The best documentary of Holdsworth's early music and history I've seen to date. Thank you for your hard work and diligence in putting this together with such dedication and sincerity...nothing less than what his music deserves.
Thank you, thank you, THANK YOU!! This album was my introduction to the genius of Holdsworth when I was just 17. As a professional career musician and record maker, I cannot overestimate the inspiration and fire I have drawn from his music, but especially this album. I can't imagine how difficult it was to put this information together, but finding all this out after 35 years of studying and memorizing every note of this masterpiece heightens what it means to me that much more profoundly. What a gift you have given us!
Love this video. It takes me back to the day in 1982 when I bought this album in a record store in Austin, Texas and the clerk let me sit down in a chair and listen to it with headphones right then and there in the store, I was so anxious to hear it. That never happened before or since. I remember sitting there with headphones on with tears in my eyes because I couldn’t believe what I was hearing, that this kind of playing was possible. Never forget that day.
I was at one of those first IOU gigs in San Fransisco in '82. It brings tears of joy to my eyes to realize that I was a part of Allan's triumphant arrival to America as a band leader after years of struggle as a side man. Thank you for putting this heart felt documentary together.
We all were excited by his fluid soloing, but we had no idea he could compose like THAT! The music he contributed to Ponty, Bruford and Gong, did not prepare any of us for hamonic sophistication that Allan was capable of in a keyboardless drum, bass and guitar band. I bought the black IOU album at the gig.
Allan Holdsworth is our Shakespeare, DaVinci, and of course Tesla all in one and I got to meet him and see him many times. Thank you, grateful !!!! EDIT : I forgot to tell you what a WONDERFUL job you did on this documentary. It is so thorough, and passionate. I can see it was made with real admiration, and not just something to do.
Fantastic doc!!!! Thank YOU!! I was incredibly blessed to be at that packed Roxy show when Alan and Eddie jammed. Everyone knew that was a historical moment! The reaction of the entire crowd from the first song could only be described as SHOCK AND AWE!!❤❤❤
Gawd, I knew Allan had struggled but this video really brought it home to me how close he came to giving it all up. Thank goodness he and the band persevered. Even after all this he was never really understood by the cookie cutter music industry. Nevertheless he managed to produce an outstanding body of work that will stand the test of time. I count myself very lucky to have witnessed his incredible brilliance on a number of occasions. RIP Maestro.
I met Allan when he played with Gordon Beck at a small club in Edinburgh around 80/81, must have been less than 50 people at the gig. He was astonished that I knew about his music and the people he had played with and he did tell me the same story about considering selling all his gear and packing it all in. Think the only thing that stopped him must have been the Eddie Van Halen patronage and Warner Bros deal, although once he got there it never worked out as planned. I met him a couple of other times, he was a real gent and one of the best musicians this planet will ever see. RIP, the man who changed guitar forever.
@@kevthebass It's well worth watching the video about the making of Road Games too. As much as I and thousands of Allan fans appreciated Ed's public praising of his hero, Ed's dark side came out big time, and his total lack of understanding of Allan's music became apparent, along with his massive and ridiculous ego trip, basically feeling himself entitled to impose his own vision of what he thought Allan ought to be doing, and he and Ted Templeman became Allan's biggest obstacle to achieving his own vision, although Allan ultimately prevailed, thank goodness.
Gary was like a more contemporary Tony Williams, just as jarring, inside and explosive, but with a more rock familiarity. He hit hard and did things no one else thought of powerfully, but with a level of music. He really hit hard! didn't know UK opened for VH in 78. Wild.
@@rubyjones01 Gary is AMAZING !!!!! Very humble guy, too. I asked him how he liked playing with my other favorite band, Level 42, and his answer was, "It was fun."
Thank you for making this splendid programme! IOU remains my favourite AH album and I still remember the sonic shock I felt when I first heard it. I had very little money at the time and to pay £10 for an album in 1983 was a tough decision that I have never regretted. I still have that original vinyl. In late 1981 I was lucky enough to see Allan play in Maidstone, Kent with Gary Husband, Gordon Beck and Jeff Clyne! (Gary is the only one still with us...) After the gig, which was excellent - I remember White Line in particular, as an instrumental! - I got the chance to talk with Allan, who indeed was about to quit the scene and take a job as a fork lift truck driver. He actually said "I'm tired of banging my head against a wall, I've just got this gig in America to do and that's it.. " An unbelievable genius and a humble, perhaps even tortured artist. Thanks again, this is so great!
Wow thanks so much! So incredible you saw him at such an important time in his career, he is a true trooper and really worked hard and all his success in the 80s and acclaim was so well deserved
When the original IOU album came out, I was already a fan knowing Allan from UK and the Bruford band which was my favorite at the time. I saw a single copy at the best record shop in my home town and didn't the money on me. When I returned it was gone never to return. I had to wait for the red cover reissue to hear it. I was fortunate to see probably as much as anyone under very intimate circumstances. I moved to Los Angeles in 1986. His favorite spot to gig was The Baked Potato, which he visited at least twice a year. That place is the size of a shoe box. Gary came out here twice and was amazing. Most often it was Chad on drums.
This album was jaw dropping when it came out, and remains so. That longevity- holding up as well as it has- testifies to it's legendary greatness. For me- of all his entries, this one is THE ONE. I'd seen Allan with Tony, but the incarnation of IOU was a leap forward in his guitar evolution. The band is as one, with each member superbly talented on their instrument. All tracks are interesting- no dead air. When I first heard the Williams vocals, I thought..what? He sounds like Tom Jones! But it worked! The harmony is so idiosyncratic - I wonder if Jones could handle it, let alone anyone else-but Paul soared thru the demands. Not everyone gets what this recording was about, but those of us that do- really do. Thanks for the posting.
I met Allan many times. Had a beer with him once. We talked about cycling. I saw him perform for one week straight in Tempe, Az back in 1982. That’s where I bought my copy of IOU. I was part of the Holdsworth cult! Didn’t find out later that EVH was a fan! I wish I would have went to that Roxy show! Thanks for uploading!
