what Frank is listening to #25 – NEIL LARSEN – High Gear – (A&M) – 1979
I suppose I bought this one because of the cover art and the back cover art (a picture of a late 50s pink corvette) – I thought Larsen might be some late 70s wannabe rockabilly type. Putting the record on brought a wave of nausea over me … the first track is a medium tempo song full of late 70s tinkly keyboards and totally inconsequential. No rock, let alone rockabilly. I didn't hold much hope for the rest of the record … you cant really go anywhere from that. That first song has to capture the mood of the album and usually does on most records (think about it).
Here, my first impressions wre correct. The rest of the first side is exactly the same. I am now writing contemporaneously – Dear God, I think I have bought a solo album by a session muso! And what's worse it's 1979 and recorded in Hollywood. Not a good time and place for mainstream music.
Time for some research – nothing on him on allmusic or wikipaedia – time to google…. found something… if you think I am going to summarise this for your convenience you are whacked … I need this out of my life, like now. Cut and paste it is:
Neil Larsen is a composer/keyboard player from Florida that has been successful in several different fields. As a recording artist, he has recorded four solo albums, one of which was nominated for a Grammy. After teaming up with guitartist Buzz Feiten, they recorded two albums with their band Full Moon, and one with the Larsen-Feiten Band, which included the top ten single, "Who'll Be the Fool Tonight". As a session musician, Neil Larsen has played on over 150 albums, including three with George Harrison, three with Kenny Loggins (and the single "Footloose"), Whitney Houston, Jimmy Cliff and 4 albums with Rickie Lee Jones, including the single, "Chuckie's in Love". His string and horn arragements are featured on albums by Gregg Allman and B.B. King among others.
Says it all …with a resume like that who needs someone bagging you ...Ok there are some exceptions in there. But follow the link if you want to know who he has played with: http://www.straightaheadrecords.com/sound/artists/larsen_ford.html I would say that 955 of the artists he has played with are awful. Its a case of "like flies to shit" I suppose.
This is hard work. I have nothing against instrumentals – and I will give everything a go – and I have a lot of instrumental albums (mainly from the 50s and 60s). I even have some Floyd Cramer piano tracks burnt somewhere. As for keyboards one of my favourite albums is "The Most Crazy Ram Ramirez" record live at Frank's Steakhouse (I always wanted a club called that) in Long Island (if I recollect correctly) … but that is whacked out 60s cheesy jazz from a Puerto Rican (I think). Similarly, muzak has its place too – I suppose. Mood and elevator music certainly does. But the stuff here (recorded in 1979) is like something out of a really bad 80s TV show or B grade "erotic thriller". So in that regard at least Larsen was ahead of his time …
On reading some more I find that Larsen does the music to "Boston Legal" … a good show but this is obviously Larsen's forte – background music.
Surprisingly the title track was nominated for a rock instrumental Grammy – must have been a poor year – then again it is only a Grammy. (ooooh its only a Grammy)
I don't think Id would be happy with this keyboard album … and he liked cheese. Actually on the 80s TV / movie soundtrack cheese level I can appreciate this record … seriously (close your eyes and you can actually see a bad show playing out in your minds eye).
Awful … I'll be selling this …and maybe someone will buy it.
sound:
look at the high ratings he gets on youtube – they even call it smooth jazz … Brubeck and Chet Baker are smooth jazz this isn't.
(originally posted: 11/05/2009)
