Valentyne Suite

by Colosseum

Overview

One of England's prime jazz-rock -- or, more accurately, rock-jazz -- outfits, most of the members of Colosseum had apprenticed in blues bands, and it shows very strongly on some of the material here. Both "The Kettle" and "Butty's Blues" are essentially tarted-up 12-bar blues, although they work well in a grander context; in the latter case much grander, as a brass ensemble enters for the last part, drowning out everything but the guitar, an indication that this recording is in dire need of remastering. "Elegy" is a fast-paced, minor-key blues that stretches guitarist James Litherland's vocal abilities. Things do get far more interesting with "The Machine Demands a Sacrifice," which offers solo opportunities to organist Dave Greenslade and sax player Dick Heckstall-Smith before re-emerging in what can only be called a proto-industrial style, all heavily treated clattering percussion. The album's real joy comes with "The Valentyne Suite," which takes the band out of their bluesy comfort zone into something closer to prog rock. Bandleader Jon Hiseman is a stalwart throughout, his busy drumming and fills owing far more to jazz than the studied backbeat of rock. Greenslade proves to be a largely unsung hero, his only real solo in the suite something to offer a challenge to vintage Keith Emerson, but with swing. As to criticism, bassist Tony Reeves has very little flow to his playing, which severely hampers a rhythm section that needs to be loose-limbed, and Litherland's guitar playing is formulaic, which can be fine for rock, but once outside the most straightforward parameters, he seems lost. In retrospect this might not quite the classic it seemed at the time, but it remains listenable, and for much of the time, extremely enjoyable. ~ Chris Nickson

Product Details

Release Date:	08/11/2023
Label:	Music On Vinyl
UPC:	8719262029101
Rank:	42426

Album Credits

Performance Credits

Colosseum   Primary Artist
Tony Reeves   Bass,Guitar (Bass)
Jon Hiseman   Drums,Machines
Barbara Thompson   Wind
Dave Greenslade   Keyboards,Vibraphone,Organ (Hammond)
James Litherland   Guitar,Vocals
Dick Heckstall-Smith   Saxophone
Dave Gelly   Saxophone
Jimmy Phillips   Saxophone

Technical Credits

Simon Heyworth   Remastering
Colosseum   Composer
Chris Farlowe   Composer
Dave "Clem" Clempson   Composer
Graham Bond   Composer
Jack Bruce   Composer
Tony Reeves   Composer,Producer
Jon Hiseman   Composer,Liner Notes
Pete Brown   Composer
Gerry Bron   Producer,Photography
Dave Greenslade   Composer
James Litherland   Composer
Dick Heckstall-Smith   Composer
Mike Taylor   Composer,Composer
Maurice Ravel   Composer
Dave Tomlin   Composer
Peter Brown   Composer
Philip John Hiseman   Composer