Excellent video! I remember seeing the IOU band in Birmingham playing this material around 1981/1982. I wasn't sure of what to make of it at the time as it sounded so different to anything else, but it's certainly stood the test of time. Amazing compositions and course, superlative playing!
Great retrospective on a great artist and debut album. I was so blessed to be able to see IOU in Baltimore MD during this time all those years ago. The audience was small but the impression I was left with was HUGE and unforgettable. Allan Holdsworth and this band in particular were amazing indeed. An inspiration for so many others that followed after.
Road Games came out in 1983, one year after IOU. Allan himself was not happy with the production of it where he was overruled by Templeman. But I think it is really very good.
Excellent job! Thank you so much! I was one of many that saw those early IOU gigs in SF. Allan has no equal as a composer or guitarist. You have done his legacy justice here.
Amazing work, congratulations! Mixed in two days, makes this album even more unique. Through this making-of, you gave Allan the respect and recognition he deserves. Thank you.
Many many thanks for this long overdue deep dive into IOU. This album was a nexus in time and music - a zero AD or CE so to speak. I first learned of IOU in a Guitar Player magazine album review around 1981, and having already loved Enigmatic Ocean and One Of A Kind, I tried it on a whim. It utterly changed my world. There will never be another Allan Holdsworth.
EXCELLENT. Ruby. You scared me a bit at first. But the info was so dead on that with the first 5 minutes it was realized you are seriously one fantastic journalist. You've done a justice to someone that permanently changed guitar, writing and production. Please do more.
Thank you so much…his music has spoken to my soul more deeply than any for years. Thanks for the taking the time 😊I can imagine videos from his other albums too…also what or where is Enby?🙂
Thank you so much for making this! Great video, i had no idea of all the struggles and hardship Allan had to endure. Heard the album many decades ago when i was 14 and it still amazes me.
Lucky enough (blessed, really) to have seen Allan in the 80s at the Soft Rock Cafe in Vancouver. A small 200 seater and my brother-in-law and I were front row centre. We met Allan afterwards who was a complete gentleman and even let my brother-in-law play his Charvel (I didn't have the guts! lol) I was talking with with AH's manager afterwards and he said [paraphrasing] "There's this kid from Texas Allan really loves and wants to bring him on the road with us". That kid was Eric Johnson. RIP, Maestro
I remember being in high school and having to specially order this from the local record hut. And as you may expect my contemporaries in HS looked at me like I had antlers growing out of my forehead when I'd play it for them. As far as I'm concerned it was one of the best albums he ever made.
Me too! I was 16 when it came out. I found it at a Tower Records in a nearby large city. I flipped out like I'd found gold. I even played the album for my H.S. Jazz Ensemble teacher and he just stood there speechless.
Wow. I can't say anymore than what all the other comments have been saying. A nicely detailed synopsis of his early years leading to IOU. I didn't know about him selling his Gibson for a plane ticket. I feel a little guilty hearing how hard it was personally when all you hear is the beauty in his playing even as a sideman. I was listening recently to his solo on "Halfway House" from "The Unique Concert" album and thinking... So beautiful. Cheers for this.
Thank you Peter! I agree, there’s a great interview with John Wetton from 78 where he mentions Allan being tired of being “wheeled out on stage with all these different bands to do a solo” and that sums up perfectly his sideman output for me! Thank you for watching my friend!
It has taken me years to get into Allan's music, and I'm still having to take his music in slowly - on a song by song basis - but it's been worth the effort. Plus, you've made me re-evaluate Paul Williams. I had assumed for some reason that vocals had been forced on the album by a producer. It also breaks my heart to hear how much hardship Allan went through during his life.
@@fantasticoadidas thank you my friend! The Allan Holdsworth story is just a testament to the lengths people will go to express themselves in their art!
@@rubyjones01 Amazing he was, Allan Holdsworth. He opened up my mind to accept lots of difficult things to learn (while listening) and also lots of difficult decisions. To lots of people his music is 'weird', well, let all of us Allan Holdsworth listeners be 'weird' then, I don't care for a second. Please keep on going with your excellent video's, love them !
I stupidly sold my vinyl mail ordered copy of IOU in the late 80's cause never had space in the very small places I live in, and needed sell off my records. I regret this very very much, although I have IOU back in CD format. This record is still way ahead of it's time, remarkable in every aspect! Monster Album
This is a fantastic achievement, and well appreciated by this old died in the wool Holdsworth devotee! Thank you so much for telling this incredible story of the greatest electric guitar player ever to walk the Earth!
I love Dis Recud!I bought dis in San Leandro, Cali,back in 88,listen to it all the time.Heavy rotation in my collection,from IOU to Sand,good stuff!Just saying,thanks for anything on The Master!
Wow, That was awesome!!!! What a story..I was one of those fans in NYC that grabbed everything i could from him, We even had a cover band playing his songs! (Not very well, but , hey I became a professional musician afterwards) Thank you so much for this!
Stunning video and fantastically narrated! It's a shame that there's actually less info available out there on his albums from Atavachron onwards. While we know so little about the making of, say, Sand or Hard Hat Area, I suppose we can move towards the point where all his tracks are transcribed and charted. I'll try to release another transcription this month, and everyone's looking forward to the massive video John Vullo is soon releasing on all things Holdsworth.
Thank you so much! I agree so much! Hopefully if more videos are made like These more info may come to light, atleast I really hope so! I love John’s videos and wowed many guitar player friends with his top 10 hardest Holdsworth chord videos 🤣 Well done on your transcriptions!! They’re amazing my friend! Keep up the good work!
@@rubyjones01 It feels like Holdsworth scholarship really is becoming a bit of a thing- I heard a mention of someone currently doing a PhD on his harmony, there's the occasional masters dissertation out there, and I saw an an amazing piece of visualiser software somebody had programmed, showing the moving harmonic centres of a Holdsworth track in real time. Sadly none from UK academics - clearly he's still received better overseas than here. Keep up the good work too!
