Back Door - Back Door (Warner Bros. 1973) 24-bit/96kHz Vinyl Rip

Back when giant carnivorous bass players ruled the Earth, Back Door were the hungriest of them all. They formed in 1971 as a jazz-rock trio, with Colin Hodgkinson (bass, vocals), Ron Aspery (keyboards, sax), and Tony Hicks (drums). What sets Back Door apart is the bass playing. While a few bassists – such as Chris Squire, John Entwistle, and Jack Bruce – have tried exploiting the bass' potential as a lead instrument, they were confined by bands where the guitar or keyboards were the usual lead. Not Colin Hodgkinson; he dispenses with these instruments altogether, allowing the bass to be the sole lead instrument. He strums chords on it the way you'd expect someone to with a six-string. Later bands like Ruins and Sadhappy have taken up this challenge, but many of Back Door's achievements remain unsurpassed.

Released by the band on the Blakey label in 1972 and then re-released by Warner in 1973, this instrumental album is impressive from start to finish, and a veritable catalogue of bass guitar technique. Aspery's funky sax and flute work leaves the bottom end completely open to the bass guitar, and Hodgkinson's use of strummed chords is ably backed by his bandmates on the squalling opener "Vienna Breakdown." The mel-low fon-kay bass solo, "Lieutenant Loose," makes effective use of ringing open strings, while "Slivadiv" is a fret-hammering delight. If you're a bassist, be forewarned: listening to this album is a deeply humbling experience. Paul Collins AMG.

Tracklisting:

A1. Vienna Breakdown

A2. Plantagenet

A3. Lieutenant Loose

A4. Askin' The Way (blues)

A5. Turning Point

A6. Slivadiv

B1. Jive Grind

B2. Human Bed

B3. Catcote Rag

B4. Waltz For A Wollum

B5. Folksong

B6. Back Door

(all compositions Asprey-Hodgkinson)
Personnel:
Colin Hodgkinson, Fender bass
Ron Asprey, Alto & Soprano saxophones, flute
Tony Hicks, Drums