Reviewer Dr. Wesley Britton: Dr. Britton is the author of four non-fiction books on espionage in literature and the media. Starting in fall 2015, his new six-book science fiction series, The Beta-Earth Chronicles, debuted via BearManor Media.
In 2018, Britton self-published the seventh book in the Chronicles, Alpha Tales 2044, a collection of short stories, many of which first appeared at a number of online venues.
For seven years, he was co-host of online radio’s Dave White Presents where he contributed interviews with a host of entertainment insiders. Before his retirement in 2016, Dr. Britton taught English at Harrisburg Area Community College. Learn more about Dr. Britton at his WEBSITE
Label: Cleopatra
ASIN: B008TYGDOG
For
most tribute collections, the game plan is to create a song list and
distribute it around various performers and allow them to put their
own spin on classic songs. For Who Are You, producers Gurgen Engler
and Chris Lietz apparently had a more experimental project in mind.
Not only did they reach out to a wide range of artists, they mixed
and matched them in sometimes surprising combinations. The result,
which isn't surprising, is a mixed bag of typical tribute album hits
and misses.
Take, for example, "Magic Bus" performed
by the strange bedfellows of Peter Noone (Herman's Hermits), Peter
Banks (Yes), and Ginger Baker (Cream). Or "My Generation"
knocked out by Knox (The Vibrators), Dave Davies (The Kinks), and Rat
Scabies (The Damned). Despite such star power, only occasionally do
these "supergroups" really come up with something fresh. To
my ears, Mark Lindsay (Paul Revere & The Raiders) and Wayne
Kramer (MC5) kicked out the jams with an energetic rendition of the
criminally neglected "I Can See For Miles." An outstanding
Keyboard driven "Love Reign O'er Me" is a prog rock primer
with Joe Elliott (Def Leppard), Rick Wakeman (Yes), Huw Lloyd-Langton
(Hawkwind), and Carmine Appice (Vanilla Fudge).
While
many of these ensembles don't really altar the spirit and flavor of
the originals, the track with the Most personality stamped on it is
"Who Are You" featuring Gretchen Wilson and Randy Bachman
(Bachman-Turner Overdrive). Perhaps the song attempting to really
stretch out sonic possibilities is the album's opener, boasting a
Credible Roger Daltrey impersonation in an electronic funk
arrangement for "Eminence Front" by John Wetton (Asia),
K.K. Downing (Judas Priest), and � Derek
Sherinian (Dream
Theater). On the other hand, a very distant hand, while I've always
loved The Who's garage/punk early hits, I wasn't enthralled with some
annoying vocal renditions of "Anyway Anyhow Anywhere" (Todd
Rundgren) and "I Can't Explain" (Iggy Pop).
Along
the way, some songs are served up by bands whose interpretations are
more likely to please their followers more so than Who devotees. Such
offerings include the Soft pop of The Raveonettes' "The Kids Are
Alright," the Electric hoedown of "Squeeze Box" by
John Wesley (Porcupine Tree) and David Cross (King Crimson). On and
on. For the record, as it were, other musicians include Leslie West,
Pat Travers, Sweet, 38 Special, And members of Deep Purple, Wishbone
Ash, and Nectar.
So, once again, we get a tribute collection
that deserves a first listen for curiosity's sake, but I suspect few
will give the full package a second run through. Pick your favorites,
discard the rest, and pass this one along to your friends so they can
do likewise.