I saw Allan play the IOU material in a London pub with his trio around 1980. It was clear he was a genius the like of which had never been seen before & would never be seen again. Yet the pub was barely full & he couldn't get a record deal as you mention 🤔 I really wish I'd had some spare money at the time as I'd gladly have have offered him some financial support to promote his music. I met Gordon & Dick Knight when they fitted the same type of stainless steel frets to my strat as they'd fitted to Allan's. Nice chaps. I like the info you give out in this vid. Though ironically allans wonderful music in the background is a little distracting when listening to your commentary
Wow. Much work and love has been put into this, I can see! Great video, perfect narration, excellent effort IMO! Hopefully many new ears will get to appreciate Allan's music thanks to this, too!
Thanks for the nice video! Here's my Allan gig experience. I went to see him as a youngster, must have been late 70s, in a club in London. I think it was in Oxford Street, maybe the 101 club. There were only 20 or 30 there, talking over the music etc. I remember Allan getting irritated. I also remember seeing him drinking a beer or two! He played as you'd expect and there were maybe 8 or 10 guitarists sitting a few feet from him. A few years later (maybe 1984) I was at music school myself, and he had moved to USA but was playing a gig in a smallish place in Old Street, London. I said to a friend, "come and see him play, there won't be many there"...... We couldn't even get in, the queue was really long, they took our money and said watch from the foyer on a monitor! I then saw him a few years after in Glasgow at the Renfrew Ferry. Did anyone else go to any of these gigs?
Thank you so much! What an incredible story! I’ve loved hearing all these stories about Allan and his career and in a way it’s helped me get even closer to understanding him! Sadly I was just 16 when he passed and didn’t even hear his name mentioned until I Heard brufords Hells Bells for the first time age 17, it definitely changed my life and opened my eyes to both my favourite drummer and guitarist at the same time!
I bought this Album at one of those first three shows at the Roxy in LA when it came out. It and the show were completely ear opening. Including Gary Husband's incredibly unique drumming and Paul Carmichael's bass playing. Truly a seminal album 🎸
Great video and I learned so much about AH and IOU. I discovered his music while listening to early Bruford records and the first AH LP I picked up was Metal Fatigue. After that I was hooked.
Very nice video on a period of Allan's development that was always so mysterious and interesting. That IOU record had legions of guitarists either burning/selling their guitars or doubling and tripling down their practice regimens.
Amazing tribute, thank you ❤️🔥 I remember seeing him live here in Ottawa Canada when I was 16 in the early 80’s. EVH had turned us on and I watched in awe and delighted confusion.
Love your video of the making of IOU. What a fantastic documentary. Attended very first IOU tour in San Francisco (club called The Stone). Quite an honor to become friends with Allan through the early '80s till '92, prior to leaving California. Saw Allan perform close to 30 gigs between '82 through '92. I recorded a song last year called "Egyptian Eyes." Tribute to his great inspiration throughout the main part of my career. Cheers...subscribed. 😻
By far my favorite album by Allan. Having struggled with the book Reaching for the Uncommon Chord, I learned the complexity of his playing. This documentary uncovered so much detail of which I was unaware. Beyond the instrumental wizardry, I couldn't understand why I gravitated to the album. It was the ebb and flow of the time based on how it was recorded. Thank you for your work.
iou is a perfect album for me. Allan's dexterity is out of this world. Every tune sounds unique and the guitar sound is different to the way allan plays, not the guitar effects themselves. If you can listen to this album very loud you will discover allan's charisma to some of his peaks of his career. Of course, the whole band plays great to a high level that a difficult direction of this music demands.
I got to open for Alan and Steve mores of the Dixie dregs in Dallas doing his IOU tour , the time of my life . I’m a bass player the other two were Gerry peak and Jeff Berlin. Alan was nice and very humble, got to say thanks and shake his hand and yes they were big , what a memory, peace Alan.
Dear Ruby, Thank you so much for this. Heard when I needed it the most. Peace and Love Jesse. P.S. I own one of the original black-covered IOU albums signed by Allan.
Brilliant Historical account of the making of a rare but excellent album ......Gary & Allan gave each other the improvisational latitude to be fully creative. I would have thought that a lot of the modern Pro Tools recording technology Allan would probably have seen as a return to 'JIGSAW MUSIC' as he called it with its non continuous live performance cut/shunt and paste assembly techniques.
Great precis of Allan's career! I had forgotten how amazing the I.O.U album is. I saw Allan at the 101 club in Battersea around that time - it was heartbreaking to see such a musical genius playing to an audience of about ten people. So glad his career took off in USA.
Here's somebody who actually saw the Roxy show with EVH. If you'll indulge me, because it is a pretty funny story. I am a musician myself (bass guitar) and as it seems that even though Allan's fans may not have been limited to musicians, those that were felt we had a special bond. So it was that my friend Cory (guitar/keys) and I had a fun ritual...as he was usually the one who found out where Allan was playing locally, he would ring me up and leave me a message on my machine; "Allan's at the Roxy"...CLICK!...or "Allan's at the Whisky"...CLICK. or even "Allan's at the (gone, but not forgotten, world-famous) Golden Bear". In fact, Allan might've been one of the last few to play in that venerable Huntington Beach club. At any rate, I was to meet up with him at the Sunset Strip club, so there I was, waiting for my notoriously late friend as downbeat grew closer. I was seriously considering going ahead inside and forgetting my friend when I saw someone bopping across Sunset, dodging traffic with an obvious bass slung over his shoulder. My goodness, I said to myself, but doesn't that look like Jeff Berlin, someone I had idolized since those Bruford sessions? I'd assumed it would've been Jimmy Johnson on bass, but whatever. As it turned out my tardy friend was not so tardy and was already waiting for me inside the club. "You'll never guess who I saw!" i said. "Well, you'll never guess who I saw" he replied. After stating that I was sure I saw Jeff Berlin jaywalking on Sunset he announced he was sure he saw Valerie Bertinelli, in a wig, in the lobby. Of course I told him he was mistaken. What would she be doing at an Allan Holdsworth show? So when EVH jumped up (with Jeff Berlin) to jam during the encore it all made sense, as , of course, she and Eddie being still married at the time. And it also made sense when I'd read years later that Allan had been working with Eddie's producer Ted Templeman for the "Road Games" EP, one of my favorites, although I'd heard different stories as to how much he was satisfied with it.
