Most Helpful Customer Reviews
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16 of 16 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
The album title says it all!, 18 April 2005
After Bruford's debut solo album and then a stint with UK, his attention turned to forming his own band. With the core team that appeared on "Feels Good to Me", this debut band album was less jazzy, but explored some of the more fusion type instrumental ideas that the first UK album delved into, leaving Jobson and Wetton to wallow in the more pomp rock aspects. In some ways "One of a Kind" owes more to National Health than UK. The opening track "Hells Bells" is a stormer, with Dave Stewart belting out bubbling synth lead lines. "Fainting in Coils" hints at the Hatfield and the North sense of humour with Bruford himself reading from Lewis Carroll. The part of Alice is read by the future Mrs Brian Eno! "The Abingdon Chasp" is a gorgeous Allan Holdsworth piece. The final two tracks "Forever Until Sunday" and "The Sahara of Snow" were originally played by UK. In fact Eddie Jobson guests on violin on the former, which on the original album was uncredited, Jobson not wishing to confuse past and present UK. Now he is at last credited in the sleeve notes. This CD version is rounded out by an excellent bonus track, "Manacles". This live track may lack sonic fidelity (i.e. it is of bootleg quality) but more than makes up for that in a superbly typical fuzzy organ solo by Dave Stewart. "One of a Kind" is an exceptional album from an exceptional band. Freed by the band politics of UK, Bruford and team mates really stretch out and enjoy what they are doing here. It's a pity that the line-up didn't last long. Allan Holdsworth left soon after the recording of the album to be replaced by John Clark who features on the bonus track and on the following, final studio album "Gradually Going Tornado". It's good that Bill Bruford is making his back catalogue widely available. On the strength of "One of a Kind", this album is very special and should be considered alongside the very best fusion and instrumental rock that was being produced back in the late 70's.
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11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Bill Bruford, 25 Sep 2005
By A Customer
Bill Bruford was a founding member of Yes through the years 1968-1972, and whilst with the band recorded five albums, each of which was more successful than its predecessor. When Bill left Yes in 1972 following the release of "Close To the Edge", there were those who concluded that he'd taken leave of his senses.
But it proved an astute musical move. As King Crimson's enigmatic leader Robert Fripp decided to split the band after three tumultuous albums and move on to other projects, Bill moved to playing countless sessions, and was also briefly a member of the bands National Health, Gong and, more famously, Genesis, where he played alongside Phil Collins, who had just stepped up to the microphone following the departure of Peter Gabriel. Bill was the drummer in the live Genesis situation and was with the band for the majority of 1976 while the band toured their album "A Trick of the Tail".
Bill recorded his debut album as a leader in 1978-- "Feels Good To Me", but it wasn't until the conclusion of an 18-month spell with the band UK that his vision of a more permanent outfit bore fruit. Joining Bill and guitarist Allan Holdsworth in "Bruford" was bassist Jeff Berlin and keyboardist Dave Stewart, both of whom had also made key musical contributions to Feels Good to Me.
Key tracks on One of a Kind include Hell's Bells, Fainting In Coils and Five G.
This re-issue of "One of a Kind" has been re-mastered, and includes a previously unreleased bonus track-- "Manacles".
As with all the albums in the Winterfold series of releases, "One Of A Kind" comes re-packaged with a bonus disc containing music from the contrasting Summerfold catalogue and an exclusive interview with Bill Bruford.
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0 of 2 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Old Style Jazz-Rock, 12 Sep 2007
Well its worth buying. Nothing too exciting, but very well played by great musicians. Play it a few times and it grows into something special. Nothing too ground breaking here, but good solid well played Jazz - Rock. The extra track at the end of the album is not of the highest sound quality and obviously recorded in an echoey hall. One could always drink a couple of beers and imagine standing at the bar at the back of the hall I suppose! I don't know what happened to any 2nd bonus disc though - I received just the one; which was rather disappointing for £12.99 . Was this then a mistake or false advertising on someone's part?
Still, it is an important Bruford recording to add to your collection if you are a fan.
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~ Bill Bruford
~ Bill Bruford
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~ Bill Bruford
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