This morning when I walked into the office the local classic rock station was playing "Crossroads" by Cream, arguably the best live rock tune ever recorded. It was going to be a good morning. By the time that Clapton and company were plowing into the second lead of the song I was handed a package containing the newest Glass Harp release entitled "Stark Raving Jams." It was indeed going to be a very good morning! Clocking in at just a little over three hours, this three disc set is just what the title suggests, a collection of jams recorded by the band over the past thirty four years. Scanning the band's career beginning in 1970 up until the release of last year's "Hourglass" collection, this is one rock 'n' roll band that knows how to cook up a musical stew.
This 39 tune collection is a series of improvisational jams usually occurring at the end of one of the band's songs. There are only a handful of full songs here, that is not the purpose of this collection. The purpose is to show off the playing skills of the three members of the trio known as Glass Harp. The album fulfills its mission brilliantly. The interweaving of bass, drums and lead guitar is absolutely awesome. It is fairly easy to distinguish between the material recorded in the '70's and the more recent material, yet that is not meant to say that the earlier material is not just as exciting as the newer stuff. The maturity gained by the members of the band over the last three plus decades has not diminished their ability to tear down the house at any given moment.
John Sferra is without a doubt one of the best rock drummers pounding the skins today, Dan Pecchio is a master craftsman on the bass guitar, working sonic miracles on just four strings and Phil Keaggy makes you believe that Jimi Hendrix actually stated that famous urban legend. If as I did, you loved Keaggy's Premium Jams collection of a number of years ago then by all means pick this album up immediately if not sooner. These guys will rock your socks off. Yes, it was a good morning!!!
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