Search - Alvin Lee, Mylon Lefevre :: On the Road to Freedom

Some weak moments, but still an excellent release.

Dennis Hawley | Asheville, NC | 11/20/2003

(4 out of 5 stars)

"This side project of Alvin Lee (departing from Ten Years After's no-holds-barred style) contains some of his best work. Those who are only familiar with such monster albums as 'Cricklewood Green' and 'A Space in Time' may find this work puzzling. Hooking up with American gospel singer Mylon Le Fevre, Lee served up helpings of more textured, sophisticated music than TYA. Even overt rockers like 'Riffin' and 'Fallen Angel' exhibit a more "roots-rock" sound than such songs as '50,000 Miles Beneath My Brain'. Using the talents of many big names (including George Harrison and several 'Traffic' members), the result is more varied and intricate than previous works. Even his blistering guitar work shows more finesse than usual with TYA's releases. The songs here range from the interesting-but-mediocre ('Lay Me Back' and 'Carry My Load') to the truly superlative (the title tune, 'The World is Changing' and the country-fried 'Funny'). In my opinion, one of Alvin Lee's best songs (maybe his very best) is the titular 'On the Road to Freedon'; with Mylon Le Fevre providing only backing vocals on this track, it effectively is Alvin Lee and Traffic (Steve Winwood on piano, Jim Capaldi on drums and Rebob on congas). Boy, is it one great song. Searing guitar, solid drumming, tasteful piano, a rousing melody and Lee's vocals never sounding better. It's nice to have this release available after so long.
One other point...I don't agree at all with the negative review published here. I cannot hear any "needle scratching" (and I have a very good quality system). What I do hear is great separation, full-ranging dynamics and clarity. Maybe the reviewer got a bad disc. This is on the Repertoire label, known for their superior quality products (check out their release of 'Broken Barricades' by Procol Harum for a sonic treat)."

Yeah, I'm Gonna Keep On Rockin' Till the Sun Goes Down!

Brent | Ohio | 12/21/2003

(5 out of 5 stars)

"It was a MAGIC night in November, 1973. I was on an extremely intense, extremely PHYSICAL date with..."a woman who I'd been warned about." About midnight, we went downstairs for a cold drink and turned on the TV, Wolfman Jack. And there was Jackson Browne whining, "....her waistline seems to be expandin,' although she never feels like eatin' a thing." And, needless to say, my libido plummeted WAY south. AH, but maybe my "date" knew me better than I thought, because she bade me, "Hey, dig what's comin' up NEXT!" I couldn't believe it: Alvin Lee, of eardrum crushing Ten Years After was doing a duet, now, with MY homeboy, the Suthen' Gospel singer, Mylon LeFevere, and they were performing a quiet, most BEAUTIFUL song, just them on acoustic guitars (!)called "Carry My Load." And the band they had put together for accompaniment! - wow, Steve Winwood and Jim Capaldi from Traffic and a guy I'd learn to recognize about half a year later, bassist Boz Burrell, who I'd see for the rest of the seventies with Bad Company. "This is just TOO COOL!," I raved to my disinterested..."date," who, TOO, was thinking about the ramifications of what Jackson Browne had whined about a song or two earlier. Not to worry, about a month later, we, together, purchased "On The Road To Freedom," and spent early 1974 listening to it, pleasantly wasted, and ferociously ignoring tripe like "Spiders and Snakes" and "Seasons In The Sun." This album is incredible! Alvin and Mylon PERFECTLY balancing and complementing one another, playing mostly all acoustic guitars. But there are the exceptions! The last track, "Rockin'" WILL peel the paint off the wall, and the track that one R Wood contributes sounds like what the Stones would sink to after he joined. But I DO have to admit, "Let 'Em Say What They Will" DOES manage to capture some of the chemistry he had with the late, lamented Faces. George Harrison contribues "So Sad," which features his beautiful "weeping" guitar, and Mick Fleetwood's playing drums on it, too! This is great "I wanna kick back an' play acoustic and not HAVE to play 'WEE-WEE-DIDDLY''lead' guitar," music, just some tunes that a couple of pals got together with some friends, and didn't feel they had to show off. Mylon's voice is, as always, sublime, and Alvin's even a bit "mellow," too. But, yeah, if you insist, the electric guitars ARE there NICELY, and even ol' Mylon does a bit of letting it ALL hang out on the rockers. Believe me, this is WELL worth the 24 bucks Amazon's asking for it, and you better go for it, because I've yet to see it in ANY of the local CD purveyors -and, believe me, I have looked."

Alvin explores a different "Road"

chris c carter | CA | 11/22/2003

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Alvin Lee known for his lightning fast licks on guitar, soulful bluesy tunes and amazing live performances throws us a curve ball with the re-release of "On the Road to Freedom".
Originally recorded in the early 70's, it is Alvin's first "solo" recording. Solo in the sense Ten Years After was not involved with this fine work. Alvin joined forces with Mylon LeFevre, and many other noteworthy musicians (George Harrison, Ron Wood, Stevie Winwood plus others) and put out a
a fine piece of music. Much more mellow and melodic than his work with TYA, but with great feeling and depth. Alvin shares the vocalist duties with Mylon, and Mylon also belts out some very nice songs of his own.
Each song utilizes the various artists, with Alvin playing guitar on almost all of the tunes.
It has a variety of music styles as well, with a very country tune "Funny", to an almost gospel like tune "Lay me Back" to a very nice traditional Rock and Roll Jam "Rockin' Til The Sun Goes Down".
So although this is not the typical "Alvin Lee" recording, it is a must have for any fan of Alvin, or any fan of music with depth, feeling and emotion."