Ahead Rings Out
Encyclopedia
Ahead Rings Out was the debut album by British blues-rock band Blodwyn Pig
, released in 1969. The band had been formed in 1969 by Mick Abrahams, the former guitarist of Jethro Tull
, and sales of Ahead Rings Out rivalled those of Jethro Tull’s next album, Stand Up
, reaching No. 9 on the British album chart.
The album contained a healthy mixture of various styles of progressive blues and “The Modern Alchemist” displayed the jazz influence and saxophone skills of Jack Lancaster.
In liner notes for the 2001 re-issue of the album, songwriter and singer Mick Abrahams recalled: “The producer was Andy Johns
(little brother to Glyn Johns
of Rolling Stones production fame. I think the tape operator was Robin Black, who later went on to produce Jethro Tull
and other notable acts of the time.
“I recall that we were all quite chuffed with the end result of this, our first offering after my not too long ago departure from Jethro Tull.
“One of the first songs we laid down was ‘It’s Only Love’ and it was cool at the time to have the availability of an eight-track machine to record with. Great for overdubs and thickening out the sound ...
“‘Dear Jill’ (a favourite of mine to this day) was the next track we laid down and the nice thing about it was that by double-tracking the guitar, which was an Ecko 12-string with only 9-10 strings on it (depending on my mood or how many strings I could afford on the day) it sounded akin to a modern chorus effect pedal which, coupled with Jack’s haunting soprano sax
, made it into a solid stand up song. It was featured in Cameron Crowe
’s movie Almost Famous
as part of the background music to reflect the theme and time of the film.”
About “See My Way”, he comments: “It was a solid two days work to get it just how we felt it should be with all the odd changes of tempo and feel, i.e. the section that sounds like Ravel
’s Boléro
... That song didn’t go on the UK version of Ahead Rings Out, but instead the powers that be decided in their wisdom to put it on the USA version and left it until we recorded the second album, Getting To This.”
He described “The Modern Alchemist” as “a great composition of Jack Lancaster’s that brought a mixture of hard hybrid jazz-rock flavour to the album.”
Blodwyn Pig
Blodwyn Pig were a British blues–rock group founded by guitarist–vocalist–songwriter Mick Abrahams, after he left Jethro Tull in 1968 due to a falling-out with Tull leader Ian Anderson.-Career:...
, released in 1969. The band had been formed in 1969 by Mick Abrahams, the former guitarist of Jethro Tull
Jethro Tull (band)
Jethro Tull are a British rock group formed in 1967. Their music is characterised by the vocals, acoustic guitar, and flute playing of Ian Anderson, who has led the band since its founding, and the guitar work of Martin Barre, who has been with the band since 1969.Initially playing blues rock with...
, and sales of Ahead Rings Out rivalled those of Jethro Tull’s next album, Stand Up
Stand Up (Jethro Tull album)
2010 Deluxe EditionCD 1: Stand Up# "A New Day Yesterday" [2001 Digital Remaster]# "Jeffrey Goes to Leicester Square" [2001 Digital Remaster]# "Bourée" [2001 Digital Remaster]# "Back to the Family" [2001 Digital Remaster]...
, reaching No. 9 on the British album chart.
The album contained a healthy mixture of various styles of progressive blues and “The Modern Alchemist” displayed the jazz influence and saxophone skills of Jack Lancaster.
In liner notes for the 2001 re-issue of the album, songwriter and singer Mick Abrahams recalled: “The producer was Andy Johns
Andy Johns
Andy Johns is an engineer and producer who worked on well-known rock albums such as Led Zeppelin's IV and The Rolling Stones' Exile on Main Street. His sound is exemplified by Free's album Highway, which he engineered and produced....
(little brother to Glyn Johns
Glyn Johns
Glyn Johns is a musician, recording engineer and record producer.-Career:He has worked with such artists as Bob Dylan, The Beatles, The Easybeats, The Band, The Rolling Stones, The Who, Led Zeppelin, Eagles, Eric Clapton, The Clash, The Steve Miller Band, Small Faces, Spooky Tooth, The Ozark...
of Rolling Stones production fame. I think the tape operator was Robin Black, who later went on to produce Jethro Tull
Jethro Tull (band)
Jethro Tull are a British rock group formed in 1967. Their music is characterised by the vocals, acoustic guitar, and flute playing of Ian Anderson, who has led the band since its founding, and the guitar work of Martin Barre, who has been with the band since 1969.Initially playing blues rock with...
and other notable acts of the time.
“I recall that we were all quite chuffed with the end result of this, our first offering after my not too long ago departure from Jethro Tull.
“One of the first songs we laid down was ‘It’s Only Love’ and it was cool at the time to have the availability of an eight-track machine to record with. Great for overdubs and thickening out the sound ...
“‘Dear Jill’ (a favourite of mine to this day) was the next track we laid down and the nice thing about it was that by double-tracking the guitar, which was an Ecko 12-string with only 9-10 strings on it (depending on my mood or how many strings I could afford on the day) it sounded akin to a modern chorus effect pedal which, coupled with Jack’s haunting soprano sax
Soprano saxophone
The soprano saxophone is a variety of the saxophone, a woodwind instrument, invented in 1840. The soprano is the third smallest member of the saxophone family, which consists of the soprillo, sopranino, soprano, alto, tenor, baritone, bass, contrabass and tubax.A transposing instrument pitched in...
