Valentyne Suite

The Valentyne Suite has the feeling of a love affair, the sort which flares up hotly then consumes itself........

And the album by the legendary British group Colosseum has the feeling of finest musicianship of whole England. The suite itself has three parts; January's Search, February's Valentyne and The Grass is always greener....

The A-side kicks off with a kinda rock'n'roll number "The Kettle" - lyrics are almost meaningless but the sound of James Litherland's guitar really swirls around the Jon Hiseman's drums and Tony Reeves' bass. Dick Heckstall-Smith wrote the song with Hiseman but it sounds like Litherland's solo.

The energy is enormous and at the same time other tracks have some nice jazz influences.

My vinyl album version is almost worn out - and just because I liked to play this album SO much.

btw, Jon Hiseman completed the liner notes just as Neil Armstrong took that one small step for man - as far as I am concerned, Colosseum took one giant leap for progressive music scene.

2112

With this album Rush was taking a new direction. And still it sounds good although it has been over 30 years since 2112 was released.

"We've taken care of everything,
The words you hear the songs you sing"

Well, Neil Peart said it. I cant resist - with this album Rush takes you somewhere in time. The whole side one is like epic movie. There is so much going on and one should follow the lyrics to get everything right.

You can even think that these guys are some kind of "communists" when they are singing about "Brotherhood of Man".....Or did they remember that old MOR band

"We only stop for the best"

That's right - there are so many albums and you really should stop only for the best.......