Genre: progressive
Rating: 3 stars ***
Title: Cross-Collateral
Company: ATCO
Catalog: SD 36-107
Year: 1975
Country/State: Germany
Grade (cover/record): VG / VG
Comments: minor ring and edge wear
Available: 1
GEMM catalog ID: 5013
Price: $9.00
Okay, this isn't going to be for everyone ... progressive fans may find it too jazzy for their tastes, while jazz fans may find it too progressive. On the other hand, if you're looking at this one, you probably already have a notion as to whether it fits your tastes.
Like most things in the Passport catalog, 1975's "Cross-Collateral" served as a showcase for frontman/sax man/keyboardist Klaus Doldinger. Produced and arranged by Doldinger, the album featured six extended instrumentals, serving as a showcase for Doldinger and company's mix of jazz, progressive and rock influences. Clocking in at over 13 minutes, the title track served as the perfect example of the band's mix of styles. Kicked along by Doldinger's sax and keyboards, the song managed to incorporate a funky rhythm with jazzy, progressive and outright experimental sections. Amazingly, in spite of its length and lack of focus, the song was actually quite catchy. (Okay the video game-styled synthesizer blurbs at the end were irritating ...) Elsewhere 'Homunculus' and 'Will 'O-the-Wisp' found the band highlighting their jazz chops, while 'Jadoo' sounded like a Jan Hammer jazz-funk hybrid outtake from a Miami Vice episode ('course this was recorded a decade before that television program). (Extra star for the cool cover art.)
"Cross-Collateral" track listing:
(side 1)
1.) Homunculus (instrumental) (Klaus Doldinger) - 6:09
2.)
Cross-Collateral (instrumental) (Klaus Doldinger) - 13:38
(side
2)
1.) Jadoo (instrumental) (Klaus Doldinger) - 3:03
2.) Will 'O-the-Wisp (instrumental) (Klaus Doldinger) - 6:15
3.) Albatross Song (instrumental) (Klaus Doldinger) - 5:18
4.) Damals (instrumental) (Klaus Doldinger) - 4:38