UK reissue of 1976 album for short-lived power trio featuring Bob Welch formerly of Fleetwood Mac, former Jethro Tull bassist Glenn Cornick and former Nazz drummer Thom Mooney. 2001 release. Standard jewel case.
UK reissue of 1976 album for short-lived power trio featuring Bob Welch formerly of Fleetwood Mac, former Jethro Tull bassist Glenn Cornick and former Nazz drummer Thom Mooney. 2001 release. Standard jewel case.
CD Reviews
Still Ahead of it's Time (and Space)
Thaddeus B. Rosemyer | Massena, NY USA | 11/14/2004
(5 out of 5 stars)
"What a band! Just listen to this LP: it's got everything good about the mid-70s--it's progressive, funky, heavy. If u dig Captain Beyond, Bob Welch's F. Mac, Atomic Rooster w/Farlowe, or Birth Control then check these guys out. It's a virtual supergroup--Welch, Cornick & Mooney. Get their 1st LP, too."
Big Sound, 2061
Thaddeus B. Rosemyer | 03/26/2001
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Bob Welch ESSENCE! Welch fans will love the continuation and refinement of his sound which began to be recognizeable in the earlier Fleetwood Mac albums like "Mystery To Me" & "Heroes Are Hard To Find" in the mid-70s.Very bluesey, very dreamy, very Welch!Enjoy!Lenny"
Second effort by a great but unsung group
Gareth Davies-Morris | San Diego, CA USA | 04/29/2008
(4 out of 5 stars)
"Sophomore release from Bob Welch's short-lived power trio. If you've found this you probably know the history: ex-Fleetwood Mac guitarist who graced some of their best pre-Buckingham/Nicks stuff (Bare Trees, Mystery To Me, etc.) forms group with ex-Tull bassist Glen Cornick, sets out to replicate Zeppelin -- and does! The consensus on this album is that it's closer to his Fleetwood Mac stylings than what's on the extraordinary debut, which sounds like some unreleased third disc to Physical Graffiti. In part that's because Ex-Nazz drummer Thom Mooney's cleared out, taking his Bonham-isms with him, and the new man on the traps, Hunt Sales (ex-Runt, future Tin Machine) doesn't have that style at all. Also, Welch has turned down the guitars and layered on the vocals. Nonetheless, the songs are as lyrical and melodic as anything else he's written, just not as heavy as what's on the first album. It still rocks (Blue Robin, Money Love, the title track) but with a funkier, groovier sound. The record closes magnificently, too: Janie is as good as anything on the debut -- it's this album's Narrow Gate, you could say. Great sci-fi artwork, as well. Get it!"
Spacey Pop
Loretta Bennett | USA | 11/09/2001
(4 out of 5 stars)
"Another great album by Bob Welch and company, although not as good as their first release. This album features Hunt Sales (Soupy's kid)on drums and tends to have more harmonies throughout the pop sounding production. Not as much gutsy guitar work as the first album, but the lyrics are still haunting and soulful. The title song and Pale Horse, Pale Rider are great but tend to sound like Fleetwood Mac. Both albums are great, but those who bought the first album may be disappointed with this one."
Worth waiting for....
J. L. Horton | Middle of Nowhere, USA | 05/06/2009
(4 out of 5 stars)
"I still own the vinyl copies of "Big Towne, 2061" and "Paris". I waited a very long time for both of them to be re-released on CD and I was just as enchanted with both albums this time around as I had been the first time I heard them. Having been a teen during the '70s, I have a large collection of dusty, little-known gems from that era and I count both Paris albums among them. That having been said, a few caveats for the unintiated.
Attention Bob Welch fans......
Even if you never heard his music pre "French Kiss", Paris is worth a spin. This is Welch's short-lived experiment with the power trio format and the music defies easy categorization. Think hard rock meets blues meets art rock meets pop. Welch, Glenn Cornick (bassist - formerly of Jethro Tull) and Hunt Sales (drums) have undeniable chemistry and Welch's compositions are interesting and challenging.
Unfortunately, this album suffers from over-production, especially when compared to the much more rock-oriented first album "Paris" (Thom Mooney - drums). In an apparent attempt to make the album more lush and less hard-edged, a very subdued sonic palette was used with lots of echo and muted frequencies. This technique was applied to "French Kiss" with great commercial success, but with the songs on this album, it was a serious miscalculation.
To summarize, if you like Bob Welch in Fleetwood Mac and are a fan of experimental rock from the '70s, you will enjoy "Big Towne, 2061". If you only know Welch from "French Kiss", this album will sound oddly familiar and yet will not satisfy your search for Welch's more pop side. Still worth a spin."
Track Listings (10) - Disc #1