Brown, Arthur - Journey (expanded/remastered) 2 x CDs
SKU
23-Esoteric 22187
This was the third, final, most influential, and probably the best of the three albums that Kingdom Come recorded, originally unleashed on a unsuspecting public in 1973, and like all of them, is a crazed, chaotic space-rock album that deserves closer attention 30 years later. This one is famous for the fact that, after their drummer ran off with the bass player's wife, they replaced him with a drum machine...in 1973! Many folks regard this album as one of the greatest space-rock albums of the 1970's, and listening to it again in this nice remaster, I might agree. Tons of keyboards/organ/mellotron/early synths rock out with good guitar work, the simple yet effective drum machine rhythms and Arthur's wild vocals. In the liner notes, Arthur makes the point that in 1973, no rock band was using drum machines in lieu of a drummer, and he's right. A fantastic booklet of rare photos and notes, as well as lots of bonus tracks are included. This newly remastered edition includes a bonus CD featuring 8 bonus tracks of rare single material, alternate mixes and three recordings from a BBC Radio One John Peel session from 1972.
"There were so many good LPs being released in the late 60s/early 70s that lots of great stuff got overlooked! This lp was released in the US on Passport after Kingdom Come had already broken up. It got an ad in RollingStone, but little press & most people didn't connect that this was "the God of Hell Fire" Arthur Brown's new band (had hit single Fire! with The Crazy World of). This album sounds like NOTHING ELSE I have ever heard: the melding of drum machine, moog/synths, & space rock guitar produced a space rock masterpiece. This is one of those "listen to with headphones in a dark room late at night" type masterpieces. Largely instrumental, but when Arthur sings - man this guy has a voice and a half!!! (incredible low & high range, very expressive). Think Hawkwind with much greater musical complexity & chops or Capt Beyond (not quite as "Hard Rock" but equally DEEP). A prog rock MASTERPIECE, you'll listen to it again & again!! One of those "turn your friends on to it & blow their minds" type cds! Great spacy moog & theremin FX (Triangles will make you feel like you are transcending time and just transported yourself into an Egyptian pyramid! Strange guitar/moog bent-pitch tonalities), space rock guitar (Spirit of Joy! WOW! POWER-CHORD HEAVEN!), & wonderfully odd drum programming by Arthur. Classics are Time Captives, Come Alive, & 3rd track. Like all Arthur Brown stuff, it's HIGHLY ORIGINAL & you won't hear anything else like it, I guarantee. Makes you feel like you just took a trip through the cosmos! Buy it, you won't be disappointed!"-Tim Van Sickle