- Phil Manzanera -- vocals, guitar

  supporting musicians:

- Simon AInley -- rhythm guitar

- Mel Collins -- saxes

- Lol Creme -- gizmo

- Brian Eno -- vocals

- Neal Finn -- vocals 

- Tim Finn -- vocals

- Kevin Godley -- backing vocals, percussion

- Bill MacCormick -- bass

- Francis Monkman -- keyboards

- Simon Phillips -- drums

- Eddie Rayner -- keyboards

- David Skinner -- keyboards

- Paul Thompson -- drums

- John Wetton -- backing vocals

- Robert Wyatt -- vocals

- 801

- Roxy Music

- Wetton Manzanera

Genre: progressive

Rating: *** (3 stars)

Title:  K-Scope

Company: Polydor

Catalog: PD-1-6178

Year: 1978

Country/State: UK

Grade (cover/record): VG/VG

Comments: minor edge wear; cut lower left corner; original inner sleeve

Available: 1

GEMM catalog ID: 4354

Price: $10.00

Cost: $66.00

Musically 1978's self-produced "K-Scope" may be Phil Manzanera's most commercial and enjoyable solo release.  Surrounded by an all star cast of friends and supporters, including Lol Creme, Kevin Godley, Simon Phillips, John Wetton and three quarters of Crowded House (Neal and Tim Finn and Eddie Rayner), the set certainly sports one of the year's most impressive cast of players.  Anyone familiar with Manzanera's more experimental outings is likely to be surprised (and perhaps even disappointed) by how commercial material such as 'Remote Control', the reggae flavored Cuban Crisis'', and 'Walking Through Heaven's Door' is.  All three selections would have made dandy top-40 singles.  Elsewhere, tracks such as 'Numbers' and 'Slow Motion TV' are a little quirkier, recalling something out of the weirder  part of 10 CC's catalog (or Godley and Creme's solo catalog).  Longstanding fans will at least be happy to know that Manzanera's patented guitar sound is scattered throughout the album, including some tasty soloing on the leadoff title track instrumental and 'Hot Spot'.  

"K-Scope" track listing:
(side 1)

1.) K-Scope (instrumental)  (Phil Manzanera) - 4:12

2.) Remote Control  (Ian MacCormick) 2:36

3.) Cuban Crisis   (Phil Manzanera - W. MacCormick) - 6:02

4.) Hot Spot   (Phil Manzanera - W. MacCormick - I. MacCormick) - 5:01

5.) Numbers  (Phil Manzanera - John Wetton) - 3:28 

(side 2)
1.) Slow Motion TV (instrumental)   (Phil Manzanera - W. MacCormick - Simon Ainley) - 5:31

2.) Gone Flying (instrumental)   (Phil Manzanera - W. MacCormick) - 4:27

3.) N-Shift (instrumental)   (Phil Manzanera) - 3:12

4.) Walking Through Heaven's Door    (Phil Manzanera - W. MacCormick) - 6:52

5.) You Are Here (instrumental)   (Phil Manzanera) - 3:16

Genre: progressive

Rating: *** (3 stars)

Title:  Guitarissimo 75 - 82

Company: EG

Catalog: EGLP 69

Year: 1986

Country/State: UK

Grade (cover/record): NM / NM

Comments: still in shrink wrap; opened and played once; original inner sleeve

Available: 1

GEMM catalog ID: 5540

Price: $15.00

Cost: $66.00

If you were already a Phil Manzanera fan you probably didn't need to invest in "Guitarissimo 75 - 82" since it served as a compilation pulling together eleven tracks from earlier Manzanera solo projects   "Diamond Head", "Listen Now", "K-Scope" and "Primitive Guitars" were all represented.   To be technically correct, 'TNK' wasn't a Manzanera solo effort, rather was pulled from "801 Live".  If you were a casual fan, or don't have a clue with respect to Manzanera's catalog, this served as a nice, if abbreviated introduction  to the talented Manzanera's catalog.  The two sides actually provided nearly an hour of material with plenty of highlights, with what should have been significant appeal to a wide segment of music fans.  Personal highlights included the rocker 'K-Scope', the gorgeous pop ditty 'Fronerea' (showcasing Robert Wyatt handling the Spanish lead vocals), and the lone 801 track - Brian Eno handling lead vocals on a cool martial tempo cover of The Beatles' 'Tomorrow Never Knows'.  Surprisingly commercial and enjoyable !!!

"Guitarissimo 75 - 82" track listing:
(side 1)

1.) La Escena - 13:20

    i.) K-Scope (instrumental)   (Phil Manzanera)

    ii.) Fronerea  (Ian MacCormick - William MacCormick - Phil Manzanera)

    iii.) TNK   (John Lennon - Paul McCartney) - 

2.) El Viajero   (Phil Manzanera) - 13:12

    i.) Gnolla (instrumental)   (Phil Manzanera)

    ii.) Diamond Head (instrumental)   (Phil Manzanera)

    iii.) Are You Here (instrumental)   (Phil Manzanera)

    iv.) Rude Awakening (instrumental)   (Phil Manzanera)

(side 2)
1.) Corridea Y Carnaval   (Phil Manzanera) - 12:26

   i.) Listen Now  (Ian MacCormick - William MacCormick - Phil Manzanera)

   ii.) Caracas (instrumental)   (Phil Manzanera)

2.) La Tristeza   (Phil Manzanera) - 15:53

   i.) Lagnma (instrumental)   (Phil Manzanera)

   ii.) Europe 70-1( instrumental)   (Phil Manzanera)

   iii.) Island (instrumental)   (Phil Manzanera)

   iv.) That Falling Feeling  (Ian MacCormick - William MacCormick - Phil Manzanera)