Brian Auger's Oblivion Express

Brian Auger's Oblivion Express ‎- Straight Ahead - 1974 - RCA

Disappointing release compared to its predecessor, Closer to It. Still, side one kicks off nicely with a typical Auger groove on "Beginning Again," then glides into a smooth, lyrical version of Wes Montgomery's "Bumpin' on Sunset." The album has a nice sound, but the material is inferior to previous Oblivion Express albums. © Jim Newsom © 2012 Rovi Corp | All Rights Reserved http://www.allmusic.com/album/straight-ahead-mw0000175820

"Auger never achieved either the commercial success of some of his former bandmates like Jimmy Page or Rod Stewart nor the critical success of some other jazz rock pioneers like John McClaughlin. But this reissue stands the test of time, however, mostly due to Auger's prowess with a Hammond B3. Highlight's include Wes Montgomery's "Bumpin' On Sunset" and Auger's own "Beginning Again."" © 1996 - 2012 CD Universe

"Straight Ahead" is a very good vintage album which I call it as simple as classic jazz rock music. Why? It's because the music is blend of classic rock and jazz. Try the opening track "Beginning Again" (9:22). You will find the nice flow of music with percussion giving textures in its rhythm section and the music flows beautifully in ambient mood backed with very nice keyboard work. The vocal quality is also nice. I really enjoy the part where the keyboard provides solo work - it's so nice. The next track "Bumpin' On Sunset" (10:51) is an instrumental and more on R&B in the beginning and it reminds me to the music of another vintage band EL CHICANO. Any of you know El Chicano? This track has a mellow style with unique keyboard solo which moves gradually into faster tempo and returns back into mellow style. The third track "Straight Ahead" (5:04) is a very nice song that has inspired new artists like Jamiroquai or The Leon Haines Band, I believe. The music is more on R&B style with jazzy keyboard solo by Mr. Auger - it's so stunning! The percussion still provides its textures in the rhythm section. "Change" (8:10) starts with guitar rhythm section followed by percussion and drum, continued nicely with guitar work that accompanies nice vocal line of Brian Auger. In a way it reminds me also to the music of Santana. "You'll Stay In My Heart" (3:44) starts with basslines followed with vocal harmonies. The music is typical with previous tracks. I find full joy in playing the CD of this album by vintage musician because the music flows beautifully from opening track to end. I highly recommend to those of you who appreciate vintage sounds and this album by Brian Auger is one of them that I believe you will enjoy it very mush as I do. All tracks are good and entertaining. Keep on proggin' ..! Peace on earth and mercy mild - GW Review by & © Gatot Posted Thursday, February 07, 2008 © Prog Archives, All rights reserved http://www.progarchives.com/album.asp?id=17033

Brian Auger, the "Grandfather of Acid Jazz", came out of the British Blues scene playing with artists like John Mayall. He was strongly influenced by organ players like Groove Holmes, Charles Earland, Jimmy Smith, Jack McDuff, Don Patterson, and many others. However, in his own right, Brian is equally as talented as any of these artists. In his early career, during the mid '60's in England, Brian was a "straight up jazz player". Later in his career he was accused by many music critics and fans of selling out, after he veered his music in a more R&B/jazz direction. At various times, he played with artists like Passport, the Average White Band and Les McCann and Eddie Harris. "Brian Auger is one of the best B-3 artists I have ever heard in my life. His technique is awesome and the amount of energy he generates is unparalleled and relentless. He is a tremendous talent with a wonderfully warm and compassionate personality, a combination that is hard to beat. He deserves all the accolades."- Herbie Hancock: "My Favorite rock artists are Van Morrison, Bonnie Raitt, Brian Auger and Loudon Wainwright."- Mose Allison: "Straight Ahead" has been dismissed by some critics as lacking energy and originality, but it is still a great jazz rock album full of great probing grooves. The rhythms are great throughout. Brian Auger has never played better and all the tracks are laid back and funky. Brian Auger has always tried to embrace the musical zeitgeist and even his so called "commercial pop/jazz rock" has always contained brilliant musicianship and thrown up something new. His music remains original and captivating, and he is one of the world's greatest keyboard players. The album is HR by A.O.O.F.C. Listen to Julie Driscoll/Brian Auger & The Trinity's "Streetnoise" album, Brian Auger's Oblivion Express' "Reinforcements" album, and Karma Auger's great "Blue Groove" album. Search this blog for related releases [All tracks @ 320 Kbps: File size = 82.9 Mb]

N.B: A little note for Steely Dan fans. One of Brian Auger's favourite musicians is the late English multi-instrumentalist, Victor Feldman, who played on at least five Steely Dan albums, and one of Brian's favourite albums is "Aja".