Wow!!! This is an absolutely fantastic documentary in every possible way, from the research to the writing and editing, you've done our beloved late maestro an enormous service. Very well done indeed, my friend, I heartily applaud your work and now looking forward to watching the one about Road Games! You mentioned you're a drummer, by chance do you have any of your music out there to enjoy?
@The Enby Adventures Of Ruby If I may say so, you , not unlike the Maestro himself are very good at what you do & deserve to be commensurately compensated for your work. Thank you very kindly for your efforts on this. I've been curious for 40 years as to what combination of circumstances led Allan towards what ultimately resulted in (arguably) the most remarkable compositional style of any guitarist I'm aware of. Your exposition answered questions about his theory base, simultaneous string striking & harmonic/melodic depth that have perplexed me to no end. I rarely comment on videos but your work demanded my direct response. THANK YOU & Namaste.
Thank you so much my friend! I am very flattered to be compared to Allan 🥰 I think I’m drawn to his music because he was just being himself and that’s what appeals to me so much, regardless of what his peers thought he was himself and didn’t care and spent his life being his true self and something about that really resonates with me!
When that album first came out, it was mail order only. That's how I got it after hearing Allan with Bruford's and Tony Williams' albums. What blew my mind on I.O.U. was the unveiling of Allan's chordal thing; you never really witnessed that on the other people's albums that he played on.
Agreed! That’s the big leap with this album! Like we knew he was a soloing genius but apart from maybe the intro to Mental Medication and Nevermore intro by U.K. we had no idea about Allan’s chordal genius and songcraft
I found the original black cover album in a record shop in OKC, and paid a mere 2.50. for it. A few years later my best friend moved to LA and got a job at Enigma records around the time the rwd cover version was released. My fried said Allan would park in the loading zone of the conpany and he would get on the PA and say, "Allan, could you move your car".
The high level effort you put into the making of this 'mini doc'? is evident and outstanding. Thank you for your work. Interesting that I'm just now finding it. I saw him once many years ago in Kansas City, Missouri in a very small venue(maybe 50 people)Chad Wackerman was his drummer.
Nuthin like a unique Heart and Soul music,to always get held up,when you know you're on the Edge of something Big!Thanks Alan/great musical Backing band/great contributors to this Vision!Reading Eddie VH,in Hit Parade back in 82 or so talk about him,certainly More than peaked My interest!And got me started!Take care nah!
Regarding the song "The things you see...", I would like to point out that an earlier version of it was on the 1980 album "The things you see (when you haven't got your gun)" by Allan Holdsworth and Gordon Beck, and is titled "At the edge" there, and sung by Allan Holdsworth himself. It seems the title was later changed. That original version is my favourite.
The best documentary of Holdsworth's early music and history I've seen to date. Thank you for your hard work and diligence in putting this together with such dedication and sincerity...nothing less than what his music deserves.
Thank you my friend!
Excellent presentation. Learning about Allan is like learning about the evolution of the human race…he was sent for our advancement.
Thank you, thank you, THANK YOU!! This album was my introduction to the genius of Holdsworth when I was just 17. As a professional career musician and record maker, I cannot overestimate the inspiration and fire I have drawn from his music, but especially this album. I can't imagine how difficult it was to put this information together, but finding all this out after 35 years of studying and memorizing every note of this masterpiece heightens what it means to me that much more profoundly. What a gift you have given us!
Thank you so much!!
This is really good!!! Thank you so much for doing this. You really did justice to Allan’s work!
Thank you so much friend ☺️
Love this video. It takes me back to the day in 1982 when I bought this album in a record store in Austin, Texas and the clerk let me sit down in a chair and listen to it with headphones right then and there in the store, I was so anxious to hear it. That never happened before or since. I remember sitting there with headphones on with tears in my eyes because I couldn’t believe what I was hearing, that this kind of playing was possible. Never forget that day.
Oh wow! What an incredible story! I love that for you!
I can imagine hearing it for the first time back then must’ve been amazing
I was at one of those first IOU gigs in San Fransisco in '82. It brings tears of joy to my eyes to realize that I was a part of Allan's triumphant arrival to America as a band leader after years of struggle as a side man. Thank you for putting this heart felt documentary together.
Wow! Thank you so much my friend! I bet those gigs were magical, how did you first hear of Holdsworth and what were those gigs like?
We all were excited by his fluid soloing, but we had no idea he could compose like THAT! The music he contributed to Ponty, Bruford and Gong, did not prepare any of us for hamonic sophistication that Allan was capable of in a keyboardless drum, bass and guitar band. I bought the black IOU album at the gig.
@@markjohnson7572 definitely! Even on Holdsworth penned tracks like Nevermore, we had no idea about the true extent of his chord mastery!
Allan Holdsworth is our Shakespeare, DaVinci, and of course Tesla all in one and I got to meet him and see him many times. Thank you, grateful !!!!
EDIT : I forgot to tell you what a WONDERFUL job you did on this documentary. It is so thorough, and passionate. I can see it was made with real admiration, and not just something to do.
Thank you my friend! Very envious that you got to meet him!
@@rubyjones01 Many times ! Along with the other guys in the band, too. Just regular NERDS.
Fantastic doc!!!! Thank YOU!!
I was incredibly blessed to be at that packed Roxy show when Alan and Eddie jammed. Everyone knew that was a historical moment! The reaction of the entire crowd from the first song could only be described as SHOCK AND AWE!!❤❤❤
Do you remember what song they played?
Gawd, I knew Allan had struggled but this video really brought it home to me how close he came to giving it all up. Thank goodness he and the band persevered. Even after all this he was never really understood by the cookie cutter music industry. Nevertheless he managed to produce an outstanding body of work that will stand the test of time. I count myself very lucky to have witnessed his incredible brilliance on a number of occasions. RIP Maestro.
Definitely! Great stuff my friend! Sadly I was just 16 when he passed and didn’t get chance to ever witness the maestro in full flight!
