Track Listing

1. Architectural Number
2. The Maiden's Lament
3. Honey Dripper
4. Thursday
5. Harp Solo
6. Biggy Wiggy
7. Holy Cow
8. In The Heat Of The Night
9. Biggy Wiggy - Instrumental
10. We're Through
11. Grand Hotel
12. Danger Zone

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #59631 in Music
• Released on: 2003-04-28
• Number of discs: 1

Customer Reviews

There is better
This is a an early Jools Holland album. Actually it dates from 1990 not 1999. It isn't the Rhythm & Blues Orchestra that has become his trademark over the last 12 years and this is reflected in some of the tracks. You get the feeling with this album that the tracks were manufactured in the studio, it doesn't have that organic earthy feel that the R&B Orchestra generates. Compare the version of 'Biggy Wiggy' with that on the great live album a few years later and you'll see what I mean.

If you've been brought up on his R&B Orchestra albums over the last 12 years you may well be disappointed with this. Its still worth buying if you can pick it up cheap, as it captures Jools Holland in transition to the R&B Orchestra.

First & best
Jool's first solo album and, arguably, his best. I originally bought this CD back in 1999 when it was first released and it is one of the few albums that has stood the test of time as I still play it.

The numbers range from the opening 'architect's song' - slow starter that builds up into a full-blown orchestral piece, to the brilliant 'Maiden's lament' (based on an old folk tale, don't you know), to the bone-chilling 'Grand Hotel' (with Vic Reeves as guest backing vocalist).

I have all of his albums and each usually has a couple of dodgy tracks on it, but there is not a single weak link in this album.

If you like Jazz and the sound of a big band, then this is the album for you. Likewise if you have not heard much of Jools' work, this is the ideal starting point.