... AND OTHER SHORT STORIES

This was my first (and only one till recently) BJH purchase I did after having discovered their fantastic "Live 1974". The orchestration mood were really annoying me and therefore, I did not insist at that time (1975) to get their whole back catalogue.

Two songs will be featured on this brilliant live effort : "Medicine Man" and "After The Day". If you have read some reviews of mine, you know by now that I do not really like the mix of symphonic arrangements with rock music (being prog or no). The only noticeable exception is "El Dorado" from ELO.

My deception to discover the original "Medecine Man" version was huge. "After The Day" is much better in my opinion. It features a beautiful guitar break from John and a wonderful vocal part from Stuart. It is by far my preferred track of this album and the only highlight.

The least that I can say about "Someone There You Know" is that, at least, it might well have influenced some ELO songs. A very catchy and poppy melody, as Jeff was will write a lot. A good song, after all. "Harry's Song" is an attempt to a more rocking number. BJH will occasionally write such a track in their previous album as well. Not always convincing I'm afraid.

"Ursula" is a childish (or naive) song. Press next if you have the CD version. " Little Lapwing" is about the same during its first half. The instrumental part featuring the orchestration (gosh, those horns!) is just as useless as the previous one. So, you should press next for the second time.

"Song With No Meaning" is, IMO the only one very much Crosby, Stills & Nash oriented. Actually, it features a similar passage as at the end of "Judy Blue Eyes". It is one of the few good songs of this album.

"Blue Johns Blues" is the longest number of this album (almost seven minutes). It allows BJH to investigate a bit more in the songwritting, very low vocals with piano in the backgroung during the intro and then more rock-oriented with some slide guitar effects. I have to say, that this profile (the rocking one) is not my fave of this band. John Lees trying to sound as Alvin Lee (Ten Years After, a great blues and rock band by the way) in his vocal part is not really my cup of tea.

"The Poet" is a very pastoral piece of music. Very much in the mood of the album. Maybe, slightly superior to most of the songs here. But I think that only the band would have been better. These orchestrations are really too much for my ears. It sounds as a soundtrack number. Only the last twenty seconds are appealing to me. Not more.

The best BJH album of this era is undoubtfully, "Once Again". Besides, there will be three very average records of which this one. Symphonic only due to the addition of an orchestra. Not by the music. Most of the time, this album sounds pure folkish and lacks in personality.

Their choice of having an orchestra along with the core band will lead them into major financial problems. It will be the essence of BJH sound during their Harvest years, though. I far much prefer their "Polydor" sound (at least during four or five albums).

I might have listened to this album in its entirety maybe five times at the time of purchase. I have to admit, that to have listened to it again for the purpose of this review, will not turn me into a ultimate fan of these short stories.

Two stars.