![]() Thinking back, I remember my buddy in Philly turning me on to TYA. When you're only known to masses for Woodstock and your seventh album, that didn't cut it. Sure TYA was huge in the UK and Europe but that doesn't give you the numbers needed to write your ticket. You sell enough albums you can dictate where you play. He told management we need to dial this back. As most know Alvin hated the sudden hoopla and playing hockey arenas. If they had covered the US like a blanket then they would have avoided the weight of the Woodstock explosion of fame that was the beginning of the end (per Alvin). not so much they buy albums for that reason. Some of those cities TYA never played, ever. Zeppelin (lukewarm fan here) hit them all, Denver, Memphis, Cleveland, all through Texas, multiple cities in North Carolina, Charleston WV, Albuquerque, Salt Lake City, etc. The secret to success is the US then was the heartland which TYA totally ignored until after Woodstock. Zeppelin is the gold standard on how to tour the US and gain a serious following. TYA was worked to death because imo they didn't sell enough albums early on in the US. They only played the coasts (plus Detroit and Chicago) for the first four US tours. They had the goods (I now know), they just didn't get it to the people early in the US. they didn't cover the US properly early on. Alvin never played ILTCTW, because he refused to change the key so he wouldn't have to stretch his voice to hit the high notes on the recording. A new album would be released and they might play two songs from the new album then the old standbys. Herb's book is loaded with setlists and the setlists vary very little over the years. I have a theory:įirst, the setlist didn't vary enough over the years for the live performances. Is it that I'm in the US, maybe, but this forum is worldwide. I'm a guitarist so a guy like Alvin is always going to peak my interest, but there is so much more there than flashy guitar playing imo. Why does TYA have only 3 and a half title pages in "search" (and Alvin Lee with a quarter page), when a band like Procol Harum has 8 pages and The Kinks have 12. Which brings me to, why does it seem that TYA's legacy seems to be prematurely fading. that there was so much more than I'm Going Home and ILTCTW. Those early albums show imo the upward trajectory of TYA from the very beginning, that it wasn't Woodstock that took a "one trick pony" band and made it huge. My litmus test now for anyone that has something negative to say about TYA is, have you heard the first two albums. The second time I listened to Stonehenge I was even getting into that if for the reason the band was stretching out. I figured I'd be all bored listening through a 1967 debut album and then a primitive sounding live album just the opposite. This band exploded out of the starting gate. Why? the debut and Undead have opened my eyes. This cd set put an end to that, I'm on the final pages. I even have Herb Staehr's, Alvin Lee and Ten Years After book which I had never taken the time to read. I'd say I'm a lukewarm fan, I hadn't played any TYA in a long long time. It's not as refined as the MSFL, but very listenable. I already had everything except the first three and the last two (plus the bonus disc), including the twofer MFSL SSSH and CG, which is TYA bliss. I figured why not have all the albums at a ridiculously low price of $32 at Amazon (price as gone up slightly since I ordered it). There's still Alvin Lee's lightning quick blues licks, but he also knew how to slow it down on the quieter tracks as well as write some powerfull tunes ranging from the folky "Here They Come" to the Chuck Berry-influenced, "Baby Won’t You Let Me Rock and Roll You" and "Let the Sky Fall" is a standout track with psychedelic vocals reminiscent ofJimi Henrix.Īlvin Lee has said "A Space in Time" is his favorite album.some would call it a masterpiece of rock.I recently found myself immersed in Ten Years After after ordering the 10 cd set. “A Space in Time” is a mature work, more restrained than the band's previous albums primarily because of the liberal use of tasty acoustic guitar and plenty of sound effects and studio tricks that complement the overall texture.and it really works. Guitarist and vocalist Alvin Lee provides exceptional blues leads and the majority of the songwritingalong with band mates, Chick Churchill on keyboards, Leo Lyons, bass and drummer, RicLee. The record includes their classic rock hit, "I'd Love to Change the World" - with guitar riffs that must be included among the greatest in Rock'n'Roll history - the album went on to be their all-time best seller. “.a tremendous guitar record.a mix of acoustic and electric guitar lines - It ROCKS!"Īn appearance on the final night at Woodstock only reinforced the status of Ten Years After as one of Britain's premiere blues rock bands and they were at the height of their powers in 1971 when they released “A Space in Time”.
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