I met Allan when he played with Gordon Beck at a small club in Edinburgh around 80/81, must have been less than 50 people at the gig. He was astonished that I knew about his music and the people he had played with and he did tell me the same story about considering selling all his gear and packing it all in. Think the only thing that stopped him must have been the Eddie Van Halen patronage and Warner Bros deal, although once he got there it never worked out as planned. I met him a couple of other times, he was a real gent and one of the best musicians this planet will ever see. RIP, the man who changed guitar forever.
@@kevthebass It's well worth watching the video about the making of Road Games too. As much as I and thousands of Allan fans appreciated Ed's public praising of his hero, Ed's dark side came out big time, and his total lack of understanding of Allan's music became apparent, along with his massive and ridiculous ego trip, basically feeling himself entitled to impose his own vision of what he thought Allan ought to be doing, and he and Ted Templeman became Allan's biggest obstacle to achieving his own vision, although Allan ultimately prevailed, thank goodness.
I’ve been lobbying for a movie while his contemporaries are still alive
There’s so much to his life story.
Bravo!!
Gary was like a more contemporary Tony Williams, just as jarring, inside and explosive, but with a more rock familiarity. He hit hard and did things no one else thought of powerfully, but with a level of music. He really hit hard! didn't know UK opened for VH in 78. Wild.
I love Gary’s playing so much, he is a big influence on my drumming for sure, there’s just so much joy in his playing
@@rubyjones01 Gary is AMAZING !!!!! Very humble guy, too. I asked him how he liked playing with my other favorite band, Level 42, and his answer was, "It was fun."
Thank you for making this splendid programme! IOU remains my favourite AH album and I still remember the sonic shock I felt when I first heard it. I had very little money at the time and to pay £10 for an album in 1983 was a tough decision that I have never regretted. I still have that original vinyl. In late 1981 I was lucky enough to see Allan play in Maidstone, Kent with Gary Husband, Gordon Beck and Jeff Clyne! (Gary is the only one still with us...)
After the gig, which was excellent - I remember White Line in particular, as an instrumental! - I got the chance to talk with Allan, who indeed was about to quit the scene and take a job as a fork lift truck driver. He actually said "I'm tired of banging my head against a wall, I've just got this gig in America to do and that's it.. "
An unbelievable genius and a humble, perhaps even tortured artist. Thanks again, this is so great!
Wow thanks so much! So incredible you saw him at such an important time in his career, he is a true trooper and really worked hard and all his success in the 80s and acclaim was so well deserved
When the original IOU album came out, I was already a fan knowing Allan from UK and the Bruford band which was my favorite at the time. I saw a single copy at the best record shop in my home town and didn't the money on me. When I returned it was gone never to return. I had to wait for the red cover reissue to hear it. I was fortunate to see probably as much as anyone under very intimate circumstances. I moved to Los Angeles in 1986. His favorite spot to gig was The Baked Potato, which he visited at least twice a year. That place is the size of a shoe box. Gary came out here twice and was amazing. Most often it was Chad on drums.
This album was jaw dropping when it came out, and remains so. That longevity- holding up as well as it has- testifies to it's legendary greatness. For me- of all his entries, this one is THE ONE. I'd seen Allan with Tony, but the incarnation of IOU was a leap forward in his guitar evolution. The band is as one, with each member superbly talented on their instrument. All tracks are interesting- no dead air. When I first heard the Williams vocals, I thought..what? He sounds like Tom Jones! But it worked! The harmony is so idiosyncratic - I wonder if Jones could handle it, let alone anyone else-but Paul soared thru the demands. Not everyone gets what this recording was about, but those of us that do- really do. Thanks for the posting.
Thank you my friend! I can’t imagine how exciting it must’ve been to hear this when it first came out!
I met Allan many times. Had a beer with him once. We talked about cycling. I saw him perform for one week straight in Tempe, Az back in 1982. That’s where I bought my copy of IOU. I was part of the Holdsworth cult! Didn’t find out later that EVH was a fan! I wish I would have went to that Roxy show! Thanks for uploading!
Thank you, Ruby, for this time travel.. very well done. passion never dies.
Excellent video! I remember seeing the IOU band in Birmingham playing this material around 1981/1982. I wasn't sure of what to make of it at the time as it sounded so different to anything else, but it's certainly stood the test of time. Amazing compositions and course, superlative playing!
Great retrospective on a great artist and debut album.
I was so blessed to be able to see
IOU in Baltimore MD during this time all those years ago. The audience was small but the impression I was left with was HUGE and unforgettable. Allan Holdsworth and this band in particular were amazing indeed. An inspiration for so many others that followed after.
Road Games came out in 1983, one year after IOU. Allan himself was not happy with the production of it where he was overruled by Templeman. But I think it is really very good.
Thank you for making this. I have been a fan of Allan since I heard him in 1985 (Metal Fatigue). I was blown away, and still am.
Excellent job! Thank you so much! I was one of many that saw those early IOU gigs in SF. Allan has no equal as a composer or guitarist. You have done his legacy justice here.
Wow thank you so much! Those gigs must have been something really special!
Amazing work, congratulations! Mixed in two days, makes this album even more unique. Through this making-of, you gave Allan the respect and recognition he deserves. Thank you.
Thank you so much my friend! Mixing an album in two days like that must’ve been a nightmare
Many many thanks for this long overdue deep dive into IOU. This album was a nexus in time and music - a zero AD or CE so to speak.
I first learned of IOU in a Guitar Player magazine album review around 1981, and having already loved Enigmatic Ocean and One Of A Kind, I tried it on a whim. It utterly changed my world.
There will never be another Allan Holdsworth.
Thanks very much really enjoyed the video, got to see him play live just the once, on home turf at, Leeds Irish Centre.
The most thorough and complete video on Allan's best album. Thanks so much for your work, really appreciated!
Thank you so much my friend!!
EXCELLENT.
Ruby. You scared me a bit at first. But the info was so dead on that with the first 5 minutes it was realized you are seriously one fantastic journalist. You've done a justice to someone that permanently changed guitar, writing and production. Please do more.
