A great concept ...a half-great album.
DJ Rix | NJ USA | 08/25/2001
(4 out of 5 stars)
""Befour" was a great concept - a sort of versatile chamber rock -that translated into a half-great album, which means I suppose that it's not a great album at all. Brian Auger wasn't much of a jazz organist - he lacked the good-natured elasticity of American B-3 players. He almost made up for what he lacked with inspired song selections, good arrangements, & an earnest Sixties idealism that he has unto this day. "Befour" opens up with a stiff cover of Sly's "Higher" (for heaven's sake, why bother?). He adds nothing to Hancock's "Maiden Voyage," which comes across as a learning exercise. "Just You Just Me" is a forgettable original. Which leaves very lovely versions of Faure's "Pavanne" & Albinoni's "Adagio." Also a wonderful instrumental cover of Traffic's "No Time to Live," featuring an understanding, sensitive organ solo of the sort Winwood never quite had the chops to construct. Auger re-recorded the song later with a vocal by Julie Tippett, to much the same effect. Auger adds two top Brit session drummers (left, center, & right) & just steamrolls over Les McCann's "Listen Here," reconstructing it as a progressive rock classic, one of those great numbers that smashed the four minute radio barrier. Brian Auger never seemed to figure out if he wanted to be Stevie Winwood, Jimmy Smith, Georgie Fame, Alan Price, Matthew Fisher, or an art rocker with good taste. This indecision made it very difficult for him to be Brian Auger. But he tried & succeeded with a few cuts on every LP he released. I treasure my vinyl copy of "Befour." I just can't see replacing it with an [expensive] import CD, remastered or not. Maybe I love it/him for sentimental reasons."
Track Listings (9) - Disc #1