12056 - CORKY LAING, IAN HUNTER, MICK RONSON & FELIX PAPPALARDI -THE SECRET SESSIONS (1979) (REPOST)
CORKY LAING, IAN HUNTER, MICK RONSON, FELIX PAPPALARDI
''THE SECRET SESSIONS''
JANUARY 19 1999
38:49
**********
1/Easy Money 02:50 (Ian Hunter, Corky Laing)
2/Silent Movie 03:20 (Ian Hunter, Corky Laing)
3/I Ain't No Angel 03:19 (Ian Hunter, Corky Laing)
4/The Best Thing 03:29 (Corky Laing)
5/I Hate Dancin' 02:40 (Corky Laing)
6/The Outsider 07:46 (Ian Hunter)
7/Just When I Needed You Most 03:06 (Van Warmer)
8/Lowdown Freedom 04:12 (Billy Joe Shaver)
9/On My Way To Georgia 03:42 (Mick Jones, Corky Laing, Leslie West)
10/Growing Old With Rock'n'Roll 04:25 (Corky Laing)
**********
Dickey Betts/Guitar
Eric Clapton/Guitar
Ian Hunter/Keyboards, Vocals, Vocals (Background)
Corky Laing/Drums, Vocals, Vocals (Background)
Felix Pappalardi/Bass, Vocals (Background)
Mick Ronson/Guitars, Vocals (Background)
Todd Rundgren/Organ (Hammond), Vocals (Background)
John Sebastian/Harp
Leslie West/Guitars
**********
REVIEW/AMG
Bruce Eder
Listening to this album is to hear a real tragedy for rock & roll -- a tragedy that this supergroup, as opposed to such overhyped outfits as Blind Faith and Ginger Baker's Air Force, never got its work out in its own time, and that Pappalardi and Ronson are no longer with us. From the opening notes of "Easy Money" to the ironic final track, "Growing Old With Rock 'n Roll," it radiates inspiration, power, and authority in songwriting and execution, and extraordinary boldness. As fine as Ronson's playing is -- and he does some great mandolin-style riffing, apart from some of his most inspired and fluid rock leads (in tandem with Leslie West on three tracks) -- the dominant players are Laing at the drum kit and Pappalardi on bass, who seemingly pick up right where Mountain left off. Coupled with Hunter's songwriting and his and Laing's singing, the whole effect is of a top-flight hard rock band running on all cylinders from the get-go, one that could have blown any rivals off the stage. As a bonus, two outtakes from Laing's 1977 solo album Makin' It On the Street are included, cut in Macon, Georgia with Dickey Betts and Eric Clapton. These are appendices more to Laing's work, or to the Allman Brothers' history, than to the work of this quartet, but they don't detract from the rest -- indeed, "Growing Old With Rock 'N Roll" may be the best thing Laing has ever done.
**********
In 1978 Corky Laing (of Mountain), acting on a suggestion from his record company, put a "supergroup" together featuring himself (drums/vocals), Ian Hunter (ex Mott The Hoople) on keyboards/vocals, Mick Ronson on guitar and Felix Peppalardi (Mountain) on bass. They started recording, but shortly after the record company lost interest and funding stopped. The sessions were completed at a different studio, but remained in the can, until now.
The CD opens strongly enough, with the superb Easy Money, but soon descends into ordinaryness. Although all the tracks are complete versions, they sound rushed or demo-like, with little standing out, apart from a brilliant, lengthy version of The Outsider, which of course Ian recorded for his Schizophrenic album.
The CD is filled out with two tracks from Corky's 1978 solo album, perhaps because originally once funding had stopped there wasn't the time or money to record a full album's worth of material.
In summary, a CD mainly of historical interest only. Ian Hunter completists will want it, ditto Corky Laing/Mountain fans, but I doubt if the casual fan would be persuaded to part with his cash.