Thank you my friend
What were you scared about?
...the genius album..my first and fav..Allan Holdsworth album..bought in black cover..1983.Cheers for the great doc from Australia.
Thank you my friend!! I agree, my favourite too, just seems so raw and energetic
Thank you so much…his music has spoken to my soul more deeply than any for years. Thanks for the taking the time 😊I can imagine videos from his other albums too…also what or where is Enby?🙂
Thank you professor! Enby is short for Non-Binary, which is my gender identity!
Thank you so much for making this! Great video, i had no idea of all the struggles and hardship Allan had to endure. Heard the album many decades ago when i was 14 and it still amazes me.
This is a must keep album...every few months when you listen to it gives you the same ground breaking wow feeling all over again.
Fantastic. Thanks for making this video.
Lucky enough (blessed, really) to have seen Allan in the 80s at the Soft Rock Cafe in Vancouver. A small 200 seater and my brother-in-law and I were front row centre. We met Allan afterwards who was a complete gentleman and even let my brother-in-law play his Charvel (I didn't have the guts! lol)
I was talking with with AH's manager afterwards and he said [paraphrasing] "There's this kid from Texas Allan really loves and wants to bring him on the road with us". That kid was Eric Johnson. RIP, Maestro
Wow!!! I love this! Can’t wait to tell my guitar friends that even then Allan was a fan of Eric’s playing!
I remember being in high school and having to specially order this from the local record hut. And as you may expect my contemporaries in HS looked at me like I had antlers growing out of my forehead when I'd play it for them. As far as I'm concerned it was one of the best albums he ever made.
Me too! I was 16 when it came out. I found it at a Tower Records in a nearby large city. I flipped out like I'd found gold. I even played the album for my H.S. Jazz Ensemble teacher and he just stood there speechless.
What a fabulous story and superb presentation! Thanks for all the hard work you put into it, Ruby!
Excellent, that was very interesting and enjoyable. A great tribute, well done and thank you.
Thank you. This is an excellent, in depth presentation. Bravo!
Pretty much anything about Allan gets my vote. Thanks.
Oh, you've clearly done your research. Well done. This was great.
That was great...thanks for putting that together...
Wow. I can't say anymore than what all the other comments have been saying. A nicely detailed synopsis of his early years leading to IOU. I didn't know about him selling his Gibson for a plane ticket. I feel a little guilty hearing how hard it was personally when all you hear is the beauty in his playing even as a sideman. I was listening recently to his solo on "Halfway House" from "The Unique Concert" album and thinking... So beautiful.
Cheers for this.
Thank you Peter! I agree, there’s a great interview with John Wetton from 78 where he mentions Allan being tired of being “wheeled out on stage with all these different bands to do a solo” and that sums up perfectly his sideman output for me! Thank you for watching my friend!
It has taken me years to get into Allan's music, and I'm still having to take his music in slowly - on a song by song basis - but it's been worth the effort. Plus, you've made me re-evaluate Paul Williams. I had assumed for some reason that vocals had been forced on the album by a producer. It also breaks my heart to hear how much hardship Allan went through during his life.
This is so unbelievably good, we can't thank you enough!! Huge bravo!
Amazing video. Thank you for making it. Such an important tribute to a legend
Awesome video .. God bless Allan Holdsworth !!
Hands up to you Ruby. I did not know lots of these backgrounds. Learned lots of new stuff and more of what honest music is about. Many thanks !
@@fantasticoadidas thank you my friend! The Allan Holdsworth story is just a testament to the lengths people will go to express themselves in their art!
@@rubyjones01 Amazing he was, Allan Holdsworth. He opened up my mind to accept lots of difficult things to learn (while listening) and also lots of difficult decisions. To lots of people his music is 'weird', well, let all of us Allan Holdsworth listeners be 'weird' then, I don't care for a second. Please keep on going with your excellent video's, love them !
@@fantasticoadidas thank you my friend! The weirder the better
This was fantastic! Thanks for putting it together.
Thank you friend ☺️🎼
Superb work, thank you!
I stupidly sold my vinyl mail ordered copy of IOU in the late 80's
cause never had space in the very small places I live in, and needed sell off my records.
I regret this very very much, although I have IOU back in CD format.
This record is still way ahead of it's time, remarkable in every aspect!
Monster Album
Thanks, I saw Allan a couple times in 82 as well as many times in later years. First time was at The Golden Bear. What a fun time that was.
Excellent Ruby!!
What an articulate and fantastic review.
This is a fantastic achievement, and well appreciated by this old died in the wool Holdsworth devotee! Thank you so much for telling this incredible story of the greatest electric guitar player ever to walk the Earth!
Thank you my friend! I hope to make one of these documentaries for every single Holdsworth album
@@rubyjones01I loved the road games documentary you did too! Really appreciate your work! ❤❤❤❤🎸🎶🤘😁
@@Gregorypeckory thank you my friend!
I love Dis Recud!I bought dis in San Leandro, Cali,back in 88,listen to it all the time.Heavy rotation in my collection,from IOU to Sand,good stuff!Just saying,thanks for anything on The Master!
Wow, That was awesome!!!! What a story..I was one of those fans in NYC that grabbed everything i could from him, We even had a cover band playing his songs! (Not very well, but , hey I became a professional musician afterwards) Thank you so much for this!
Thank you my friend!!
Brave lad!
Thank you for a wonderful presentation ❤
Just come across this. Wow just wow!! I have saved this love it so much!! Hope you do another bit of Holdsworth x
Stunning video and fantastically narrated! It's a shame that there's actually less info available out there on his albums from Atavachron onwards. While we know so little about the making of, say, Sand or Hard Hat Area, I suppose we can move towards the point where all his tracks are transcribed and charted. I'll try to release another transcription this month, and everyone's looking forward to the massive video John Vullo is soon releasing on all things Holdsworth.
Thank you so much!
I agree so much!
Hopefully if more videos are made like
These more info may come to light, atleast I really hope so!
I love John’s videos and wowed many guitar player friends with his top 10 hardest Holdsworth chord videos 🤣
Well done on your transcriptions!! They’re amazing my friend! Keep up the good work!
