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1976
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"...The Man Behind The Guitar..."
Jarrow's JOHN MILES popped
out his debut album "Rebel" in March 1976 on Decca Records and
promptly took his native Blighty by storm (and everywhere else for that matter
as evidenced by the number of picture sleeves to the "Music" single
on Page 2 of the gorgeous booklet).
Produced by studio whizz
Alan Parsons who’d steered Pink Floyd’s "The Dark Side Of The Moon"
to global domination in 1973 and containing the reasonable hit
"Highfly" from the preceding year (No. 17 in October 1975) -
"Rebel" the album had one further absolute ace up its tootin' sleeve
- the single "Music".
Clocking up a whopping 10
failed singles on Orange and Decca Records since 1970 - Miles had been around
for years - writing and slugging away. But the six-minute "Music"
released in the same month as the album (March 1976) caught the public's
imagination and heart completely. I remember it was absolutely huge - people
basking in its sentiment, brilliant slow-to-funky structure and those epic
Andrew Powell string arrangements. Tapping into that Elton John "Captain
Fantastic And The Brown Dirt Cowboy", Wings "Venus And Mars" and
10cc "How Dare You" marketplace for sophisticated rock -
"Music" pushed up to No. 3 on the UK pop charts and would come to
define John Mile's song legacy for decades after.
But there's other goodies on this album worth seeking out and that's where this rather superb Lemon Recordings CD reissue comes shooting in. Here are the details...
But there's other goodies on this album worth seeking out and that's where this rather superb Lemon Recordings CD reissue comes shooting in. Here are the details...
UK released March 2008 (May 2008 in the USA) -
"Rebel" by JOHN MILES on Lemon Recordings CD LEM 105 (Barcode 5013929770522) is
an 'Expanded Edition' CD Reissue and Remaster with Two Bonus Tracks that plays
out as follows (49:53 minutes):
1. Music [Side 1]
2. Everybody Wants Some More
3. Highfly
4. You Have It All
5. Rebel [Side 2]
6. When You Lose Someone So
Young
7. Lady Of My Life
8. Pull The Damn Thing Down
9. Music (Reprise)
Tracks 1 to 9 are his debut
album "Rebel" - released March 1976 in the UK on Decca SKL 5231 and
April 1976 in the USA on London PS 669. Produced by ALAN PARSONS - it peaked at
No. 9 in the UK and No. 171 in the USA. John Miles and Bob Wallace wrote all
songs except "Music" and "Lady Of My Life" by John Miles.
BONUS TRACKS:
10. There's A Man Behind The
Guitar - non-album B-side to the UK 7" single for "Highfly"
released September 1975 on Decca F 13595
11. Putting My New Song
Together - non-album B-side to the UK 7" single for "Music"
released March 1976 on Decca F 13627
JOHN MILES - Lead Vocals,
Guitars, Keyboards
BOB MARSHALL - Bass
BARRY BLACK - Drums And
Percussion
Guests:
The Maggini Quartet -
Strings on "Music"
Phil Kenzie - Saxophone solo
on "Lady Of My Life"
Andrew Powell - String
Arrangements
The 16-page booklet is a
feast of foreign pictures sleeves for the albums two big hitters
"Highfly" and "Music" - rare issues from around the word -
sheet music and more. You also get the lyrics and new decently in-depth liner
notes from STEPHEN CARSON. The foldout poster that came with original copies of
the British vinyl LP was the front sleeve photographed by Terry O'Neill but
because of the cover art to the booklet is exactly that - it's kind of
superfluous to requirements so Lemon have left it out. TIM TURAN - who handled
the Nazareth catalogue to such great effect - has taken a beautifully produced
album and given it the CD upgrade it deserves. This disc sounds great and fans
are also going to appreciate those two rare non-album B-sides in such rocking
audio.
The album opens and closes
on the epic "Music" - his piano gently leading in the song before
funk and strings take it to another level. Overplayed a tad on radio these days
- it still holds up and you can so hear why it was so huge 40 years ago. That's
followed by another one of the album's genuinely great tracks - the very
10cc-meets-ELO "Everybody Wants Some More" where his great vocals
soar up and down to complimentary strings and clever arrangements. The
incredibly Pilot-meets-The Hollies sounding "Highfly" was an obvious
single and came out as far back as September 1975 and was rewarded with his
taste of chart action - No. 17. The side ends on the seven-minute "You
Have It All" and feels so Captain Fantastic Elton John it's not true - all
guitars and keyboards that funk and boogie like they're making a Prog record.
I've always felt that
"Rebel" was the hammy overdone moment on the record - better is the
touching "When You Lose Someone So Young" which is almost done for by
strings but gets through. Hall & Oates fans might like the keyboard slink
of "Lady Of My Life" which has a very "Abandoned
Luncheonette" feel to it. It ends on the seven-minute "Pull The Damn
Thing Down" - a ecology song about over-building that rocks to the finish
with a segue into a "Music" Reprise. Of the two B-sides I prefer the
rocking "Putting My New Song Together" where words and music are
going around his head while riffage threatens to do your speakers in.
I've always wondered why
"Rebel" receives so many five-star reviews - it just isn't that great
an album (a good one yes, a great one, no). In fact I think his follow-up
"Stranger In The City" from February 1977 also reissued with Bonus
Tracks by Lemon was a better record overall. But if you've any love for the
"Music" of 1976 - then this is most definitely the version of
"Rebel" to let into your living room. Well done to all involved...