**********
TO THE TOP
**********
''THE SECRET SESSIONS''
JANUARY 19 1999
38:49
**********
1/Easy Money 02:50 (Ian Hunter, Corky Laing)
2/Silent Movie 03:20 (Ian Hunter, Corky Laing)
3/I Ain't No Angel 03:19 (Ian Hunter, Corky Laing)
4/The Best Thing 03:29 (Corky Laing)
5/I Hate Dancin' 02:40 (Corky Laing)
6/The Outsider 07:46 (Ian Hunter)
7/Just When I Needed You Most 03:06 (Van Warmer)
8/Lowdown Freedom 04:12 (Billy Joe Shaver)
9/On My Way To Georgia 03:42 (Mick Jones, Corky Laing, Leslie West)
10/Growing Old With Rock'n'Roll 04:25 (Corky Laing)
**********
Dickey Betts/Guitar
Eric Clapton/Guitar
Ian Hunter/Keyboards, Vocals, Vocals (Background)
Corky Laing/Drums, Vocals, Vocals (Background)
Felix Pappalardi/Bass, Vocals (Background)
Mick Ronson/Guitars, Vocals (Background)
Todd Rundgren/Organ (Hammond), Vocals (Background)
John Sebastian/Harp
Leslie West/Guitars
**********
REVIEW/AMG
Bruce Eder
Listening to this album is to hear a real tragedy for rock & roll -- a tragedy that this supergroup, as opposed to such overhyped outfits as Blind Faith and Ginger Baker's Air Force, never got its work out in its own time, and that Pappalardi and Ronson are no longer with us. From the opening notes of "Easy Money" to the ironic final track, "Growing Old With Rock 'n Roll," it radiates inspiration, power, and authority in songwriting and execution, and extraordinary boldness. As fine as Ronson's playing is -- and he does some great mandolin-style riffing, apart from some of his most inspired and fluid rock leads (in tandem with Leslie West on three tracks) -- the dominant players are Laing at the drum kit and Pappalardi on bass, who seemingly pick up right where Mountain left off. Coupled with Hunter's songwriting and his and Laing's singing, the whole effect is of a top-flight hard rock band running on all cylinders from the get-go, one that could have blown any rivals off the stage. As a bonus, two outtakes from Laing's 1977 solo album Makin' It On the Street are included, cut in Macon, Georgia with Dickey Betts and Eric Clapton. These are appendices more to Laing's work, or to the Allman Brothers' history, than to the work of this quartet, but they don't detract from the rest -- indeed, "Growing Old With Rock 'N Roll" may be the best thing Laing has ever done.
**********
In 1978 Corky Laing (of Mountain), acting on a suggestion from his record company, put a "supergroup" together featuring himself (drums/vocals), Ian Hunter (ex Mott The Hoople) on keyboards/vocals, Mick Ronson on guitar and Felix Peppalardi (Mountain) on bass. They started recording, but shortly after the record company lost interest and funding stopped. The sessions were completed at a different studio, but remained in the can, until now.
The CD opens strongly enough, with the superb Easy Money, but soon descends into ordinaryness. Although all the tracks are complete versions, they sound rushed or demo-like, with little standing out, apart from a brilliant, lengthy version of The Outsider, which of course Ian recorded for his Schizophrenic album.
The CD is filled out with two tracks from Corky's 1978 solo album, perhaps because originally once funding had stopped there wasn't the time or money to record a full album's worth of material.
In summary, a CD mainly of historical interest only. Ian Hunter completists will want it, ditto Corky Laing/Mountain fans, but I doubt if the casual fan would be persuaded to part with his cash.
**********
TO THE TOP
**********
2 comments :
Thanks davi - wasn't even aware of this particular album and despite the "ordinary" review, I'm looking forward to hearing it (being a big Ian Hunter fan). Still the best blog around - keep 'em coming buddy!
Thank you dear Oldrocker.My favour Felix Pappalardi(with greek roots)in one more very Rare album.
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