@@rubyjones01 It feels like Holdsworth scholarship really is becoming a bit of a thing- I heard a mention of someone currently doing a PhD on his harmony, there's the occasional masters dissertation out there, and I saw an an amazing piece of visualiser software somebody had programmed, showing the moving harmonic centres of a Holdsworth track in real time. Sadly none from UK academics - clearly he's still received better overseas than here. Keep up the good work too!
@@reubennb2859 wow that is incredible!!
Thank you my friend ☺️ I am excited to see and hear your new transcriptions
Another great video! Thank you Ruby!
Thank you my friend! Apologies I’ve not yet replied to your message! I will speak soon
Wondered job. Beautiful video with so much information!
I saw Allan play the IOU material in a London pub with his trio around 1980.
It was clear he was a genius the like of which had never been seen before & would never be seen again.
Yet the pub was barely full & he couldn't get a record deal as you mention 🤔
I really wish I'd had some spare money at the time as I'd gladly have have offered him some financial support to promote his music.
I met Gordon & Dick Knight when they fitted the same type of stainless steel frets to my strat as they'd fitted to Allan's.
Nice chaps.
I like the info you give out in this vid. Though ironically allans wonderful music in the background is a little distracting when listening to your commentary
A lovely thought I'd have done the same!
Wow. Much work and love has been put into this, I can see! Great video, perfect narration, excellent effort IMO! Hopefully many new ears will get to appreciate Allan's music thanks to this, too!
Thank you so much my friend!!
Thanks for the nice video! Here's my Allan gig experience. I went to see him as a youngster, must have been late 70s, in a club in London. I think it was in Oxford Street, maybe the 101 club. There were only 20 or 30 there, talking over the music etc. I remember Allan getting irritated. I also remember seeing him drinking a beer or two! He played as you'd expect and there were maybe 8 or 10 guitarists sitting a few feet from him. A few years later (maybe 1984) I was at music school myself, and he had moved to USA but was playing a gig in a smallish place in Old Street, London. I said to a friend, "come and see him play, there won't be many there"...... We couldn't even get in, the queue was really long, they took our money and said watch from the foyer on a monitor! I then saw him a few years after in Glasgow at the Renfrew Ferry. Did anyone else go to any of these gigs?
Thank you so much! What an incredible story! I’ve loved hearing all these stories about Allan and his career and in a way it’s helped me get even closer to understanding him! Sadly I was just 16 when he passed and didn’t even hear his name mentioned until I Heard brufords Hells Bells for the first time age 17, it definitely changed my life and opened my eyes to both my favourite drummer and guitarist at the same time!
I bought this Album at one of those first three shows at the Roxy in LA when it came out. It and the show were completely ear opening. Including Gary Husband's incredibly unique drumming and Paul Carmichael's bass playing. Truly a seminal album 🎸
Wow thank you so much. UA-cam recommendations are finally good for something ❤
Great video and I learned so much about AH and IOU. I discovered his music while listening to early Bruford records and the first AH LP I picked up was Metal Fatigue. After that I was hooked.
Thank you for this video!👏👏👏
Very nice video on a period of Allan's development that was always so mysterious and interesting. That IOU record had legions of guitarists either burning/selling their guitars or doubling and tripling down their practice regimens.
Amazing tribute, thank you ❤️🔥 I remember seeing him live here in Ottawa Canada when I was 16 in the early 80’s. EVH had turned us on and I watched in awe and delighted confusion.
Thank you so much!
Wow that must’ve been amazing! I first heard of him when I heard Bruford’s hells bells, still blows me right away every time
Thank´s for this documentary about an album that changed my life! .
thank you for such complete journey!
Thanks for the beautiful video and history of the great Allan !
This is fabulous work - thank you.
Thank you, that was fantastic !
Fascinating!!! Thank you! I was at the Roxy gig when VH showed up, it was certainly my transition from VH to AH!!! Still love them both:-)
Thank you! Oh wow! That must be a priceless memory seeing that amazing moment
Love your video of the making of IOU. What a fantastic documentary. Attended very first IOU tour in San Francisco (club called The Stone). Quite an honor to become friends with Allan through the early '80s till '92, prior to leaving California. Saw Allan perform close to 30 gigs between '82 through '92. I recorded a song last year called "Egyptian Eyes." Tribute to his great inspiration throughout the main part of my career. Cheers...subscribed. 😻
The best I’ve ever heard first heard 73 Tempest sadly missed, but his music still makes me happy and sad and feelings that words aren’t good enough,
What a great video. I never new much of this information. Thank you so much!
thank you my friend!
By far my favorite album by Allan. Having struggled with the book Reaching for the Uncommon Chord, I learned the complexity of his playing. This documentary uncovered so much detail of which I was unaware. Beyond the instrumental wizardry, I couldn't understand why I gravitated to the album. It was the ebb and flow of the time based on how it was recorded. Thank you for your work.
Thank you my friend!! There’s just a piece of true magic in his music!
iou is a perfect album for me. Allan's dexterity is out of this world. Every tune sounds unique and the guitar sound is different to the way allan plays, not the guitar effects themselves. If you can listen to this album very loud you will discover allan's charisma to some of his peaks of his career. Of course, the whole band plays great to a high level that a difficult direction of this music demands.
Great work on telling Allans history so well thank you!
Great documentary 👏 👍 👌 keep it up. Best wishes from Los Angeles California 🙌
Love Holdsworth. But never really knew his story at all. Fascinating stuff. Well done!
Thank you my friend
Great documentary. I haven't got a clue that Allan struggled so long to make ends meet before he could enjoy sufficient appreciation as a musician.
I got to open for Alan and Steve mores of the Dixie dregs in Dallas doing his IOU tour , the time of my life . I’m a bass player the other two were Gerry peak and Jeff Berlin. Alan was nice and very humble, got to say thanks and shake his hand and yes they were big , what a memory, peace Alan.
Wow incredible stuff! Peace
Excellent , thanks
Beautifully done! Thank you so much for putting this all together. Shiit, I had no clue he played violin too!
