Lord, Jon: Before I Forget (expanded remaster)

Jon Lord needs no introduction, the much missed keyboard maestro instrumental in the huge success of the many iterations of Deep Purple up to his departure in 2002 and also a key early member of David Coverdale's post-Purple band, Whitesnake. Add to that a respected catalogue as part of Paice Ashton and Lord and it's easy to forget that the legendary musician also released a number of diverse and excellent solo albums. Originally released in 1982, Before I Forget was Lord's first solo outing for some fifteen years and his only venture of that nature during his tenure with Whitesnake. This version, reissued by Cherry Red's Purple imprint, also comes complete with the two bonus tracks that featured on a 1999 re-release of the album, as well as the further three that graced a similar reissue in the year the keyboard master sadly died, 2012. Also in place are the 2012 liner notes from bassist Neil Murray who not only plays on much of this album, but was also Lord's bandmate in Whitesnake back in the day.

Unlike Lord's 1967 album, Sarabande, and much of his solo efforts and early work in Purple, Before I Forget resists the temptation to be an orchestral piece, instead Lord decided to combine classical influences with a rock outlook. A mixture of instrumentals and vocal led songs crafted into an 'up' side and a 'down' side in terms of the album's mood. Meaning that along the way BIF provides a whole host of styles. Opener "Chance On A Feeling" leaves no doubt that the old A-Side was the 'up' portion, Whitesnake of the time (Lord, Murray, Ian Paice and Bernie Marsden) - minus Coverdale and Micky Moody - and with guitarist Marsden on lead vocals, hits like that early 'Snake blues crossed with the commercial AOR of Jefferson Starship, and works a treat. Whereas Murray and legendary drummer Cozy Powell team up on the instrumentally baroque-prog piece "Tender Babes".

With Tony Ashton on vocals, Lord was joined by three quarters of Bad Company (Boz Burrell, Simon Kirke, Mick Ralphs) for the suitably blues-funk of "Hollywood Rock And Roll", where backing singers Vicky and Sam Brown give a marvellous performance. The old side one closing with "Bach Onto This", which as its name suggests plays on themes from Toccata and Fugue In D Minor, BWV 565 by JS Bach. With the traditional pieces attacked in a lively mooged up manner, it's possibly the most boisterous display from Lord on the whole album. Interestingly the 'down' side features four cuts with (more or less) vocals, the album's title cut a tender piano piece which builds and builds in atmosphere, before becoming almost Vangelis gone pop. Whereas "Say It's Alright" is a sublime heart tugging slice of 70s pop-rock that wouldn't have been out of place if Kate Bush sang for Wings. Vicky Brown giving a vocal masterclass as Lord, Ralphs and Murray are joined by drummer Simon Phillips. Leaving the moody sweep of "Burntwood" (Vangelis meets Rick Wakeman) and soul searching "Where Are You?" with a gritty, grizzly vocal from Elmer Gantry, to close things out in engaging, downbeat style. There's no doubt that these four tracks especially were a departure for Lord, but with each one treated with real love and attention, it's pure class from beginning to end. Lord himself stating about side two in the original release that "Jon Lord and Whitesnake fans must occasionally want to be introspective and I'd rather they did so with my music than Barry Manilow's"!

From the bonus cuts there's a welcome but dispensable 'single edit' of "Bach Onto This", the b' side, "Going Home" proving playful and exciting, the classy, upbeat instrumental holding the attention. Ravel's "Pavane" however is much more in keeping with the melancholy of the second half of the main album, while "Lady" is a fine ballad with Vicky Brown on vocals once more and "For A Friend" a pensive solo piece from Lord that really draws you in and holds you tight.

With the exuberant, classic catalogue of Jon Lord's main body of work, it's often easy to overlook his excellent music outside of Deep Purple and Whitesnake. Before I Forget, maybe more than any of his other solo releases illustrates a side of his song writing not often explored. Proving much more engaging and intriguing than most people remember. If you haven't sampled it for many a year (or indeed, ever), it's simply too good to lay forgotten any longer.

Track Listing
1. CHANCE ON A FEELING
2. TENDER BABES
3. HOLLYWOOD ROCK AND ROLL
4. BACH ONTO THIS
5. BEFORE I FORGET
6. SAY IT'S ALL RIGHT
7. BURNTWOOD
8. WHERE ARE YOU?
BONUS TRACKS
9. GOING HOME (7" B-SIDE)
10. RAVEL'S PAVANE (OUTTAKE)
11. BACH ONTO THIS (7" SINGLE EDIT)
12. LADY
13. FOR A FRIEND

Added: January 30th 2017
Reviewer: Steven Reid
Score:
Related Link: Before I Forget at Cherry Red
Hits: 1724
Language: english

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