line up 1 (1982-83)

- Jeff Berlin - bass 

- Allan Holdsworth (RIP 2017) -- guitar

- Chad Wackerman -- drums, percussion

- Paul Williams -- lead vocals, backing vocals

  supporting musicians (1983)

- Jack Bruce -- vocals

- Paul Korda -- backing vocals

- Joe Turano -- backing vocals

- Bruford (Jeff Berlin and Allan Holdsworth)

- Gong (Allan Holdsworth)

- Gongzilla (Allan Holdsworth)

- HoBoLeMa (Allan Holdsworth)

- Allan Holdsworth Band (Allan Holdsworth)

- Allan Holdsworth Group (Allan Holdsworth)

- Allan Holdsworth Quartet (Allan Holdsworth)

- Allan Holdsworth Trio  (Allan Holdsworth)

-  I.O.U. (Allan Holdsworth and Paul Williams

-  Igginbottom (Allan Holdsworth)

- Juicy Lucy (Paul WIliams)

- K² (Allan Holdsworth)

- Level 42 (Allan Holdsworth)

- Pat Smythe Quartet (Allan Holdsworth)

- Pierre Moerlen's Gong (Allan Holdsworth)

- Soft Machine (Allan Holdsworth)

- Soft Works (Allan Holdsworth)

- Tempest (Paul WIliams)

- The New Tony Williams Lifetime

- UK (Allan Holdsworth)

Genre: jazz-rock fusion

Rating: 3 stars ***

Title:  Road Games

Company: Warner Brothers

Catalog: 23959-1
Year: 1983

Country/State: Bradford, West Yorkshire, UK

Grade (cover/record): VG+/VG+

Comments: 6 track EP

Available: 1

Catalog ID: --

Price: $20.00

Having released a string of critically acclaimed, but poor selling albums, guitarist Allan Holdsworth's luck seemed to change in the early 1980s when he and his band I.O.U. (bassist Paul Carmichael, drummer Gary Husband, former Juicy Lucy and Tempest vocalist Paul Williams and Holdsworth)  left the UK for Southern California.  They found an unlikely mentor in the form of Eddie Van Halen who having seen and jammed with Holdsworth and company during a date at L.A.'s The Roxy, brought producer Ted Templeman down to see I.O.U. at a local club.  Templeman was impressed by the band (particularly Holdsworth's talent) and agreed to sign them to a contract with Warner Brothers.  Naturally I.O.U. subsequently exploded, with the Carmichael-husband rhythm section returning to the UK. Holdsworth and singer Paul Willaims quickly ex-Bruford bassist Jeff Berlin and eighteen year old Frank Zappa drummer Chad Wackerman as replacements and set off on a small US tour.

Plans for the album quickly turned chaotic (or using the British term of art - things went "tits up").  Van Halen envisions sort of a duet where he's be able to trade leads with Holdsworth.  Templeman and Warner Brothers were looking for a showcase that would frame Holdsworth with an all-star cast of players.  Holdsworth just wanted to be able to play new material with his band.  With Van Halen touring and recording and Templeman committed to a host of production jobs scheduling kept pushing the recording dates back.  A year after being signed to Warner Brothers a frustrated Holdsworth decided to start recording the album without either Templeman, or Van Halen's direct involvement.  Recorded at Hollywood's Music Grinder Studios with Holdsworth producing, the sessions were apparently trying with Templeman and Warner Brothers demanding to hear the results. Templeman was unimpressed with Williams, suggesting Holdsworth consider using a host of guest vocalists including Rush's Geddy Lee.  Cream's Jack Bruce was ultimately brought into the project, providing vocals on the three voca tracks, though Holdsworth elected to include an earlier version of the title track featuring Williams on vocals. The infighting continued throughout the recording sessions with Templeman unhappy with thre results, demanding the drum tracks be re-recorded and the recording sessions be moved to a different studio for the final mixing sessions.

