The Return of the King
loce_the_wizard | Lilburn, GA USA | 02/19/2003
(4 out of 5 stars)
"The collapse of substance for style and appearance in rock music, and the rise of corporate dominance in rock, the fragmentation of radio programming, and the fact he just isn't one of the pretty boy prima donas all figure into why Roger Chapman-the man whom Rolling Stone magazine once dubbed "arguably the best vocalist in rock"-has never been granted the superstar status he merits and has earned.If you cannot place the man, then maybe you need to connect to the basics of rock and roll and hurl whatever is occupying your CD player across the room. Roger Chapman, frontman for the legendary English band Family, lead vocalist for the fascinating Streetwalkers, and solo artist often backed by the shamefully underrated Shortlist, deserves to sit squarely on the throne of best male rock vocalist. Period. Not best male rock vocalist of any particular ear, just best male rock vocalist. Yet he stalked away from an unappreciative England and set up shop in Germany where he is regaled as a rock hero, one of the few who would not compromise his vision or values for the siren call of the corporate dollar or reform bands just to tour and make a fast buck. (Afterall, what band besides a reformed Family could truly pronounce its tour as a the Reunion Tour?)Instead, he honed his skills, and delivered energetic, charged performances regardless of the size of his audience. There are nearly two dozen recordings in his discography, and Mr. Chapman done a few guest spots, including his blistering performance on Mike Oldfield's "Shadow on the Wall."His fans already understand this point, for the growling, even menacing range Mr. Chapman brings, along with an undimmed intensity (consider how far Rod Stewart has either fallen or stooped) that would leave Joe Cocker slack-jawed and Robert Plant hanging his head.A superb anthology that sweeps across the decades from the late `60s till now, Family and Friends showcases Mr. Chapman in an impressive array of styles. The opening track "Burlesque," perhaps his best known song, is an ear-rattling anthem that demands loud volume and plenty of bass, yet the next track, "My Friend the Sun" could warm any weary soul on a cold winter's day. This juxtaposition of styles can be found throughout this collection. Consider the jolting segue from the never-before-released "El-Chico," a sortie into techno rock, with Mr. Chapman's a not completely successful reworking of "Lucky Man," then, as the liner notes (more on these later) "it begs the question who but Roger could tackle such a diverse range of material and not make it his own?" It is pointless to try and pin down best tracks on such a sweeping collection (I have the five CD set) but I really like some of the examples of his work with the Riffburglars, such as "Can't Stand It" and the high octane "Downtown Train" (the old Chuck Berry rumbler).Some 14 previously unreleased recordings, many of them culled from live performances, provide a real treat. Yet it is also with some of these that I have a bit of a problem. Although it is splendid to hear vintage Family and Streetwalkers tracks performed live, the sound is awful pretty poor. I find myself focusing on Mr. Chapman's vocals and Charlie Whitney's brilliant guitar, but trying to imagine if there might not have been some way to improve the quality of these classic cuts. Still, for someone who regrets never having had the opportunity to hear either of these bands, I suppose the fact that these tracks exist at all is some measure of solace. Fortunately, the sound is much cleaner on the tracks taken from later performances, and it is a treat to hear studio favorites such as "Two Pieces of Silver" rendered live.Because there are so many styles and strands from Mr. Chapman's career represented, listening to this anthology requires a bit of patience and fortitude. There is too much to digest in even several visits to one's music room, and after a few times through, I find that I tend to skip the poorer sounding live tracks. Sometimes, I reorder the tracks to suit my fancy.The liner notes by Pete Feenstra, who is a student of classic English rock and music promoter, provide a wealth of history about Roger Chapman, providing a valuable overview for long-standing Chappo fans and any newcomers to his legion of fans. The box set is well-detailed and replete with photographs that chronicle Mr. Chapman's morphing from the young "wild man of rock" to the older "wild man of rock." Besides the poor quality of some of the live tracks to which I previously alluded, I have a couple of other nits to pick. I wish that the bonus CD were packaged in something a bit more sturdy than a loose cardboard sleeve which tends to fall out. Also, there are some tracks I would have deleted ("Zipah De Doo Dah," for one) and others I would have included, particularly some of the songs from the Streetwalkers' recordings. I would also have included comments from some of Mr. Chapman's old band-mates, particularly his long-time writing and performing partner, Charlie Whitney, to round out liner notes. Mystic Records has done a great service with this compilation, and Roger Chapman place on the throne is now clearly documented for all to hear. It's good to have the King of the Shouters out front once again."
Track Listings (63) - Disc #1