Search - Shawn Phillips :: Collaboration

My Favorite from Shawn Phillips

R. Lindeboom | Paso Robles, CA USA | 06/22/2000

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Shawn Phillips had a voice unlike any other male singer in rock; his voice could travel from the lowest low male bass tones to the high almost female soprano notes. His was an incredible voice, to say the least. But what makes this album so special is that (as the title suggests) it is a collaboration -- and not just a collaboration with anyone; this is a collaboration with two rock luminaries whose credits are phenomenal in their own rite. Alongside Shawn in this outing are Mssrs. Paul Buckmaster and J. Peter Robinson. Fans of the early Elton John classics will recognize Buckmaster from his stunning string arrangements for those great early EJ records. (Simply stated: Buckmaster is probably the greatest string arranger in rock history -- his work for Elton John, Shawn Phillips and 10,000 Maniacs, et al -- encompasses a body of work unlike any other in his field. He also recently scored 'Twelve Monkeys' with Bruce Willis.) As to the glue holding it all together -- we find J. Peter Robinson on the keyboards and synthesizers. Peter's work today includes scoring major films like 'Highlander' and Eddie Murphy's 'A Vampire in Brooklyn.' But at this point in his career, Peter had just left working with the little known (but highly respected) classical rock power trio of 'Quatermass.' The trio also included Mick Underwood on drums and John Gustafson on bass and vocals (who plays on Collaboration also) -- with Peter on the keyboards and scoring his own string arrangements on cuts like 'Entropy.' (Hardcore fans will recall the Harvest Records release which looks up from the streets below to see pteradactals flying through skyscrapers. A real collector's item!) On Collaboration, these masters join Shawn (at his creative peak) on a collection of songs that still hold up well 25 years later. These are some of Shawn's best moments on record -- quite a statement considering that he himself discovered the sitar before either George Harrison (Beatles) or Brian Jones (Stones) and had played it with Doinovan on some of his early cuts. There are many other first that could be said about Shawn, this is just one. Shawn's own recorded catalog includes over 20 albums to date and this is his finest work. The sidemen on this project include some of the top sessionmen in rock and fans of progressive rock will find this little known gem a treasure! Too pop to be compared with the likes of Genesis, etc., but far too symphonic, airy and sweeping in scope to ever be really considered pop -- this is a musician's album. Definitely for fans who love great music. If you have a collection that includes any of the great progressive rock bands and you have not included any Shawn Phillips, there is a hole in your collection that is just the size of Collaboration. Exactly that size..."

Prog' Folk Rock Classic

Marc Walton | Leeds, UK | 12/08/2000

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Fans of such artists as John Martyn, Bert Janch, Jethro Tull and Donovan will love this. The whole album is brimming with inventive arrangements, jazzy twists and turns and a couple of splendidly delicious and rather funky instumentals. Shawn really lets his hair down here, and yet with its brave progressive attitude the album still holds together as a cohesive whole. The heartfelt lyrics are intellegent but humble, deep but not overly so; this man's words will have made many a hippy smile over the years. They don't make them like this anymore."

THE Voice

djones1 | Miami | 07/21/2000

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Please buy this album. One of my all time cherished favorites.I won't discuss the magic and wonder of growing up with this gift of a voice and I can't share the joy I felt at watching him perform "L Ballad" (not from this album)at an intimate Ft. Lauderdale venue a decade ago. What I will tell you is that the presence of this artist, his sheer power as a man and lust for life was even more evident after he finished his set; when he possesed every woman at that gig with just his big smile and sparkling eyes!This guy stomped the earth in a big way, I hope he's still around creating."