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Davison, Brian

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Brian Davison's Every Which Way

                 



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Format: LP     Want this on CD also?

Condition: VG+ COVER / VG+ LP (cover/media)    More Info
Label: Mercury SR 61340
Country: Us
Released: 1970
Genre: rock
Num In Set: 1
Quantity: 1 in stock
Seller Ref:   6314

I was pawing through some records at a yard sale and stumbled across this Brian Davison release.   I actually recognized Davison's name from his days drumming with The Nice and initially put the album down thinking it was going to be an something even more pretentious than your normal set of Nice progressive moves.   Anyhow, I remember having read that Davison had recently passed on (this was back in 2008)', so I went ahead and bought the album, dumping it in my to-listen-too pile where it sat for the next four years.
As mentioned, I figured this album was going to be a continuation of Davison's Nice-styled progressive moves.   Boy was I ever wrong.   So technically this collection isn't even   a Davison solo effort, rather reflects a post-Nice project with former Skip Bifferty singer/keyboardist Graham Bell, bassist Alan Cartwright, lead guitarist John Hedley, and multi-instrumentalist Geoff Peach.   Collectively known as Every Which Way (which I've always thought was a great name for a band), the group were among the first to be signed to Nice manager Tony Stratton-Smith's newly formed Charisma label, though the album saw an American release on Mercury (with a far inferior cover).
They made their debut in 1970 with the release of a non-LP 45:
- 1970's 'Go Placidly' b/w 'he Light' (Charisma catalog number BD-1)
While Davison was credited with producing, "Every Which Way", Graham Bell came off as he band's prime creative force.   Not only did he handle all of the lead vocals and keyboards, but he was responsible for writing most of the album's six songs.   In contrast, whereas Davison's adventuresome drums had always been featured in The Nice's catalog, this time out he was left with a much more traditional supporting role, providing a rock solid foundation along with bassist Cartwright    To be perfectly honest, musically the album wasn't the most original thing you've ever heard.   Offering up a hybrid mixture of English folk, jazz, and progressive moves, tracks like 'Castle Sand' and 'Go Placidly' bore more than a passing resemblance to ealy-1970s Steve Winwood and Traffic.   As a big Traffic fan that comparison actually sat well with me, but others might not be as impressed.   To my ears Bell had a great voice.   Rugged, raw, and powerful, technically I'd argue his voice was actually more dynamic than Winwood's.   Regardless, the comparisons were unmistakable and if that wasn't enough, Geoffrey Peach's reed work was highly reminiscent of Chris Wood's work.   That aside, the band's secret weapon was found in guitarist John Hedley.   Unlike so many guitarists, Hedley didn't seem to live for the chance to solo, rather played with considerable restraint and continual taste.   Yeah, exemplified by material like 'The Light' he could bust an extended solo with the best of them, but it wasn't an in-your-face case of exhibitionism.   Hard to believe that Hedley didn't garner more attention ...
"Every Which Way" track listing:
(side 1)
1.) Bed Ain't What It Use To Be   (Graham Bell) - 9:25    rating: **** stars
Opening up with some tasty John Hedley guitar and a nice Alan Cartwright bass line, 'Bed Ain't What It Use To Be' opened the album was a bluesy, mid-tempo rocker that's always reminded me of a really good Ritchie Havens song.   Hedley's jazzy-inflected solo was simply wonderful with Bell turning in a fantastic, soul ravishing vocal.   Even Geoffrey Peach's sax solo sounded impressive in these surroundings.   You'd be hard pressed to find another nine minute + song that rolls by so fast.
2.) Castle Sand   (Graham Bell) - 6:40      rating: **** stars
Showcasing Peach's pretty reed work, 'Castle Sand' had one of those jazz-meets-progressive melodies coupled with a folk tale lyric that gave it an overall sound recalling early-1970s Steve Winwood and Traffic.       This was also the one track that highlighted Davison's percussion.
3.) Go Placidly   (Graham Bell) - 3:47      rating: **** stars
Previously released as a s

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