One of my favorite albums. Someone gave me the album when I was around 12yo (1974?). I ended up learning how to play every song on the record on my guitar. I'd previously only played bluegrass music. It introduced me to blues music, classic rock etc. so it had a major influence on my musical education. My favorite song from this album is the opening track "One of These Days".
The great band, I love every album of theirs but in particular this album, a space in time. You have to listen to the whole thing and sequence kind of like a Pink Floyd album, although not as artistic but incredibly creative and talented. I'd love to change the world is such an iconic song in the world of Rock music history. When I was a teen and learning electric guitar, at least in my small circle of musician friends outside of school, this was one of those guitar solos and songs really, the acoustic guitar part everything, and check out that bass guitar line man it's doing some incredibly melodic stuff at times and of course I always love the keys with 10 years after. He is so damn good. But anyway, I worked on that solo for so long until it finally clicked but it's made up of several pieces, and the arrangement in the sequencing of those pieces to me is just sheer genius. It contributes to the lyrics it contributes to the feel it contributes to the emotion of the song it contributes to the ebb and flow of the energy before absolutely exploding, and so forth and so on.
The bluest blues with Alvin Lee and George Harrison. The Woodstock,show is some thing. Lee is in a tier close to Page, Beck, Clapton I the formative years of British blues
We can start by voting in the election, Alvin Lee would approve. Great, legendary tune and band, saw them twice and Alvin Lee solo twice, one of the most underrated guitar player and band, they broke out at Woodstock and were big in the early and mid 70s. Try Love Like a Man next, another great banger from them. He was mainly against the Vietnam war and the Soviets and all governments that repress the people. He was a good guy and a fabulous musician. Enjoy! 🔥🎵🎸🎤🎹🎶🔥
Welcome to the world of founder and guitar/vocal god Alvin Lee (RIP). His true passion was the blues, and his career after rock was steeped in it. Here's one of the most touching blues tracks ever recorded (released in 1994, with guest artist George Harrison on slide guitar) - "The Bluest Blues": ua-cam.com/video/3lz3px4dTU8/v-deo.html
When this song, and album, came out I loved it, bought it as quickly as I could. I was, and still am, a big Ten Years After fan ... and in general a MAJOR fan of Alvin Lee. He was astonishingly talented. "The Bluest Blues" is a masterpiece. George Harrison's slide guitar work does add to the song.
the only reason I think it is meant sarcastically is that he was a haiiy back then. but I'm not certain either. a fascinating and beautiful song that makes you think of both sides of the issues
No, not discontent with gays. He's just pointing out how far divided people were (are) . The first two lines are words that were commonly in use at the time by people who didn't know or care. The entire song deals with extremes, and how do we all find a middle ground.
Great that you mentioned that. I'm always bothered when that line come up, because of the misinterpretation thats easy for younger generations to do. They don't get the context
The album this is off of is Space and Time its a masterpiece in my opinion a top 20 Album Way ahead of its time. You really don’t wanna miss the track on it and in my opinion, one of the purest rock ‘n’ roll songs is called Once there was a time …it starts out real slow, and really starts rockin by the end, you also want to watch them do …I’m going home …from Woodstock they kill it and back in the late 60s early 70s Alvin Lee was considered the fastest guitarist in the world. Great band lots of good music.
Such a fantastic song and it starts the second side of the album if I recall. And they start the entire album off on the beginning of side a, with another absolutely slow build to insanity it jams so hard. Just like the Beatles became known for one of the longest song endings ever with the endless piano sustained, to me this is one of the greatest introductions and slow builds in Rock music. But that one is just incredible. I always want to say it's called, coming down the road, but I know that's not actually the title.
This is one of the top albums of the day! This is a conversation between the establishment and the younger generation (now the Boomers). Alvin Lee is one of the top guitarists on my list, and was supposedly the only guitarist Jimmy Page would pay to see. You have to listen to the whole set at Woodstock, and "i'm Going Home" (long version--lots of short versions on UA-cam) is one of the very best live performances EVER! I would also suggest that you start listening to Rory Gallagher--another forgotten blues/rock guitar master.
😮 It's hard to believe that someone never heard of 10 Years After. Same with the Spirit lp you reviewed. I'm so thankful I grew up in the music era of classic rock, b/c it has CLASS. DUDE. 😂 ~ Just a cello player.
