Albert Lee, Hiding / Albert Lee (Raven Records, 2004)
Albert Lee is a guitar player's guitar player. The guy is amazing. No, ALBERT LEE, not Alvin!!! He's not the over-indulgent Woodstock guy, from Ten Years After, flashing through "Goin' Home." No-sir-ee! This is Albert Lee. He has played with Eric Clapton, with Emmylou Harris, Joan Armatrading, and more. He admits to some confusion himself, in the liner notes to this compilation of two albums from 1979 and 1982. Jerry Moss, of A&M, had signed Albert to do a record in 1975 . . . "Jerry wasn't impressed at the time; he thought it a bit too country and I honestly believe he may have thought he'd signed Alvin and not Albert." Well, eventually the tracks came out, and this "twofer" from Raven Records is a treasure trove of British country music.
Lee spent his formative years playing in Chris Farlowe's back-up group, The Thunderbirds, where his fretwork influenced future stars Jimmy Page and Steve Howe. He recorded three albums with Head, Hands & Feet; he backed up Jerry Lee Lewis on his The Session LP. In 1973 he joined a reformed Crickets, who were still playing Buddy Holly's tunes; then there were sessions with Joe Cocker, and before you know it he became part of Emmylou Harris's Hot Band. He signed his solo deal in '75, but it was 1979 before Hiding first appeared. Listening to it now, you can understand Jerry Moss's concern. While the Byrds and Graham Parsons had made it possible to bring country music to a rock crowd, it was an acquired taste.
Hiding shows a fairly advanced understanding of the country idiom. There are Everly Brothers' harmonies, and plenty of that popping, sizzling Telecaster sound. Lee has played behind the Everlys, appearing with them for their comeback night at the Royal Albert Hall in 1983. The Everly sound is apparent on a Rodney Crowell song "On a Real Good Night" on Hiding. Crowell's songwriting is represented by three tracks on Hiding (and two more on the second album included here)! Dire Straits frontman, Mark Knopfler, wrote "Setting Me Up," which Lee covers in a fiery version. He covers the Louvin Brothers' "Are You Wasting My Time," and shows off his high country harmonies on "Ain't Livin' Long Like This."
Backup musicians on Hiding include Emmylou Harris, Mickey Raphael, Buddy Emmons, Rickey Skaggs and Don Everly. Production is handled by Brian Ahern.
The second album included on this twofer is 1982's Albert Lee. The musicians are reduced to basically Lee's touring band, drummer Larry Londin, bassist Emory Gordy and guitarist Vince Gill. Bill Payne and John Hobbs share keyboard duties. The sound stays pretty much the same. Albert Lee is the leader. It's his reedy voice and stunning guitar work that are the stars. That and his impeccable taste in songs! John Hiatt provides a couple, "Radio Girl" and "Pink Bedroom." Crowell's pair are "The Best I Can" and "One Way Rider." Stir in a handful of tunes by Hank DeVito and one by Don Everly, and you've got a tune-filled countrified session.
Albert Lee's guitar solos are not self indulgent timewasters, but rather intense, subdued, melodic bursts of magic that punctuate the choruses. Very tasteful. And the professional backing on both albums is always supportive. Lee is the star, but he allows the song to be the thing. It's a good mix. No sense of ego at all. The liner notes highlight this. They are brief, self-effacing, and funny. Lee says, "You have to realize that I was just a sideman when I made these albums and didn't have the confidence or vocal chops I have now . . . I still really like the records." You know what? I do too.
Raven Records has a Web site here.
