44 years ago, Vin Scelsa played a cover of "Not Fade Away" that caught my ears. While it wasn't necessary groundbreaking, it had something that made me want to hear it again. And this is a song most people don't really need to hear at all anymore. It was Mick Fleetwood, from a solo record called "The Visitor," that was recorded in Ghana, West Africa. I found a promo at Vinyl Mania for $2.99 and I have had it ever since. But, I don't think I've listened to it in 43 years.
Yesterday, as I paced from room to room trying to retrace my steps to figure out why I went into the other room in the first place---it was to find a Five Royales record---"The Visitor" caught my eye in the "F" section. So I played it.
The verdict after 44 years? I am really happy I held onto it.
The easiest way to describe "The Visitor" is to say it sounds like a 70's Fleetwood Mac record made in Ghana. But there is something extra going on here that makes it really refreshing. We've got Peter Green on a couple of tracks. We've got George Harrison on a track. And we've got these wonderful vocal groups like Adjo and The Ghana Folkloric Group making some joyful music on top of it all.
Maybe the "Not Fade Away" cover when played on its own won't thrill you. But I guarantee, if you give the whole of "The Visitor" a shot, at the very least, you'll think, "Not bad!" Or, like me, you'll want to hear it a second time. It is a truly beautiful record.
6 comments:
I had that right after it was released. It is a very good record, and reminds you of how great FM could be when they were an actual blues band.
easily my favorite of all the mac solo albums. released five years before Paul Simon did Graceland. as you say, the individual songs aren't earthshaking, but they work tremendously as an album.
I absolutely love this record and it is has been on steady rotation for me since day one. I credit this album along with the '82 Music and Rhythm comp (Townshend, Gabriel, Byrne, etc.) with opening the door for me to African and World music.
Randy
Interesting that Todd Sharp (a Cleveland guitarist ) featured on The Visitor and wrote and played on Christine McVie's solo record three years later. A journeyman that played with lots of big names during his career.
I'll listen to it while enjoying some pie. Happy Pi Day!
hari & mick fleetwood were married to the boyd sisters...hence hari's appearance
cheers
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