One of my favs back in the day and although the rest of their work will be less memorable, I’ll always remember Alvin Lee as one of most revered guitarist… politically, I think it was apolitical, apathetic at time
Also if ya dig and enjoyed this video Ten Years After and a great hippy band and love this song 😀 you may also enjoy the song " Most of All " By Glenn Kaiser and Where Roses Grow Live by Rez Band Awesome songs check them out. Also I remember hearing the song by Led Zepp " In My Time of Dyin " during my drug years and made me think about death and Jesus. Then a hippy friend that dug Jesus told me more of Jesus love and forgiveness and how I could also know Jesus love. So in 1981 I cried out to Jesus and wow man He came into my life and I had and have so much joy and peace and now know that through Jesus when I die I will be with Him in Heaven. Hey Jesus loves each of you also and yall can know Him if you are at all open. Just cry out to Him and a good question to ask yourself if you were to die today would you go to heaven ? And if yes why ? To find out more please read the Gospel of John in the Bible or check out the movie on UA-cam. 😀
I believe the lines about freaks and hairies dykes and fairies, was referring to the way the “establishment” referred to any young people not conforming to their ideas of proper behavior. I was 16 when this album was released and this song is clearly a statement of derision about the way our society was being run. We were protesting the status quo while being frustrated that we didn’t know how to fix things
To me, the point of the song is to point out that both sides of political world have extreme ideas and that he agrees with neither. If you notice one line will sound right wing and the very next line will sound left wing. He doesn't like the way things are, but doesn't have a solution and has given up to let the machine do what it will. Politics will never be the answer, but there is no stopping politics.
The whole album is great rock, as they lightened up on the blues a bit. The Bonzo Dog Do Dah Band, were a parody/comedy/rock outfit, who were big with the "heads" back in the day. Try out either "Big Shot" or "Death Cab For Cutie" to get a little taster of the forte.
I’d like to hear your take on one of Joplin's sadly neglected sleepers from that era: “Farewell Song” on the album “Live at Winterland ‘68” by Big Brother and the Holding Company featuring Janis Joplin.
Alvin's girlfriend wanted him to get more involved in the era's issues. So he wrote this song for HER. Cool- I never won an argument by writing a girl a song
The lyrics are a bit off. "No not poor me" should be just one word "Monopoly". And "Spread them wide" should be "It's black and white". Also, he is not expressing himself, he is voicing the political and cultural movements of that time of which he has to pick from. Like in the first part, he is not anti gay, he is voicing what the Conservatives say. Then the Socialists, Capitalists, and Hippies. Basicly he is saying in the first part of the song, that all those movements do not have the answers, for the problems he addresses later in the song. Hence he does not know what to do anymore as he says in the chorus. The satire is mainly in the parts where he voices the movements of that era. Like tax the rich, feed the poor until there are no rich no more. He is actually saying that that is not a solution, cause who are you going to tax if there are no rich people anymore? It is a paradox.
I think you may not understand that what they are saying, "Everywhere (Were EVERYWHERE) is Freaks and hairies Dykes and fairies:" I mean,they were considered Hairy Freaks and looked down on by society at large for that, and they are placing themselves within that category, "Freaks and hairies Dykes and fairies" so they are asking society at large , that worships money ('Tax the rich,Feed the poor,Till there are no Rich no more' and saying Skies are sunny Bees make honey Who needs money? No, not poor me, ) and worships War (Rich or poor Them and us Stop the war) and worship a way of life that destroys the environment( World pollution Is no solution) "You think YOUR 'Sane'? Tell me where is sanity! Your telling ME your society is SANE You worship Money and War and destroy the environment and you look down on us for who we are because were different than you ? ...where is (Your) sanity?
You got Alvin all wrong on the gay thing. He really did write this specifically for his girlfriend who wanted his songs to comment on the issues of the day (thats according to the book his gf wrote after Alvin died.) Anyway this is his response to her, basically saying gay people are routinely beat up & murdered, there's Vietnam, billionaires making more billions on the war while poor people fight overseas & starve to death at home, there's monopolies but that's good for the economy, blacks & whites at each others throats...anyway he's saying to his girlfriend, just what do you expect ME to do about it? I play music. YOU go fix the world, I dont know where to even begin. So he was not anti-gay. Just tellin his girl to get off his back already! But not meanly- it was one of the coolest parts of her book, talking about this
It was the early seventies dude, homosexuality was taboo back then, just like you might not understand what will be happening 50+ yrs from now. Everyone is entitled to their lifestyle but everyone doesn't have to agree with it.