, made it into a solid stand up song. It was featured in Cameron Crowe
Cameron Crowe
Cameron Bruce Crowe is an American screenwriter and film director. Before moving into the film industry, Crowe was a contributing editor at Rolling Stone magazine, for which he still frequently writes....
’s movie Almost Famous
Almost Famous
Almost Famous is a 2000 musical comedy-drama film written and directed by Cameron Crowe and telling the fictional story of a teenage journalist writing for Rolling Stone magazine while covering the fictitious rock band Stillwater , and his efforts to get his first cover story published...
as part of the background music to reflect the theme and time of the film.”
About “See My Way”, he comments: “It was a solid two days work to get it just how we felt it should be with all the odd changes of tempo and feel, i.e. the section that sounds like Ravel
Maurice Ravel
Joseph-Maurice Ravel was a French composer known especially for his melodies, orchestral and instrumental textures and effects...
’s Boléro
Boléro
Boléro is a one-movement orchestral piece by Maurice Ravel . Originally composed as a ballet commissioned by Russian ballerina Ida Rubinstein, the piece, which premiered in 1928, is Ravel's most famous musical composition....
... That song didn’t go on the UK version of Ahead Rings Out, but instead the powers that be decided in their wisdom to put it on the USA version and left it until we recorded the second album, Getting To This.”
He described “The Modern Alchemist” as “a great composition of Jack Lancaster’s that brought a mixture of hard hybrid jazz-rock flavour to the album.”
Track listing
- “It's Only Love” (Mick AbrahamsMick AbrahamsMichael Timothy 'Mick' Abrahams was the original guitarist for Jethro Tull. He recorded the album This Was with the band in 1968, but conflicts between Abrahams and Ian Anderson over the musical direction of the band led Abrahams to leave once the album was finished...
) – 3:23 - “Dear Jill” (Abrahams) – 5:19
- “Sing Me a Song That I Know” (Abrahams) – 3:08
- “The Modern Alchemist” (Jack Lancaster) – 5:38
- “Up and Coming” (Abrahams, Lancaster, Andy Pyle, Ron Berg) – 5:31
- “Leave It With Me” (Lancaster) – 3:52
- “The Change Song” (Abrahams) – 3:45
- “Backwash” (Abrahams, Lancaster, Pyle, Berg) – 0:53
- “Ain’t Ya Coming’ Home, Babe?” (Abrahams, Lancaster, Pyle) – 6:04
- Bonus tracks on 2006 EMI Digital Remaster reissue CD:
- 10. “Sweet Caroline” (Abrahams) – 2:51
- 11. “Walk on the Water” (Abrahams) – 3:42
- 12. “Summer Day” (Abrahams, Pyle) – 3:44
- 13. “Same Old Story” (Abrahams) – 2:36
- 14. “Slow Down” (Larry WilliamsLarry WilliamsLarry Williams was an American rhythm and blues and rock and roll singer, songwriter, producer, and pianist from New Orleans, Louisiana...
) – 4:20 - 15. “Meanie Mornay” (Abrahams) – 4:45
- 16. “Backwash” (Abrahams) – 0:53
Personnel
- Mick AbrahamsMick AbrahamsMichael Timothy 'Mick' Abrahams was the original guitarist for Jethro Tull. He recorded the album This Was with the band in 1968, but conflicts between Abrahams and Ian Anderson over the musical direction of the band led Abrahams to leave once the album was finished...
– guitar, vocals, seven-string slide guitar - Jack LancasterJack LancasterJack Lancaster is a British composer, record producer and musician.In the late 1960s, Lancaster co-founded the British rock group Blodwyn Pig with Jethro Tull guitarist Mick Abrahams...
– flute, violin, tenor saxTenor saxophoneThe tenor saxophone is a medium-sized member of the saxophone family, a group of instruments invented by Adolphe Sax in the 1840s. The tenor, with the alto, are the two most common types of saxophones. The tenor is pitched in the key of B, and written as a transposing instrument in the treble...
, baritone saxBaritone saxophoneThe baritone saxophone, often called "bari sax" , is one of the largest and lowest pitched members of the saxophone family. It was invented by Adolphe Sax. The baritone is distinguished from smaller sizes of saxophone by the extra loop near its mouthpiece...
, soprano saxSoprano saxophoneThe soprano saxophone is a variety of the saxophone, a woodwind instrument, invented in 1840. The soprano is the third smallest member of the saxophone family, which consists of the soprillo, sopranino, soprano, alto, tenor, baritone, bass, contrabass and tubax.A transposing instrument pitched in...
, brass arrangements - Andy PyleAndy PyleAndy Pyle is an English bass guitarist. He played with The Kinks from 1976–1978. Prior to that, he was in Blodwyn Pig and Savoy Brown...
– Electric bass, six-string bass - Ron Berg – drums