Other formats

    Adobe Portable Document Format file (facsimile images)   TEI XML file   ePub eBook file  

Connect

    mail icontwitter iconBlogspot iconrss icon

Salient. Official Newspaper of Victoria University Students Assn. Volume 40 Number 2. Feb 7 1977

Records 331/3

Records 331/3

Well kiddies another year at Victoria University is underway. I know that soon all you nice young girls and boys will be hard at work in tireless pursuit of better grades and higher standards. We are all here for the sole purpose of attaining excellence and accumulating knowledge in our chosen fields, and any deviations from this path can surely only lead to failure and disgrace. We must bear in mind that we are the leaders of tomorrow, and that hard work and unquestioning, blind obedience are the foundations of true democracy.

But if any of you falter in your steps or fall by the wayside, it could be to your advantage to listen to 33 1/3 by George Harrison.

Once again, Harrison has assembled a band of very capable musicians, consisting of old faithfuls Billy Preston (kybds, Afro wig) Willie Weeks (bass, frisbee) and Newcomer Gary Wright, who along with Tom Scott (sax. flute) and Alvin Taylor (drums), have all given Harrison's unique talent a good airing.

Ever since Harrison went solo, occasional flashes of the brilliance he displayed within the Beatles framework have been tempered and overshadowed by some rather, dare I say it, boring music. Harrisons pet subject, i.e. devotion and love for that big record producer in the sky coupled with sage observations on the evils of materialism, makes for rather uninspiring music. Another major reason for the apparent dreariness of a lot of his work is his voice, which never seems to convey much emotion. Whether singing "Apple Scruffs" or "Living in the Material World," the inflections, accent, etc do not vary substantially.

But in this, his latest album, his song writing has improved enough to balance things out a bit more. The album as a whole is very easy to listen to and contains two strikingly beautiful compositions.

For me the high point of the album is "Beautiful Girl". This just knocked me the first time I played it, and continues to do so with each playing. It's just perfect from the intro (which sounds like Focus's "Love Remembered", by the way) to the last chord. I cannot say much more than that other than it is up there with "Something" and "My Sweet Lord" as one of Harrison's all time greats.

Side Two contains 1 excellent track, 1 almost excellent track, 2 good tracks, and 1 mediocre. Is that explicit enough? Well, okay then, the last track is almost as good as "Beautiful Girl", it's called "Learning to Love You," and is dedicated to Herbie Alpert. The rest of this side complements Side 1, and even contains a Cole Porter song.

I hope by now you've got the message that this album is worth buying. Harrison isn't out to change the world, he's just a very talented and (dare I say it) mellow human being. His music reflects this, but comes nowhere near the easy listening category. I'd buy it just for the solo on "Learning to Love You." Marty Wood.

Record kindly supplied by

Colin Morris

Records Ltd 54 The Terrace.