Definitely right wing and anti-hippy lyrics. Sorry to disappoint. People will claim its ironic, but its not. Its expressing discontent with the hippy movement, which was way less pervasive than most people think.
I saw Ten Years After in Springfield, MA mid 70s. I had heard that all the girls that went to their shows got super horny. Guess what it was true! Great concert super loud.
Not right wing. Conservatives and Capitalists are mostly on the right wing, and he shows both do not have the solution. Same for the left wing (Socialists and Hippies). It is anti politics in general. None of them had the answer, therefore he does not know what to do and leaves it up to you...
![Even the Guitar was Crying! 😩| Alvin Lee - The Bluest Blues [REACTION!]](/img/n.gif)
One of the best performances at Woodstock 1969 with ""I'm Going Home". Fantastic blues.
Exactly
Alvin Lee is a guitar GOATED!
One of my favorite albums. Someone gave me the album when I was around 12yo (1974?). I ended up learning how to play every song on the record on my guitar. I'd previously only played bluegrass music. It introduced me to blues music, classic rock etc. so it had a major influence on my musical education. My favorite song from this album is the opening track "One of These Days".
I deeply loved every single song on this album, but another fan favorite from this album begins the second side, if I remember: Once There Was A Time.
The great band, I love every album of theirs but in particular this album, a space in time. You have to listen to the whole thing and sequence kind of like a Pink Floyd album, although not as artistic but incredibly creative and talented. I'd love to change the world is such an iconic song in the world of Rock music history. When I was a teen and learning electric guitar, at least in my small circle of musician friends outside of school, this was one of those guitar solos and songs really, the acoustic guitar part everything, and check out that bass guitar line man it's doing some incredibly melodic stuff at times and of course I always love the keys with 10 years after. He is so damn good. But anyway, I worked on that solo for so long until it finally clicked but it's made up of several pieces, and the arrangement in the sequencing of those pieces to me is just sheer genius. It contributes to the lyrics it contributes to the feel it contributes to the emotion of the song it contributes to the ebb and flow of the energy before absolutely exploding, and so forth and so on.
A Space In Time has been in my top 10 albums for over 50 yrs.
Agreed "ASinT" is a great album, tho I prefer "Cricklewood Green"'s song line-up. "Sssh" also gets a few votes.
Check out Bluest Blue off Alvin Lee's solo album featuring a slide guitar solo by George Harrison.
Absolutely.
Indeed.
The line that still holds up , even more so today, is ' Tell me, where is sanity?'
Saw them in Stockholm back in the day. Alvin Lee was something live!
Vad avundsjuk jag blir
Alvin Lee and TYA...a deep and satisfying rabbit hole. Enjoy!
This was a psychedelic smash when it came out, everyone loved it.
Great tune, great guitar, relevant lyrics
The lyrics are as relevant today as they were in 1971.
The bluest blues with Alvin Lee and George Harrison. The Woodstock,show is some thing. Lee is in a tier close to Page, Beck, Clapton I the formative years of British blues
Maybe next with I’m Going Home from Woodstock. Bg audience and made the band household name for music fans
Alvin Lee. Nuff said. 🙂
Fantastic tune
We can start by voting in the election, Alvin Lee would approve. Great, legendary tune and band, saw them twice and Alvin Lee solo twice, one of the most underrated guitar player and band, they broke out at Woodstock and were big in the early and mid 70s.
Try Love Like a Man next, another great banger from them. He was mainly against the Vietnam war and the Soviets and all governments that repress the people. He was a good guy and a fabulous musician. Enjoy!
🔥🎵🎸🎤🎹🎶🔥
Saw him live once when I was 18, absolutely fantastic show.
The norms were changing in 1971 and though the World changes ,it doesn’t change that much.
‘there is nothing new under the sun’
Welcome to the world of founder and guitar/vocal god Alvin Lee (RIP). His true passion was the blues, and his career after rock was steeped in it. Here's one of the most touching blues tracks ever recorded (released in 1994, with guest artist George Harrison on slide guitar) - "The Bluest Blues": ua-cam.com/video/3lz3px4dTU8/v-deo.html
When this song, and album, came out I loved it, bought it as quickly as I could. I was, and still am, a big Ten Years After fan ... and in general a MAJOR fan of Alvin Lee. He was astonishingly talented. "The Bluest Blues" is a masterpiece. George Harrison's slide guitar work does add to the song.
Love your reactions. Very Genuine!
