This is a phenomenal box set of the Gillan output over those glorious few years the band was active.
Simply a “must have” for anyone who, as I was, around at the time and remember what a great band they were. Or for anyone who wants to know what proper classic heavy rock is all about.
We all know the history don’t we. Ian Gillan leave Deep Purple. Forms the Ian Gillan Band which is surprisingly goes in jazz rock fusion direction. Perhaps it’s where Spinal Tap got the inspiration for Jazz Odyssey?
The jazzy stuff doesn’t go down well. The Ian Gillan Band goes away with Ian next forming a band using his surname and getting back to the proper stuff in the late 1970s. I think he was at his vocal peak during the Gillan years. Peerless indeed.
Now what we have here is a seven CD box set with all the band’s albums, all sorts of bonus tracks, a comprehensive booklet with a history of the band and lots of photographs all within a seven inch by seven inch packaging.
First up is what became known as the Japanese Album from 1978, as it was only released in Japan. It sets the foundations for what would follow and is a fine album. Some of the IGB jazzy stuff remains and it is a bit patch in parts, however shows enough to indicate Ian’s back on track and the band has legs.
Colin Towns is outstanding on the keyboards and merges well with the guitars – which would be a signature feature on the future Gillan output. In particular on the brooding, atmospheric slow building and burning Fighting Man (written by Towns) and the monster swirling rockers of Abbey of Thelema and Back in the Game.
Next came Mr Universe in 1979 with the “classic” line up of Gillan, Towns, Mick Underwood (drums), John McCoy (bass) and Bernie Torme (guitar).
A rip snorter of an album with a huge sound, Ian’s even bigger vocals and Torme tearing it up on guitar with that distinctive style of his. Hard to pick out a stand out here because well, they all are…. The album sold big and your then teenage review was there to witness the band on that tour.
They followed up Mr. Universe with Glory Road in 1980. Had another visit to see them on that tour. So good live they were. And another killer album with stuff such as Unchain Your Brain, No Easy Way and On The Rocks pummelling away. Tremendous.
Keeping busy, they released Future Shock in 1981. My personal favourite Gillan album. In my opinion it’s a bona fide classic of biting heaviness with a sense of humour in the lyrics – especially No Laughing in Heaven.
The title track sums up Gillan in a few minutes. The short, sharp, er, shock of the Torme riff, Towns on the keys swirling it up, Underwood such a fine drummer, McCoy’s thumping bass and Gillan busting his lungs. Here is it:
Torme left after Future Shock as the signs were that all was not well in the camp. A ready made replacement quickly found in the form of Janick Gers recruited from the marvellous White Spirit (yes, that Janick Gers who went on to Iron Maiden) and later in 1981 Double Trouble was issues. A double album with a studio album and an album of live stuff.
Gers fitted in well and Double Trouble is another fine one. However then it seemed that things were getting as bit tense within the band and the release of Magic in 1982 would bring a dip in quality. It’s not bad, but not their best.
It all ended after a final show at the old Wembley Arena. However over those four busy years, Gillan have plenty to show for it and now all available within this fine box set it can all be enjoyed again ans well as being nostalgically reminisced about by us old gits who were there from the start.
For a seven CD set it is (at time of posting) nicely priced. I paid around £33 pre-order and it arrived on release day yesterday. I spent the rest of the day listening to all seven discs in sequence.
A bargain at £33 indeed. Snap one up and relive or discover what, for me, what is Ian Gillan’s (and the band’s) finest work.
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