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TONY DANGERFIELD
The Rebel's Got Soul
Ta Pa 36

***** An unexpected departure for an old rocker.
The bass player and mainstay in the late Screaming Lord
Sutch's backing Savages, Dangerfield has been a
recording artist in his own right since 1964. For
decades, however, new product has been as as
infrequent as that of Scott Walker - and this entirely
self-penned release could easily be his last. If so,
then it's an unprecedented epitaph - because Tony is
in a soul bag that's as far removed from from the
Savages and his previous solo output as it could be.
For over-riding vocal passion, he's on a par
with Winwood, Morrison, Cocker and Cliff Bennett -
though traces of Dylan are discernable in his phrasing
- and all twelve selections stand tall as songs per
se. Indeed, without much rearrangement, "Oh Baby
You're Through" would fit James Brown like a glove.
Dangerfield's self-restricted scope also extends to
reggae on harmonica-led "Are You The Same Girl" and a
touch of Philly-soul in downbeat "I'm Free From Your
Spell". My only criticism - and it's a very subjective
one - is that the too-pure tone of the vibraphone that
rears up now and then, lends an aberrant BBC Light
Programme edge to otherwise fiery instrumental
passagework on an album that justifies totally the
words of John McNally of The Searchers: "You don't
have be young to make good records."

Alan Clayson
 

 

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