Dear Ruby, Thank you so much for this. Heard when I needed it the most. Peace and Love Jesse. P.S. I own one of the original black-covered IOU albums signed by Allan.
Very informative and inspiring! Thanks!
Very very very interesting! Many thanks!
Wow, crazy details otherwise unknown. I listen to AH all the time and yet I feel like I need to listen even more now. Thanks Enby.
Or should I have said thanks Ruby?
Thanks for this. Very very cool.
Thank you my friend!
Brilliant Historical account of the making of a rare but excellent album ......Gary & Allan gave each other the improvisational latitude to be fully creative. I would have thought that a lot of the modern Pro Tools recording technology Allan would probably have seen as a return to 'JIGSAW MUSIC' as he called it with its non continuous live performance cut/shunt and paste assembly techniques.
Great precis of Allan's career! I had forgotten how amazing the I.O.U album is. I saw Allan at the 101 club in Battersea around that time - it was heartbreaking to see such a musical genius playing to an audience of about ten people. So glad his career took off in USA.
Yes compared to a lot of tossers who ended up with a lot of fame and money for what! bollocks
I was at that gig, I just left a comment above about it!!
thank you for making this video which really does justice to the genius and the incredible efforts made to carry out such a grandiose project
Here's somebody who actually saw the Roxy show with EVH. If you'll indulge me, because it is a pretty funny story. I am a musician myself (bass guitar) and as it seems that even though Allan's fans may not have been limited to musicians, those that were felt we had a special bond. So it was that my friend Cory (guitar/keys) and I had a fun ritual...as he was usually the one who found out where Allan was playing locally, he would ring me up and leave me a message on my machine; "Allan's at the Roxy"...CLICK!...or "Allan's at the Whisky"...CLICK. or even "Allan's at the (gone, but not forgotten, world-famous) Golden Bear". In fact, Allan might've been one of the last few to play in that venerable Huntington Beach club. At any rate, I was to meet up with him at the Sunset Strip club, so there I was, waiting for my notoriously late friend as downbeat grew closer. I was seriously considering going ahead inside and forgetting my friend when I saw someone bopping across Sunset, dodging traffic with an obvious bass slung over his shoulder. My goodness, I said to myself, but doesn't that look like Jeff Berlin, someone I had idolized since those Bruford sessions? I'd assumed it would've been Jimmy Johnson on bass, but whatever. As it turned out my tardy friend was not so tardy and was already waiting for me inside the club. "You'll never guess who I saw!" i said. "Well, you'll never guess who I saw" he replied. After stating that I was sure I saw Jeff Berlin jaywalking on Sunset he announced he was sure he saw Valerie Bertinelli, in a wig, in the lobby. Of course I told him he was mistaken. What would she be doing at an Allan Holdsworth show? So when EVH jumped up (with Jeff Berlin) to jam during the encore it all made sense, as , of course, she and Eddie being still married at the time.
And it also made sense when I'd read years later that Allan had been working with Eddie's producer Ted Templeman for the "Road Games" EP, one of my favorites, although I'd heard different stories as to how much he was satisfied with it.
Wow!!! This is an absolutely fantastic documentary in every possible way, from the research to the writing and editing, you've done our beloved late maestro an enormous service. Very well done indeed, my friend, I heartily applaud your work and now looking forward to watching the one about Road Games!
You mentioned you're a drummer, by chance do you have any of your music out there to enjoy?
Thanks so much! I do, here’s a link to my bandcamp! rubyjones01.bandcamp.com
@The Enby Adventures Of Ruby
If I may say so, you , not unlike the Maestro himself are very good at what you do & deserve to be commensurately compensated for your work. Thank you very kindly for your efforts on this. I've been curious for 40 years as to what combination of circumstances led Allan towards what ultimately resulted in (arguably) the most remarkable compositional style of any guitarist I'm aware of. Your exposition answered questions about his theory base, simultaneous string striking & harmonic/melodic depth that have perplexed me to no end. I rarely comment on videos but your work demanded my direct response.
THANK YOU & Namaste.
Thank you so much my friend! I am very flattered to be compared to Allan 🥰
I think I’m drawn to his music because he was just being himself and that’s what appeals to me so much, regardless of what his peers thought he was himself and didn’t care and spent his life being his true self and something about that really resonates with me!
When that album first came out, it was mail order only. That's how I got it after hearing Allan with Bruford's and Tony Williams' albums. What blew my mind on I.O.U. was the unveiling of Allan's chordal thing; you never really witnessed that on the other people's albums that he played on.
Agreed! That’s the big leap with this album! Like we knew he was a soloing genius but apart from maybe the intro to Mental Medication and Nevermore intro by U.K. we had no idea about Allan’s chordal genius and songcraft
I found the original black cover album in a record shop in OKC, and paid a mere 2.50. for it. A few years later my best friend moved to LA and got a job at Enigma records around the time the rwd cover version was released. My fried said Allan would park in the loading zone of the conpany and he would get on the PA and say, "Allan, could you move your car".
The high level effort you put into the making of this 'mini doc'? is evident and outstanding. Thank you for your work. Interesting that I'm just now finding it. I saw him once many years ago in Kansas City, Missouri in a very small venue(maybe 50 people)Chad Wackerman was his drummer.
@@empoweryou1 thank you my friend!
Great work, very interesting background information and - makes better understanding for AH style and musical journey.
Nuthin like a unique Heart and Soul music,to always get held up,when you know you're on the Edge of something Big!Thanks Alan/great musical Backing band/great contributors to this Vision!Reading Eddie VH,in Hit Parade back in 82 or so talk about him,certainly More than peaked My interest!And got me started!Take care nah!
Great documentary about Allan. I really enjoyed it and learned a few things about this extraordinary man. Thank you.
Thank you my friend
Regarding the song "The things you see...", I would like to point out that an earlier version of it was on the 1980 album "The things you see (when you haven't got your gun)" by Allan Holdsworth and Gordon Beck, and is titled "At the edge" there, and sung by Allan Holdsworth himself. It seems the title was later changed. That original version is my favourite.