TRACKS / COMPOSERS

A1 Beginning Again - Brian Auger 9:22
A2 Bumpin' On Sunset - Wes Montgomery 10:57
B1 Straight Ahead - Barry Dean 5:09
B2 Change - Lennox Laington 8:10
B3 You'll Stay In My Heart - Barry Dean 3:44

N.B: Some CD issues contain the bonus track, "Straight Ahead" recorded live in Denver, Colorado in 1975

MUSICIANS

Jack Mills - Guitar
Barry Dean - Bass Guitar
Brian Auger - Organ, Electric Piano, Piano, Synthesizer [Moog & Freeman String Machine], Vocals
Steve Ferrone - Drums
Mirza Al Sharif - Timbales, Percussion
Lennox Laington - Congas

ABOUT BRIAN AUGER

Brian Auger was raised in London, where he took up the keyboards as a child and began to hear jazz by way of the American Armed Forces Network and an older brother's record collection. By his teens, he was playing piano in clubs, and by 1962 he had formed the Brian Auger Trio with bass player Rick Laird and drummer Phil Knorra. In 1964, he won first place in the categories of "New Star" and "Jazz Piano" in a reader's poll in the Melody Maker music paper, but the same year he abandoned jazz for a more R&B-oriented approach and expanded his group to include John McLaughlin (guitar) and Glen Hughes (baritone saxophone) as the Brian Auger Trinity. This group split up at the end of 1964, and Auger moved over to Hammond B-3 organ, teaming with bass player Rick Brown and drummer Mickey Waller. After a few singles, he recorded his first LP on a session organized to spotlight blues singer Sonny Boy Williamson that featured his group, saxophonists Joe Harriott and Alan Skidmore, and guitarist Jimmy Page; it was Don't Send Me No Flowers, released in 1968. By mid-1965, Auger's band had grown to include guitarist Vic Briggs and vocalists Long John Baldry, Rod Stewart, and Julie Driscoll, and was renamed Steampacket. More a loosely organized musical revue than a group, Steampacket lasted a year before Stewart and Baldry left and the band split. Auger retained Driscoll and brought in bass player Dave Ambrose and drummer Clive Thacker to form a unit that was billed as Julie Driscoll, Brian Auger and the Trinity. Their first album, Open, was released in 1967 on Marmalade Records (owned by Auger's manager, Giorgio Gomelsky), but they didn't attract attention on record until the release of their single, "This Wheel's on Fire," (music and lyrics by Bob Dylan and Rick Danko) in the spring of 1968, which preceded the appearance of the song on the Band's Music from Big Pink album. The disc hit the top five in the U.K., after which Open belatedly reached the British charts. Auger and the Trinity recorded the instrumental album Definitely What! (1968) without Driscoll, then brought her back for the double-LP, Streetnoise (1968), which reached the U.S. charts on Atco Records shortly after a singles compilation, Jools & Brian, gave them their American debut on Capitol in 1969. Driscoll quit during a U.S. tour, but the Trinity stayed together long enough to record Befour (1970), which charted in the U.S. on RCA Records, before disbanding in July 1970. Auger put together a new band to play less commercial jazz-rock and facetiously called it the Oblivion Express, since he didn't think it would last; instead, it became his perennial band name. The initial unit was a quartet filled out by guitarist Jim Mullen, bass player Barry Dean, and drummer Robbie McIntosh. Their initial LP, Brian Auger's Oblivion Express, was released in 1971, followed later the same year by A Better Land, but their first U.S. chart LP was Second Wind in June 1972, the album that marked the debut of singer Alex Ligertwood with the band. Personnel changes occurred frequently, but the Oblivion Express continued to figure in the U.S. charts consistently over the next several years with Closer to It! (August 1973), Straight Ahead (March 1974), Live Oblivion, Vol. 1 (December 1974), Reinforcements (October 1975), and Live Oblivion, Vol. 2 (March 1976). Meanwhile, Auger had moved to the U.S. in 1975, eventually settling in the San Francisco Bay area. In the face of declining sales, he switched to Warner Bros. Records for Happiness Heartaches, which charted in February 1977. Encore, released in April 1978, was a live reunion with Julie Tippetts (née Driscoll) that marked the end of Auger's association with major record labels, after which he dissolved the Oblivion Express and recorded less often. In 1990, he teamed up with former Animals singer Eric Burdon, and the two toured together during the next four years, releasing Access All Areas together in 1993. In 1995, Auger put together a new Oblivion Express. As of 2000, the lineup consisted of his daughter, Savannah, on vocals, Chris Clermont on guitar, Dan Lutz on bass, and his son Karma on drums. This group issued the album Voices of Other Times on Miramar Records one week before Auger's 61st birthday. © William Ruhlmann © 2012 Rovi Corp | All Rights Reserved http://www.allmusic.com/artist/brian-auger-mn0000625014