This is an Ultra-Classic 50 years after ...
the only reason I think it is meant sarcastically is that he was a haiiy back then. but I'm not certain either. a fascinating and beautiful song that makes you think of both sides of the issues
No, not discontent with gays. He's just pointing out how far divided people were (are) . The first two lines are words that were commonly in use at the time by people who didn't know or care. The entire song deals with extremes, and how do we all find a middle ground.
Great that you mentioned that. I'm always bothered when that line come up, because of the misinterpretation thats easy for younger generations to do. They don't get the context
Agree. It was new to the blind then. During the years of Love and Peace. So much love then.
TYA's 'Double lLve' album, in Amsterdam, is worth the listen.
"Goin home" from Woodstock. You'll loose you mind
The album this is off of is Space and Time its a masterpiece in my opinion a top 20 Album Way ahead of its time. You really don’t wanna miss the track on it and in my opinion, one of the purest rock ‘n’ roll songs is called Once there was a time …it starts out real slow, and really starts rockin by the end, you also want to watch them do …I’m going home …from Woodstock they kill it and back in the late 60s early 70s Alvin Lee was considered the fastest guitarist in the world. Great band lots of good music.
Such a fantastic song and it starts the second side of the album if I recall. And they start the entire album off on the beginning of side a, with another absolutely slow build to insanity it jams so hard. Just like the Beatles became known for one of the longest song endings ever with the endless piano sustained, to me this is one of the greatest introductions and slow builds in Rock music. But that one is just incredible. I always want to say it's called, coming down the road, but I know that's not actually the title.
And Leo Lyons' hands were a blur on his bass! Amazing performance!
Great band! Worth diving into.
It was a great time growing up at that time, so much great RnR and other genres were just as good.
When I listen to this song, so do my neighbors
Funny❤
1969 at Woodstock
Great reaction to this jamming song..what a groove.
Great song
Classic!!!!!!!!!
This is one of the top albums of the day! This is a conversation between the establishment and the younger generation (now the Boomers). Alvin Lee is one of the top guitarists on my list, and was supposedly the only guitarist Jimmy Page would pay to see. You have to listen to the whole set at Woodstock, and "i'm Going Home" (long version--lots of short versions on UA-cam) is one of the very best live performances EVER! I would also suggest that you start listening to Rory Gallagher--another forgotten blues/rock guitar master.
😮 It's hard to believe that someone never heard of 10 Years After. Same with the Spirit lp you reviewed. I'm so thankful I grew up in the music era of classic rock, b/c it has CLASS. DUDE. 😂
~ Just a cello player.
Alvin Lee fastest guitaristvon the planet at the time/
One of those bands that when I heard for the first time my reaction was, Who are these guys?!!!!!!
It's still one of my favorite songs from that time....
First song on Album song One of these Day is the best
Great song and reaction
Bro. Check out Alvin Lee with George Harrison The Bluest Blues. Awesome guitar work. I've played guitar since I was twelve. Alvin Lee can freakin rip.
One of my favs back in the day and although the rest of their work will be less memorable, I’ll always remember Alvin Lee as one of most revered guitarist… politically, I think it was apolitical, apathetic at time
Also if ya dig and enjoyed this video Ten Years After and a great hippy band and love this song 😀 you may also enjoy the song " Most of All " By Glenn Kaiser and Where Roses Grow Live by Rez Band Awesome songs check them out. Also I remember hearing the song by Led Zepp " In My Time of Dyin " during my drug years and made me think about death and Jesus. Then a hippy friend that dug Jesus told me more of Jesus love and forgiveness and how I could also know Jesus love. So in 1981 I cried out to Jesus and wow man He came into my life and I had and have so much joy and peace and now know that through Jesus when I die I will be with Him in Heaven. Hey Jesus loves each of you also and yall can know Him if you are at all open. Just cry out to Him and a good question to ask yourself if you were to die today would you go to heaven ? And if yes why ? To find out more please read the Gospel of John in the Bible or check out the movie on UA-cam. 😀
I remember when I first heard this as a 11 or 12 year old and loved it, still do…
I believe the lines about freaks and hairies dykes and fairies, was referring to the way the “establishment” referred to any young people not conforming to their ideas of proper behavior. I was 16 when this album was released and this song is clearly a statement of derision about the way our society was being run. We were protesting the status quo while being frustrated that we didn’t know how to fix things
To me, the point of the song is to point out that both sides of political world have extreme ideas and that he agrees with neither. If you notice one line will sound right wing and the very next line will sound left wing. He doesn't like the way things are, but doesn't have a solution and has given up to let the machine do what it will. Politics will never be the answer, but there is no stopping politics.
