Tommy James - "Christian of the World" (1971)

After his years with The Shondells, Tommy James had a relatively successful solo career. His Christian faith was hinted in some previous songs, but on this record the message was clear. The Christian theme doesn't in any way affect the quality of the songs negatively, it's beautiful melodies, groovy choruses and soulful gospel choirs mixed with catchy pop music. Tommy James had a gift of writing music many appreciated. The quality of the cover may be discussed, though.

The inside of the cover

Since I'm quite fond of bombastic choruses that sweep you away, I dig many of the songs. The gospel choirs make it swing. In general, Tommy James made quite positive music, which is also the case here. There are no depressing pieces that take the listener to a dark place, instead it's friendly, happy and easily accessible. And good. The songs are of high quality, even though they are so radio-friendly. Of course there are some more boring songs, which may be too cheesy, but overall a good record. And the older I've got, the less patience I have with songs that are too long. Therefore, I appreciate the 2-3-minute length of the songs. I never get bored, and the variation gets greater. So if you stumble upon the record in a thrift store, I think you should buy it. One does not have to fear the Christian message a number of songs display, it only makes them groove more.


Tracklist

Side A
1. "Christian of the World" - 2:45
2. "Rings and Things" - 1:55
3. "I'm Comin' Home"- 2:03
4. "Sing, Sing, Sing" - 3:05
5. "Draggin 'the Line" - 2:45
6. "Sail a Happy Ship" - 3:15
7. "Light of the Day" - 3:46

Side B
1. "Bits and Pieces" - 2:30
2. "I Believe in People" - 2:26
3. "Church Street Soul Revival" - 3:15
4. "Another hill to climb" - 3:10
5. "Adrienne" - 2:40
6. "Silk, Satin, Carriage Waiting" - 2:49

Jon Hassell - "Power Spot" (1986)

I found this album a few months ago in a local record store, for an affordable sum. I was attracted to it as I noticed that Brian Eno and Daniel Lanois had been sitting at the recording table, and these two in combination with Hassell's mysterious trumpet seemed interesting. In addition, it's released on ECM, which has released some interesting records throughout the years. The album is recorded nearby, more specifically in Hamilton, Ontario. In Canada, a distance of 600 km is considered "nearby". Perhaps it's Lanois' Canadian blood that determined the recording location.

It's a pretty dark creation, a relatively murky sound and not easily accessible music. If you don't know it's a trumpet Hassell is playing, it's probably not the first instrument you'd be guessing. My son thought it was "some African instrument". Apparently, he sings in the trumpet instead of blowing in it as usual, creating a special sound. Then he used tape loops for creating harmonies in the studio, which he used live, so the effects were created in real time, and not as an addition.

The music often has a bass of rhythms - percussion and bass (usually created with keyboards), and on top of this, Hassell plays. As mentioned, it's a pretty dark album, and rather difficult. The sound is quite peculiar, and since it's not so varied, it can go both ways. If you like the sound, you get a lot of it, but if you're a bit hard-fledged like me, it will be too much, and the variation not enough. So I'm not in love, and can't with a clear conscience recommend the album. But by all means, don't trust my words, try yourself. I still appreciate artists who do their thing, without too much worrying about how commercially viable the result is. It provides a width and variation within the musical world, and can inspire others to venture into new areas. Hassell is probably an inspiration for many, and therefore an important artist.


Tracklist

Side A
1 Power Spot 7:04
2 Passage D. E. 5:25
3 Solary 6:48
4 Miracle Steps 4:18

Side B
1 Wing Melodies 7:42
2 The Elephant And The Orchid 11:00
3 Air 5:18