Larry Young - Larry Young's Fuel

I sometimes find myself in the position of pulling a record off the shelf and thinking, “I’ve not played this much – I bet it’s great.” For someone who tends to be something of a pessimist, this is an oddly optimistic kink in my psychological make-up.

It’s an unusual album, this.

Larry Young had played on Bitches Brew five years prior and was clearly still in that groove. There is no doubting whose name was on the record sleeve here. Young would’ve been sitting in front of the mixing desk nudging up the keyboard faders, and proclaiming, “More keyboard!”

And, after all, this is what gives rare groove classic Turn Off The Lights its odd-ball charm.

The rest of the album is a much more challenging listen. It has a kind of proggy ELP vibe at times. And I’m not sure that’s a good thing.

This is a demo copy of the album and came with a biography and 8x10 glossy headshot, which is nice.

Interestingly, the biography, spends two-and-a-bit sides telling us about Young’s credentials, then only addresses the actual album in one, rather damning, line:

‘The album’s sound takes on a distinct character created by Young’s simultaneous playing of all the keyboards involved. (Moog, organ, piano, Fender Rhodes electric piano.) He is very pleased with the results.’ - LOL.

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