Holla -- for taking a hands-off attitude here by leaving space for Low's spare, gospel-laced soul. The singer's voice exudes a distinctive scratchy quality that works perfectly with these sparse yet hooky melodies. After kicking off with the rockabilly-ish "One More Rocket," Low settles into a mid-tempo folkish pop/soul that owes more than a few nods to J.J. Cale. There's a leisurely hip swaying, bluesy feel to songs such as "I Don't Need" that's organic and as far from pretentious as they come. Some of the lyrics drift towards a subtle spirituality that comes alive on the upbeat gospel of the title track. This is loose, relaxed but far from sloppy, and Low sounds like he's having a ball, even on the touching ballads. "When I Grow Too Old to Dream," the album's only cover, is presented as a waltz with accordion, and provides a warm coda for a modest gem of a comeback that deserves more of an audience than it is likely to receive.
**********
BIOGRAPHY/AMG
William Ruhlmann
The seven million people who bought Eric Clapton's Unplugged album and the countless more who saw the MTV Unplugged TV show experienced the work of Andy Fairweather Low, who served as Clapton's backup guitarist/vocalist. But probably few in that giant audience knew that Fairweather Low had once been a teen idol and had an extensive recorded catalog in groups and as a solo star. Born in Cardiff, Wales, Fairweather Low formed Amen Corner in the mid-'60s, for which he served as lead singer. The group scored six U.K. hits from 1967 to 1969, the biggest of which was the number one "(If Paradise Is) Half as Nice." Its success put Fairweather Low's attractive face on the bedroom walls of teenage girls all over Britain. Amen Corner broke up at the end of the '60s and evolved into the more progressive Fair Weather, which scored a hit with "Natural Sinner" in 1970, but broke up in 1971. Fairweather Low retired for several years, but returned as a solo artist in 1974 and made a series of albums through 1980, reaching the U.K. Top Ten with the singles "Reggae Tune" and "Wide Eyed and Legless." Gradually, however, he began to work as a sideman to more prominent British musicians, notably ex-Pink Floyd leader Roger Waters, and with the ARMS benefit group in 1987. He toured Japan with George Harrison and Eric Clapton in 1991 and has since been part of Clapton's backup band. Fairweather Low began touring with Bill Wyman's Rhythm Kings and, in 2006, hit the road again with Waters for the Dark Side of the Moon Tour.
**********
TO THE TOP
**********
''SWEET SOULFUL MUSIC''
AUG 2006
45:33
**********
1. One More Rocket/2:32
2. Hymn 4 My Soul/3:19
3. What'd You Take Me To Be/2:54
4. Ashes and Diamonds/4:21
5. Bible Black Starless Sky/3:58
6. Don't Stand/3:36
7. Life Ain't No Competition/3:08
8. Zazzy#/3:22
9. The Low Rider/3:18
10. Unbroken Love/3:17
11. I Don't Need/3:55
12. Sweet Soulful Music/2:44
13. Life Is Good/2:48
14. When I Grow Too Old To Dream/2:11
All Tracks By Andy Fairweather Low
**********
P.P. Arnold /Vocals (Background)
Dave Bronze /Bass
John "Rabbit" Bundrick /Organ, Piano
Ian Jennings /Double Bass
Katie Kissoon /Vocals (Background)
Andy Fairweather Low /Guitar, Harmonica, Mandolin, Ukulele, Vocals
Henry Spinetti /Drums, Percussion
Paul "Wix" Wickens /Accordion
**********
REVIEW/AMG
Hal Horowitz
Andy Fairweather Low's first solo album in 26 years, Sweet Soulful Music retains the charm of the long out of print trio of discs he released on A&M in the mid- to late '70s. Those albums sadly, but perhaps not surprisingly, flew under the radar in the States because their straightforward and very British charisma was out of sync with the slick dance and hard rock scenes that were then popular. But Low's approach has pretty much stayed unchanged, so this delightful set of 14 tunes isn't likely to garner much more attention. That's a shame because the singer/guitarist has tapped into a minimalist, engaging groove that feels as comfortable as sinking into an old easy chair. Credit noted producer Glyn Johns -- who worked on 1975's La Booga Rooga and 1976's Be Bop 'N' Holla -- for taking a hands-off attitude here by leaving space for Low's spare, gospel-laced soul. The singer's voice exudes a distinctive scratchy quality that works perfectly with these sparse yet hooky melodies. After kicking off with the rockabilly-ish "One More Rocket," Low settles into a mid-tempo folkish pop/soul that owes more than a few nods to J.J. Cale. There's a leisurely hip swaying, bluesy feel to songs such as "I Don't Need" that's organic and as far from pretentious as they come. Some of the lyrics drift towards a subtle spirituality that comes alive on the upbeat gospel of the title track. This is loose, relaxed but far from sloppy, and Low sounds like he's having a ball, even on the touching ballads. "When I Grow Too Old to Dream," the album's only cover, is presented as a waltz with accordion, and provides a warm coda for a modest gem of a comeback that deserves more of an audience than it is likely to receive.
**********
BIOGRAPHY/AMG
William Ruhlmann
The seven million people who bought Eric Clapton's Unplugged album and the countless more who saw the MTV Unplugged TV show experienced the work of Andy Fairweather Low, who served as Clapton's backup guitarist/vocalist. But probably few in that giant audience knew that Fairweather Low had once been a teen idol and had an extensive recorded catalog in groups and as a solo star. Born in Cardiff, Wales, Fairweather Low formed Amen Corner in the mid-'60s, for which he served as lead singer. The group scored six U.K. hits from 1967 to 1969, the biggest of which was the number one "(If Paradise Is) Half as Nice." Its success put Fairweather Low's attractive face on the bedroom walls of teenage girls all over Britain. Amen Corner broke up at the end of the '60s and evolved into the more progressive Fair Weather, which scored a hit with "Natural Sinner" in 1970, but broke up in 1971. Fairweather Low retired for several years, but returned as a solo artist in 1974 and made a series of albums through 1980, reaching the U.K. Top Ten with the singles "Reggae Tune" and "Wide Eyed and Legless." Gradually, however, he began to work as a sideman to more prominent British musicians, notably ex-Pink Floyd leader Roger Waters, and with the ARMS benefit group in 1987. He toured Japan with George Harrison and Eric Clapton in 1991 and has since been part of Clapton's backup band. Fairweather Low began touring with Bill Wyman's Rhythm Kings and, in 2006, hit the road again with Waters for the Dark Side of the Moon Tour.
**********
TO THE TOP
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Muito obrigado !
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