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This Bonzo is off the Bus

PHILIP S WOLF | SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, CA. USA | 10/11/2006

(4 out of 5 stars)

"A very good buddy played this Record for my wasted skull way back in 1970. I knew the Music of the Bonzo Dog Band well but I must admit I did not catch on that this was my very favorite Bonzo Nutter...TAA DAA... Mr. Neil Innes, untill he broke out the Sleeve, and there he was, our Neil.



Now decades later it's FINALLY out on Compact Disc, in all it's Glory, We Are The World...We are the Pre-Rutles. Neil has Returned...



It all starts with "Angelina"... ( No, not her as she was not Born in 1970, Thank Goodness ). And if this Sounds a bit like it should be on "Abbey Road " you are not alone, Neil would be playing the Role Of John Lennon in The Rutles, by the end of the Decade. Next up is "Come Out Into The Open" a Chuck Berry Style Rocker that is a Straight-Up Tribute, but not a Parody of Fifties Music. Track Number 3 : "Not The First Time" is a Mid-Tempo Rocker with Neil on Piano as well as Guitar and it also features the Great Drumming of Ian Wallace ( Later to join Bob Fripp in King Crimson ). The Fourth Selection; "Sail Away" is about leaving The Mighty Bonzo's and again is Drivin' by Fine Drumming and Even Better Piano.



The "9-5 Pollution Blues" sounds much like the Stuff of Bonzo's Past, due to the Smart Lyrics and Wa-Wa Guitar, but Neil lives deep in Satire, and nobody else does it as well or as English...Nice. "Lead Us" slows things down a bit and Drifts into Country-Rock, Nice Change of Pace on a already Good Album. "Things I Could Have Said" is the Best Track on "Lucky Planet" and it should be noted that Former Bonzo, Dennis Cowan does a Fantastic job on Bass Guitar throughout this Disc, these are Great Musicians and if it would have lasted this Would have been a Very Good Touring Band. In the Liner Notes Neil refers to "Lucky Planet" as a work in progress, but it does sound 'Finished' . But, after the Big Bonzo Productions of his Past it is Easy to see why Neil would say that. And with the Last Track "Godzilla's Return", at last Neil has a chance to 'Rock Out' with Solos from everyone in the Band: Bass Guitar, Drums, Guitar in short the Works.



I am glad to see this Gem in CD Form at Long Last, but I wished there would have been Bonus Tracks included, But that said this Over-Looked Wonder is worth a Listen...FOUR STARS !!!"