index page for Delicado Album Details
The age of electronicus  - Dick Hyman - 1969
Label: Command 946-S (USA)
Format: LP
From: USA
My rating: 3/10

Entered: 07/30/2002
Last updated: 05/03/2003

Post a comment
Search on Ebay
Search on GEMM

I'm surprised to say that I find very little to like about this record. I say that because I coveted it for some years (yeah, probably after reading that moog issue of Grand Royal), and then after ebay helped everyone to figure out that records like this didn't have to cost $50 any more, I picked it up for $10 or so.

It actually sounds great after listening to Moog Party Time, but that doesn't change the fact that there are very few really good tracks. The opener, 'Ob-la-di Ob-la-da' has some gentle-but-frenetic drumming, but it's a very hard tune to make sound charming.

Next, we go to what's probably the best track, Hyman's mad moog take on James Brown's 'Give it up or turn it loose', which has a delightfully spare feel to it, along with lots of sounds that became bigger in the 80s. The drums are relentless and funky, and the huge, jarring, crude moog sound that mimicks Brown's voice is quite effective. There's also some Moon Gas-style organ that comes in during the bridge. Sure, the track is repetitive as hell, but with a sound that cool, it's ok.

Hyman's take on the Beatles' 'Blackbird' is next. Since I bought this album, I've become very familiar with—and fond of—Ramsey Lewis's version of this tune on Mother Nature's son. This version is pleasant enough, but I think Charles Stepney and Ramsey Lewis could have given the Command boys a lesson on more tasteful use of the moog. Yes, I realize that wasn't the point of this album, but still...

It's 1969, so it's time for the apparently-compulsory track from 'Hair'. Hyman picks 'Aquarius', and the sound he chooses for the main melody makes me feel decidedly queasy.

The final track on the first side is 'Green onions', which I guess you'd expect to be quite promising. It's not bad, certainly, but...I guess I don't really get this record. Its length (nearly 8 minutes) is just too much for me, even though some of the crazy sounds are rather fun - improvisations on the theme interspersed with pure knob-twiddling madness.

I don't really get 'Kolumbo', a Hyman original that musical taste member bobbyspacetroup (whose taste I revere) is very big on. Read what he says about it instead.

'Time is tight' is more appealing to me than much of the album - it's a pleasant piece with bouncy, quiet drums, guitar, and a sparkly sound on the moog. By contrast, I find 'Alfie', never one of my favorite Bacharach numbers, a bit painful. As for 'Both Sides Now', with a bagpipe-type moog sound, give me Blossom Dearie's version any day.

I guess I'm just not a Moog connoisseur... Beautiful cover, though.
Dick Hyman recommendations at Musical Taste
   Kolumbo
   Yesterday

   Quick Search (this will search review text, performer, title and year):    

musical taste home