- Audio CD (19 Dec 2008)
- Number of Discs: 1
- Format: Original recording remastered, Original recording reissued
- Label: Art Of Life Records
- ASIN: B00005NESR
- Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (1 customer review)
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 74,815 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)
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Product details |
Track Listings
| 1. These Boots Are Made For Walking |
| 2. Norwegian Wood |
| 3. Sunny |
| 4. Up Up And Away |
| 5. Michelle |
| 6. I Can See For Miles |
| 7. Good Vibrations |
| 8. Monday Monday |
Product Description
Review
Jazz interpretations of pop songs were still a relatively fresh notion when Gordon Beck and chums recorded this set in 1967. Though much standard jazz repertoire was (and is) based on 30s and 40s pop songs, the advent of rock and roll with its emphasis on foursquare rhythm and unsophisticated harmony meant that few of its tunes were taken up by the jazzers; this was raw material unsuited to the extended harmony of bebop and its cousins.
It's unclear whether Beck was rising to a commercial or an artistic challenge when he arranged this selection of 60s pop toons, but the results justify what must have been a considerable effort. The leader's piano is crucial in delineating the often highly modified harmonies on tunes like "These Boots were made for Walking" (not the most obvious choice for a jazz rendering). Beck's splashy chords and octave runs are straight out of the Bill Evans book, but there's an intensity and drive to his solos that is very much his own, and his sound is much brighter, almost bell-like. He's joined here by John(ny) Mclaughlin in his pre fusion days, bassistJeff Clyneand drummer Tony Oxley. Oxley played with fellow Yorkshireman Mclaughlin on the latter's seminal Extrapolation a couple of years later and it's clear that the pair were building up a valuable association; Oxley's snare volleys and cymbal torrents are a perfect foil for Mclaughlin's fractured bop lines. Solos are kept short and sweet, redirecting the focus toward the arrangements rather than displays of individual virtuosity, though the leader's contributions are a bit overcooked at times.
Beck's skills as an arranger are convincing; though he can't do much with the apallingly trite "Up, Up and Away" (a song which would still sound twee in the hands of Motorhead) he manages wonders with many of the other pieces. The Who's "I Can See for Miles" moves from pensive balladry to ferocious swing - despite Beck's altered chords the melody shines through. It's best to try and forget the originals if possible and just enjoy this record on its own terms, difficult though it may be with songs like "Good Vibrations". Despite its obvious Carnaby Street/Julie Christie vibe, Experiments with Pops has a lot of fine moments from some extraordinary musicians and has much more going for it than historical importance. --Peter Marsh
Find more music at the BBC This link will take you off Amazon in a new window
The Independent, (Phil Johnson), November 5, 2006
(4 stars) This far-from-kitsch 1967 quickie offers yet more evidence of the Sixties Brit-jazz golden age.
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
9 of 10 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
Gordon Beck and company take popular songs and really stretch them out then bring them back to their recognizable selves. you'll find yourself smiling. Just plain fun and the playing is wonderful.
Most Helpful Customer Reviews on Amazon.com (beta)
Amazon.com:
3 reviews
9 of 9 people found the following review helpful
better than you think
23 Oct 2004
Format:Audio CD
I originally came across this cd after doing extensive research into John Mclaughlin's studio work of the 1960's.At first I was concerned this would be another cheezy jazz attempt at performing 60s pop rock.I was pleasantly surprised.This album is jazz.Although they cover pop songs they make them their own
Excellent performances from the quartet.A great find for any Mclaughlin fan.The first track is on fire .The rest of the cd is a much lighter edge but definetly unique.
I would also recommend the "Danny Thopson trio-Live 1967"
which also contains rare Mclaughlin from the same year except without drums.Great straight ahead jazz album.
Excellent performances from the quartet.A great find for any Mclaughlin fan.The first track is on fire .The rest of the cd is a much lighter edge but definetly unique.
I would also recommend the "Danny Thopson trio-Live 1967"
which also contains rare Mclaughlin from the same year except without drums.Great straight ahead jazz album.
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
A fantastic surprise
1 Feb 2011
Format:Audio CD
That Gordon Beck is a criminally underrated piano player despite his time with Phil Woods, etc etc is well know. But this album is a surprise nonetheless. The title is certainly offputting. The personnel is very intriguing. The song titles make you cringe. If you haven-t given up then maybe you get to the music and it is truly great. 30 years before Mehldau etc made conversions of pop seem viable, Gordon made this masterpiece. Get it before it disappears again.
4 of 6 people found the following review helpful
No classic but still an enjoyable memento of the British 1960s jazz scene
13 Mar 2007
Format:Audio CD
This one is treasured by guitar fans for a glimpse of John McLaughlin (or "Johnny McLaughlin" as the sleeve has it) in 1967, two years before his debut on _Extrapolation_. It's a clever, maybe too-clever idea for an album--I have no problem with the idea of jazz-goes-pop or pop-goes-jazz, but pianist Gordon Beck's hyperactive Bill Evans style & elaborate recomposition/reharmonization of tunes like "Michelle", "These Boots Were Made for Walking" and "Good Vibrations" isn't entirely to my taste. (Nowadays I think jazz musicians are more comfortable with the idea of playing pop tunes _as pop tunes_ rather than having to "reshape" them or "elevate" them. But of course back in 1967 jazz fusion and jazz-rock were still a few years from being fully-fledged movements or styles.....) It's hard to go wrong, in any case, with McLaughlin, bassist Jeff Clyne (a mainstay of British jazz, from the mainstream to the experimental free improv band the Spontaneous Music Ensemble) and drummer Tony Oxley (most famous as a founder of the UK avant-garde, but also a veteran of many commercial/mainstream gigs). Beck's attractive but glib piano doesn't do a lot for me, but McLaughlin's imaginative, ecstatic blend of jazz, blues and rock is already pretty impressive even in embryo, & it's fascinating to hear him sparring with Oxley two years before _Extrapolation_--notice, for instance, the way that the music (& the band) really gets a lot looser and more interesting during McLaughlin's solo on "These Boots...". Pity that the solos are cut short most of the time--the tracks are mostly in the 3 to 5 minute range--but the music is otherwise more than just a curio. If you're a McLaughlin fan this is, needless to say, essential.
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