Audio CD review:
Alvin Lee - I Hear You Rockin'

Alvin Lee - I Hear You Rockin'

Band: Alvin Lee Title: I Hear You Rockin' Rating: Release Date: 1994-03-27 Media: Audio CD Tracks: 1: Keep On Rockin' 2: Long Legs 3: I Hear You Knockin' 4: Ain't Nobody's Business 5: The Bluest Blues 6: Boogie All Day 7: My Baby's Come Back To Me 8: Take It Easy 9: Play It Like It Used To Be 10: Give Me Your Love 11: I Don't Give A Damn 12: I Want You (She's So Heavy)

Official release - and incredible! This is most assuredly an official Alvin Lee release - recorded in Alvin's own Space Studios and released in 1994 (the Euro release is titled 1994). . and it contains some of the best music this guitar legend has ever released. Bluest Blues, which features an incredible guitar duet with George Harrison, was dubbed "the most perfect blues song ever written" by one reviewer - and it's certainly the standout. Both I Don't Give a Damn and Long Legs have become staples of Lee's live set, and his take on the Beatles I Want You (She's So Heavy) is nothing short of extraordinary. If you're not familiar with Lee's work outside of Ten Years After, this is the CD I suggest you start with - great guitar work, catchy rhythms, strong vocals. . . and quite possibly, the most perfect blues song ever written. . A Solid Bluse Album First off, to the other person who reviewed this: This IS an Alvin Lee official release. . . I don't know what you're talking about. You can check Alvin's offical sight, or purchase the album yourself if you like. As for the album itself, a solid album. There are a few standout tracks, but just some hard rockin' blues on it. My personal favorite is The Bluest Blues, a very heartfelt performance by both Alvin Lee and George Harrison. But it IS an Alvin Lee album, ignore that one review. NOT AN ALVIN LEE ALBUM IN ANY WAY!!!!! " This album is by a obscure (but good!) blues artist called Lazy Lester, and it can be found correctly credited by doing an artist search by that name. Some sort of confusion has happened here because Alvin Lee does a song by this title on an album called "I Hear You Rockin'. Alvin Lee has no connection whatsoever with this album beyond a similarity in album title to one of AL's song titles. Let Lester groove into your soul His style is very interesting to say the least. Lazy Lester never really gets the recognition he deserves. At times the rhythm and tempo of his songs are very laid-back and, well, kind of lazy - similar in some ways to Jimmy Reed's, "Bright Lights Big City" or "Baby What You Want Me to Do. " the rhythm of many of his songs is punctuated by hand clapping that almost gives the lazy feel a consistancy sort of like a slow train moving slowly, but steadily down the track. The song, "I Hear You Knockin'" is required listening for anyone who considers himself a blues fan. It really is unlike any other classic blues tune I've ever heard. I think the previous reviewer was right on the money. Lazy Lester's style is never, "In your face" per se, but he is definitely in control. There is a lot of substance to be found in his recordings and this 30 song collection demonstrates this very well. this is definitely one to add to your blues library. Orange juice in my socks I'd previously heard some Lightning Hopkins tracks and I'd heard of Slim Harpo via the Stones' cover of "Hip Shake (Shake Yr. Years ago I bought a used Excello compilation CD. Hips)" and the NRBQ lyric from "Kentucky Slop Song": "Slim Harpo's over on the jukebox/Stop pouring orange juice down my socks. " The compilation CD was a revelation. The coolest thing I'd heard since Run DMC's "Rock Box. " And while I was thrilled to hear Slim Harpo, Lightning Hopkins, Jerry McCain and Lonesome Sundown, the real find, for me, was a singer/harp player named Lazy Lester. A friend of mine who is an experienced Chicago blues musician and promoter listened to "I Hear You Knockin'" with incredulity. He'd never heard such a unique sytle of singing. Like his blues rock music, Lazy Lester's singing is so. . . LAZY. It is sleepy, a little slow, thick, comfortable, unpretentious and very confident. Lazy Lester's music suggests that maybe relaxed assurance, not wild rebellion, lies at the heart of rock and roll. You can see a complete list of all Alvin Lee discography, or go back to the Alvin Lee tabs