There have been some spectacular first LP’s over the years. Simply Red, before Mick Hucknall sold out to go all ‘Vegas like’ and realising he can only write songs about women; Van Morrison, well OK either of #2 or 3 rather than the first; Counting Crows, an LP I constantly return to, and I can tell you, this is up there. What an unbelievable blend of folk, rock, luscious guitar playing and lyrics / vocals that will have you sitting up begging for more. It has a maturity beyond its years. Yes at times, it is a little guitar dominant, but when you are this good, you can’t hold it against the guy.
I’ve no idea who Michael Chapman is, and I cannot believe, after having spent much of my lost youth buying crap in a variety of Northern vinyl shops, that I haven’t come across the guy before. My loss. Just when you are settling down to a great guitar passage, he throws something else in. As one of the quotes on the inside cover puts it so eloquently …’there’s that much going on Upstairs, it goes on all night…’
I love his voice, along the lines of John Martyn, but with much more melody, but you get a taste of India thrown in during the instrumental that is ‘thank you p.k. 1944’ and where it comes from, I have no idea. Similarly with ‘Sunday morning’, parts of this are so simple you think any old strummer could play it, but then it is interspersed with some incredible passages of play that is way beyond many of us. Together it makes for a great track.
Sadly the latest info on his web site is a little out of date although there is an LP listed from early 2019. No matter what, if you want to start anywhere, I can guarantee there is no better place than at the beginning, 50 years ago. This LP is beautifully loaded with majestic music and in fantastic condition. To get the best from the guitar playing especially, get comfortable and just give the volume control a tweak. And then a little more.
All round, a great present, but better still, keep it close at hand.