I think this song and Layla are the 2 best rock songs EVER!
Holy blast from the past! Yes im old, not this song old but close.
Actually it's "I'd Love to change the World."
Ooofff. How does one get the song title wrong
Bonzo Dog was a crazy group singing crazy songs. I particularly like the song Tent.
The band Death Cab For Cutie took their name from a Bonzo Dog song.
The whole album is great rock, as they lightened up on the blues a bit. The Bonzo Dog Do Dah Band, were a parody/comedy/rock outfit, who were big with the "heads" back in the day. Try out either "Big Shot" or "Death Cab For Cutie" to get a little taster of the forte.
Yes to Bonzo Dog Doo Dah Band reaction!
I think the band is referring to them selfs as "freaks and hairies". ❤
I’d like to hear your take on one of Joplin's sadly neglected sleepers from that era: “Farewell Song” on the album “Live at Winterland ‘68” by Big Brother and the Holding Company featuring Janis Joplin.
Try YT: Alvin Lee & Ten Years Later - Live At Rockpalast 1978 (Full Concert Video)
when I think of Ten Years After I think of Cricklewood Green
Great song. I'm still not sure why he read the correct title of the song out loud but posted it as I'd LIKE To Change The World in the title??
Alvin's girlfriend wanted him to get more involved in the era's issues. So he wrote this song for HER. Cool- I never won an argument by writing a girl a song
The lyrics are a bit off. "No not poor me" should be just one word "Monopoly". And "Spread them wide" should be "It's black and white".
Also, he is not expressing himself, he is voicing the political and cultural movements of that time of which he has to pick from. Like in the first part, he is not anti gay, he is voicing what the Conservatives say. Then the Socialists, Capitalists, and Hippies.
Basicly he is saying in the first part of the song, that all those movements do not have the answers, for the problems he addresses later in the song. Hence he does not know what to do anymore as he says in the chorus.
The satire is mainly in the parts where he voices the movements of that era. Like tax the rich, feed the poor until there are no rich no more. He is actually saying that that is not a solution, cause who are you going to tax if there are no rich people anymore? It is a paradox.
This^
Yeah im older than the song
Really good song by a really good band.
Barry Macguire eve of destruction ?
I think you may not understand that what they are saying, "Everywhere (Were EVERYWHERE) is Freaks and hairies Dykes and fairies:" I mean,they were considered Hairy Freaks and looked down on by society at large for that, and they are placing themselves within that category, "Freaks and hairies Dykes and fairies" so they are asking society at large , that worships money ('Tax the rich,Feed the poor,Till there are no Rich no more' and saying Skies are sunny Bees make honey Who needs money? No, not poor me, ) and worships War (Rich or poor Them and us Stop the war) and worship a way of life that destroys the environment( World pollution Is no solution) "You think YOUR 'Sane'? Tell me where is sanity! Your telling ME your society is SANE You worship Money and War and destroy the environment and you look down on us for who we are because were different than you ? ...where is (Your) sanity?
You got Alvin all wrong on the gay thing. He really did write this specifically for his girlfriend who wanted his songs to comment on the issues of the day (thats according to the book his gf wrote after Alvin died.) Anyway this is his response to her, basically saying gay people are routinely beat up & murdered, there's Vietnam, billionaires making more billions on the war while poor people fight overseas & starve to death at home, there's monopolies but that's good for the economy, blacks & whites at each others throats...anyway he's saying to his girlfriend, just what do you expect ME to do about it? I play music. YOU go fix the world, I dont know where to even begin. So he was not anti-gay. Just tellin his girl to get off his back already! But not meanly- it was one of the coolest parts of her book, talking about this
It was the early seventies dude, homosexuality was taboo back then, just like you might not understand what will be happening 50+ yrs from now. Everyone is entitled to their lifestyle but everyone doesn't have to agree with it.
Definitely right wing and anti-hippy lyrics. Sorry to disappoint. People will claim its ironic, but its not. Its expressing discontent with the hippy movement, which was way less pervasive than most people think.
‘riGHt wiNg aNtHEm’ 😂
I saw Ten Years After in Springfield, MA mid 70s. I had heard that all the girls that went to their shows got super horny. Guess what it was true!
Great concert super loud.
Not right wing. Conservatives and Capitalists are mostly on the right wing, and he shows both do not have the solution. Same for the left wing (Socialists and Hippies). It is anti politics in general.
None of them had the answer, therefore he does not know what to do and leaves it up to you...