R.I.P. Alvin Lee (Ten Years After)

Legendary British guitarist/vocalist for Ten Years After has passed away. Despite their memorable segment from Woodstock and hit single "I'd Love To Change The World" they never really broke big here in the U.S. but are definitely worth exploring further.

Hit single "I'd Love To Change The World"


For a taste of Alvin's incendiary guitar skill here is their take on Woody Herman's "Woodchopper's Ball".

This sucks, I remember just a couple of weeks I had posted a Ten Years After tune on FB, we had commented back and forth on his music with the band.

Great great guitaritst, and Ten Years After recorded a series of classic albums in the late 60's- early 70's.

I had just read an interview he did with Classic Rock Magazine and month ago, it was very insightful on his history and the band dynamics of Ten Years After.

manny wrote:

I had just read an interview he did with Classic Rock Magazine and month ago, it was very insightful on his history and the band dynamics of Ten Years After.

Dang. I just read that same article and it made me break out my "essential" Ten Years After disc just a week or so ago. What was the cause of death? Was he sick?

The family stated it was "unforeseen complications during routine surgery".

Jesus that sucks some serious balls. GREAT guitarist.

Listened to him alot as a pup....their biggest tune (which Shawn posted above in the 1rst video clip) is so different than most of the other stuff they played.

R.I.P

Did he do anything worthwhile after leaving Ten Years After? Any of his solo albums worth exploring?

Like I mentioned, all I have to go on is an essential TYA collection, which is fine, but I've never heard anything outside of that.

MetalGuy71 wrote:

Did he do anything worthwhile after leaving Ten Years After? Any of his solo albums worth exploring?

Like I mentioned, all I have to go on is an essential TYA collection, which is fine, but I've never heard anything outside of that.

I personally did not care for his solo albums that I have heard but I confess I only heard a few and it has been ages since I have heard a solo release from Alvin Lee.

My problem with the single disc "The Essential Ten Years After" is that it begins with their 4th released studio album and doesn't contain anything from Ten Years After, Stonedhenge, Undead or Shhh which are arguably their best albums overall. It contains some of their hits but overall is a failed release due to those omissions.

Get these..........

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B003OPUZYY/ref=dm_dp_cdp?ie=UTF8&s=music

http://www.amazon.com/Anthology-Alvin-Lee/dp/B0000EM6QP/ref=sr_1_1?s=music&ie=UTF8&qid=1362619301&sr=1-1&keywords=alvin+lee+anthology

http://www.amazon.com/Anthology-2-Alvin-Lee/dp/B0015N977I/ref=sr_1_2?s=music&ie=UTF8&qid=1362619301&sr=1-2&keywords=alvin+lee+anthology


Of course they are out of stock today. Yesterday there was stock o' plenty.

MetalGuy71 wrote:

Did he do anything worthwhile after leaving Ten Years After? Any of his solo albums worth exploring?

I have all his output from 1967-1986 and I dig it all.

SpectreFate wrote:

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B003OPUZYY/ref=dm_dp_cdp?ie=UTF8&s=music

I have this one, but again the problem is that it starts with album #4 in their discography.

I also have the *must own* Undead (1968).

Joe Schmo (in this case MetalGuy71) would more than likely want a good overview before buying anything labeled *must own*. That compilation gives him the most bang for his TYA buck.

As a rule I usually dislike compilations, but those Chrysalis box sets I like because they contain complete albums...I was just stating that it's too bad they begin at album #4 (contractual reasons). Especially considering the reputation of Stonedhenge and Undead.

However, since MG can pick up a used copy of "Think About The Time: The Chrysalis Years" for $14 and nab 5 complete albums in one shot (all of which are good) I would recommend he take that route.

I don't think I'll be picking up anything more anytime soon. First off, I don't want to be "that guy" that suddenly takes an interest in an artist just because he died. I hate that. Secondly, I was just curious to know if he did anything worthwhile after TYA. I don't hear that era get any mentions.

I'll break out my essential disc again and give it another spin to see if anything in particualr jumps out at me. For the time being, I'm happy with that.

wow, that sucks. I'm a TYF and Alvin Lee fan. R.I.P. bro.

My 1st intro to TYA was my favorite album SSSSH back in 1970. His solo material is as equally good. Pump Iron, Rocket Fuel, Detroit Deisel are all classic.

Metalwargod

For the last year or two, I have been trying to get anything by his late 1970s band Ten Years later. Very catchy riffs and solos.

Great guitarist!!

Just saw a couple of anthology cds by Alvin Lee at my local record store this weekend.

Thought i'd check his music out before buying them.