Search - Robert Berry :: Pilgrimage to a Point

Pleasant, "Progressive" Pop

Henry R. Kujawa | "The Forbidden Zone" (Camden, NJ) | 02/05/2002

(3 out of 5 stars)

"Robert Berry rides again! As a huge fan of 3: ...TO THE POWER OF THREE (with Keith Emerson & Carl Palmer) I snatched this album up without hesitation. It's nice... but after several years I hate to say nothing on it really stands out-- even when I'm playing it. It's on the "laid-back" side, and reminds me quite a bit of late-model Asia, only with better vocals. Included are detailed liner notes laying out Berry's career to date, including his time with Hush, The Robert Berry Band, GTR, 3 and Alliance, as well as a "flow chart" showing visually all the different inter-connected bands and their various members (for those like me who love keeping track of such things!). Among Berry's songwriting collaborators here are Steve Howe ("No One Else To Blame", "The Love We Share"), Carl Palmer ("Shelter") and Keith Emerson ("Last Ride Into The Sun"-- not surprisingly, the most complex, "progressive" song on the disc).I wish I could say more, but for the most part this makes nice "background music" with singing. The real shame, reading Berry's "career diary",is how almost-total disinterest on the part of record label execs led to the quick disolution of 3, when the band had been all geared up to do a 2nd album. If artists signed to big labels can't expect support from their own companies, how are the multitude of great-but-unsigned bands out there ever going to be heard?"

Awesomely talented musician, writer and singer

Padraic | East Lansing, MI | 03/06/2007

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This CD showcases a lot of stuff Berry recorded that was meant for CDs that weren't released. "No One Else ..." is a song that he recorded with Steve Howe, as is "Love We Share". Between the GTR album ('86) and the 3 album ('88) there was going to be a 2nd GTR album, that Robert Berry and Max Bacon were gonna sing on. Because this didn't come to light the group 3 (Emerson, Berry and Palmer) came about, and did a fantastic rock/prog/pop record. Also on here are a couple pieces that were meant for a second 3 record, "You've Changed" and "Last Ride Into the Sun" ... the latter a long epic prog piece, with some great singing by Berry. As he explains in the notes, the 2nd 3 record didn't happen in the face of the new (at the time) ASIA reunion. The best song is a tune called "Another Man", which he originally wrote for Greg Lake to sing, offering it to the reformed ELP ... they didn't take the song, but frankly there's no way Lake could have recorded it as well as Berry anyway. Robert Berry has a real unique voice, with a lot of range ... I like Greg Lake's voice (though didn't like how about every song on the ELPowell album his voice was buried in effects or EQed for tone), but the song "Another Man" has this section toward the end where Berry does a repeating theme of his own powerful background vocals under keyboards it sounds like are played by Emerson. Lot's of kool stuff here, it appears a lot of it was 'finished' by the same producer ... tunes that were demoed during the GTR II days and demoed during the sessions for the second 3 record, but never finished off.

Berry is just plain talented. He is a great singer, plays electric guitar, bass, a bit of piano/keyboard, and is a guy who doesn't seem to have the hugest ego of other musos out there. This CD is just real satisfying to listen to, and good for a long drive as well. Great writing, singing, and flat out soul."

Great Musician and great cd

L. Monds | 01/12/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I had the pleasure of being Roberts neighbor in california. He's a great guy and an amazing musician. He plays all the instruments on the cd and it all comes together nicely. I find many of the songs soulful especially when you read the backstory behind them in the cd jacket. There is a hidden track thats very beatles influenced as well.



If your looking for a great progressive/easy rock cd, this one should be high on your list. Robert gave me an autographed copy of this cd when I was 19, now at 30 this cd is still on regular rotation in my cd player."