Short Reviews [Jeremy - 1994 - "Soul Saver"]

This is not a new album from Jeremy as such but is actually the first appearance on CD of his third album which was recorded between 1977-1979 and never released on cd until now. There is a total of 19 tracks including the original album plus bonus tracks from the sessions. The important comment here is 'never released on CD', as I am not saying I have been writing about Mr. Morris for a long time, but I reviewed the cassette nearly 30 years ago. As well as the additional tracks there is also new artwork, but the top right-hand photo in the booklet is the one which was the original cover. Even when I reviewed it this had been around a while, as it was originally released not long after it was recorded, so the album is now more than 45 years old. Jeremy had yet to settle into his different styles, and in many ways, this is a straightforward American Seventies rock album, but with Jeremy's wonderful vocal style which is recognisable as his approach today. Apart from the use of two drummers (on different tracks) and a guitarist/singer on one, this is all Jeremy with vocals, guitars, bass, keyboards and drums demonstrating that even with a 4-track analogue recorder he knew what he was doing. This never sounds like a solo recording, but always feels like a band, and even though Jeremy does let himself have some fun with the short, picked, guitar instrumental "Road To Paradise" and the simply ridiculous "A Little Rabbit" this release is far more than 'demos for the diehards' which is how he originally described it. It can often be interesting to go back in time to see where bands have come from and how they changed (Genesis) while others announced themselves fully formed (King Crimson), and this album is somewhere in the middle as while it is different to what Jeremy produces these days, it is still very much a fun release and while it contains more hard rock than we would expect from him now, it is always commercial and tempered with his pop style. This is way more than just a curiosity, it is a real blast from the past and a lot of fun.