FEATURED ALBUM: Bruford - One of a Kind

[No Pride]

Hmm. That ProgArchives OoaK review needs....work

e.g., definitely not fretless bass, and I doubt that's steel guitar either.

There was a debate about the "fretless bass" thing here a couple of years ago. Shortly after, I was on a bus with Danny Gottlieb (we're in a touring cover band together) and he was on the phone with Jeff Berlin (they're close friends). I told Danny to ask Jeff if he played fretless on any tracks with Bruford and Jeff said he has NEVER played fretless. That settles that!

And BTW, I love FGtM, but I think of it as Bill's project album. By OoaK, they became a bonafide band and it sounds like it.

I got to see Bruford live. Going into it, I didn't know that Holdsworth had left. But the "unknown" John Clark did an admirable job of filling those giant shoes and it was still a great concert!

[Fracktured]

As for ranking, OoaK is the masterpiece to my ears, FGtM is just the warm-up.

Perfect description. Took out my FGtM the other day to reacquaint myself again with it and sadly the CD won’t play anymore. I’ll have to dust off my vinyl copy.


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[regenerativemusic]

In my top 10 Rock/Fusion albums. Recorded during a moment of time with the right people who were making rare classic albums. Our generation of Brubeck's and Coltranes.

[Mister Triscuits]

And BTW, I love FGtM

I keep thinking this must stand for Frankie Goes to Manchester.

[Kcrimso]

Good album but I prefer Feels Goog To Me. Annette Peacock's singing is a nice extra that this album sadly lacks.

[Kcrimso]

John Greaves is absolutely outstanding on Of Qs. Of course they are different records, Of Qs is less symphonic and more experimental, and imo more difficult to grasp (I suspect that this could be the reason for not liking it). A couple of listens won't do for sure.

At least they didn't do for me...

I like Of Q much better than the debut. One reason is Greaves' brilliant bass playing (interplay with Pyle in
Squarer for Maud... wow!) which I just adore. I think that Of Q would probably cut into my top 20 all-time greatest list. Debut would barely make into top-100.

[Zappathustra]

I like Of Q much better than the debut. One reason is Greaves' brilliant bass playing (interplay with Pyle in
Squarer for Maud... wow!) which I just adore. I think that Of Q would probably cut into my top 20 all-time greatest list. Debut would barely make into top-100.

Could very well be my favorite bass playing performance ever, it even makes a huge player like Neil Murray sound...ordinary.

[Enidi]

One's that come close to me that are similar in approach/sound/style..,

Brand X - Masques
Dixie Dregs - What If
Return to Forever - Romantic Warrior
Happy the Man - s/t
Jean Luc Ponty - Enigmatic Ocean
and the two National Health albums

Wow!...Excellent list. These are all very moody and One Of A Kind Is moody. Now..I'm going to dig these out of my collection and play them this afternoon...This list is inspiring. Crosswinds by Billy Cobham was inspiring to me as well

[interbellum]

One's that come close to me that are similar in approach/sound/style..,

Brand X - Masques
Dixie Dregs - What If
Return to Forever - Romantic Warrior
Happy the Man - s/t
Jean Luc Ponty - Enigmatic Ocean
and the two National Health albums

Although recorded slightly later I would like to add David Sancious' "Just As I Thought" to this list. Not only Bruford's bass-player Jeff Berlin is on a couple of tracks, Sancious plays some quite Holdsworthian guitar-solo's.

[MYSTERIOUS TRAVELLER]

Crosswinds by Billy Cobham was inspiring to me as well

another excellent album!

[Polypet]

Thoughts on this classic from 1979? I have always sort of seen these albums as relatives or companion pieces (of a sort) of the UK albums. But then there are some National Health style moments that also make the album stand out.



Review from ProgArchives:

The best album EVER. Such a game changer. Just so amazingly awesome to hear when it first came out. Ridiculously fresh. Dave Stewart and Bruford were both idols of mine. Holdsworth too? Forget about it. What a kickass record

[Enidi]

"Hells Bells" has the Hatfield & The North/National Health vibe and when those angelic voices arrive ..make no mistake..that style or approach is present. Dave Stewart is in a world of his own, particularly with his Progressive writing and to the rare point of having originality. Bruford somehow understood the flow of One Of A Kind in it's entirety. Aside from some nice improvisation it creates a visual . With "Sahara Of Snow" the album subtly role plays characteristics of Prog and that being an approach to an instrumental composition revolving around a concept and this can be attributed to one particular timeless representation of "One Of A Kind". It's a unique album and it's difficult to compare it to other instrumental releases of that era. Generally speaking...you could find other instrumental albums of that time that focused on both..Classical and Jazz and are timeless. As in Billy Cobham's Crosswinds.... with it's same energy level and visual concept ...creating an atmosphere that recreates itself periodically throughout the album or luring people in through the sound of the wind. Even people disinterested in instrumental music might be keen to it....for it's subtle theme. One Of A Kind has the art form present ..not just another Fusion album. The dynamics are dreamy and the music takes you on a journey.