SECOND WIND (AS OBLIVION EXPRESS)

3.5 stars. It was fun going through Auger's solo stuff several years ago despite not being very impressed. It just seemed like he just wanted to be popular and that was the goal. So yes commercial, light music infiltrates pretty much everything he did and "Second Wind" is no exception. While I do like "Streetnoise", "Closer To It!", "Second Wind" and "Befour" only the latter hits the 4 star plateau in my opinion. Maybe Gary Boyle being on that 1970 release had a lot to do with that.

There's a few Scottish musicians on here including singer Alex Ligertwood who was in THE JEFF BECK GROUP and would later join SANTANA in 1979, so he was obviously talented but I really don't like the way he seems to yell the lyrics at times. Interesting that on one of Auger's later albums, a live one from 2015, he has Alex singing on it so that friendship obviously stood the test of time. The drummer here would go on to play in the AVERAGE WHITE BAND.

Another inconsistent album from Auger in my opinion with two tracks bringing this down in "Somebody Help Us" and "Freedom Jazz Dance" being two examples where the vocals disappoint. Highlights though include the opener "Truth", the closer, which is the title track and my favourite "Just Me, Just You" where it just sounds good to my ears and I like that 1 1/2 minute piano solo too.

One of Brian's better efforts in my opinion but check out that 1970 release "Befour". I like that we have all of Auger's albums lumped together on the site here instead of broken down into the solo stuff, the Oblivion Express stuff and the Trinty era. Nice to look at both lists to be honest.