I clearly recall being less than enamored by "Road Games".  Split between three instrumentals and three vocals, the collection struck me as being the perfect album for guitar geeks - technically stunning, but kind of cold and distance. Perhaps just my imagination, but I can see why Eddie Van Halen and other guitar "gawds" are so impressed by Holdsworth. Unfortunately jazz-rock fusion isn't something I particularly enjoy.  As a result tracks like the instrumentals 'Three Sheets To the Wind', 'Water On The Brain - Pt. II' and 'Tokyo Dream' just didn't do much to win me over. I've never been a big Jack Bruce devotee so his performances on Was There?'' and 'Material Real' also failed to do much for me.  Yes, yes, yes the performances were all technically dazzling, but with the possible exception of the funky 'Road Games' and the hook that drove 'Tokyo Dreams', I'm hard pressed to remember much of the EP.

Even though it was nominated for Best Rock Instrumental Performance at the 1984 Grammy Awards (Sting won), Holdsworth's slammed the album over the years.

"Road Games" track listing:
(side 1)

1.) Three Sheets To The Wind (instrumental) (Allan Holdsworth) -  4:12 rating: *** stars

The opening instrumental 'Three Sheets To The Wind' encapsulated my feelings for the entire EP - technically Holdsworth's performance made for a stunning slice of jazz-rock fusion, but it also felt kind of soulless and on the melody scale it didn't do a lot for me.  It sure sounded like there were some synthesizers here, but the liner notes claim there were none.

2.) Road Games (Allan Holdsworth - Paul Williams) -  4:07 rating: **** stars

Road Games' evolved out of a jam session with drummer Wackerman. Even though Williams co-wrote the song and handled the initial vocals, his voice was replaced by Jack Bruce. It wasn't until the final mixing sessions that a guilt riven Holdsworth reverted to a version of the song featuring Williams on vocals.  Elsewhere Holdsworth seemingly felt the need to fill any empty space with as many guitar effects and guitar notes as possible.  The results simply detracted from what was the album's catchiest composition.  Of course a catchy composition wasn't what guitar nerds were looking for.  There's also a very '80s feel to this EPs production that hasn't aged well.  That's seldom as obvious as on the title track.  Those mild criticisms aside, the title track was one of my favorite efforts on the EP.  No idea when or where it was recorded, but YouTube has a clip of a live performance of the tune: Note that Jeff Berlin has been replaced by bassist Jimmy Johnson:   Allan Holdsworth - road games

3.) Water On The Brain - Pt. II (instrumental) (Allan Holdsworth) - 2:43 rating: *** stars

'Water On the Brain" was written and recorded for the previous "I.O.U." album.  The original song featured a Williams vocal, but due to a problem with the maste rtapes, was left off the album.  Resurrected for the new album, Holdsworth ditched the vocals for 'Water On The Brain - Pt. II'.  This is another jazz-rock fusion piece where I'd swear there were synthesizers in the mix, but the sounds were apparently Holdsworth guitar effects.  The tune also gives Berlin a chance to unleash a stunning, extended bass solo.  How does one move their fingers so fast?  

(side 2)
1.) Tokyo Dream (instrumental)  (Allan Holdsworth) - 4:01  rating: *** stars

The title apparently reflected Holdsworth's affection for Japanese culture and served as a showcase for his array of guitar effects.  It's pretty, but reminds me of the faceless music you run into while sitting on a telephone help line.  Apparently recorded at the same time and place as the 'Road Games' video, YouTube has a live performance of 'Tokyo Dream'.  Even if you aren't a guitar nerd, it's fascinating to see the way Holdsworth plays the guitar.  It's unlike anything I've ever seen.   ALLAN HOLDSWORTH - tokyo dream (Live 1984)

2.) Was There? (Allan Holdsworth - Paul Williams) - 4:04   rating: *** stars

'Was There?' was the first of two performances showcasing ex-Cream bassist/singer Jack Bruce.  Bruce and Holdsworth had briefly worked together in the late-'70s.  They recorded some material in an outfit known as Sherwood Forest, but the project never got off the ground.  Bruce's high pitched, nasally voice was instantly recognizable and fit well into the song's serpentine melody and twisting rhythms.  Not that is made 'Was There?' particularly enjoyable.

3.) Material Real (Allan Holdsworth - Paul Williams) - 4:40   rating: *** stars

The sonic washes that opened 'Material Real' have always reminded me of a piece of film scoring - maybe something off of "Local Hero"  And out of the blue Jack Bruce's vocals kicked in along with an almost pop sounding segment (I'm using the term loosely).