line up 1 (1979)

- Cozy Powell (aka Colin Trevor Flooks) RIP 1988) -- drums,

  percussion

  supporting musicians (1979)

- Don Airey -- piano, keyboards

- Jack Bruce -- bass

- Clem Clempson -- lead guitar

- Bernie Marsden -- lead guitar

- Max Middleton -- synthesizers

- Gary Moore -- lead guitar

- The Jeff Beck Group

- Bedlam 

- Big Bertha

- Black Sabbath 

- Blue Murder 

- Graham Bonnet 

- CAJO 

- The Corals 

- Emerson, Lake & Powell 

- Forcefield 

- Ideal Milk

- Peter Green Splinter Group 

- The Ace Kefford Stand 

- Yngwie Malmsteen  

- The Brian May Band 

- Phenomena 

- Cozy Powell's Hammer 

- Rainbow 

- Michael Schenker Group 

- The Sorcerers 

- The Snakes 

- The Stonkers

- Tipton, Entwistle & Powell 

- Whitesnake 

- Pete York/Cozy Powell 

- Young Blood 

Genre: jazz-rock

Rating: *** (3 stars)

Title: Over the Top

Company: Polydor

Catalog: PD 1-6312
Year: 1979

Country/State: Cirencester, Gloucestershire, UK

Grade (cover/record): VG+/VG+

Comments: small promo stamp on back cover

Available: 1

Catalog ID: --

Price: $

By the time drummer Cozy Powell got around to recording his 1979 solo debut, he'd recorded with at least nine groups, including The Jeff Beck Group and Ritchie Blackmore's Rainbow.  Along with Blackmore, Powell was the only constant member over the 1975-80 timeframe.  Unhappy with the band's drift toward a more commercial sound, Powell quit in 1980. The year before he'd released his Martin Birch produced debut - 1979's "Over the Top".   Speculation on my part, but the publicity surrounding Rainbow certainly didn't hurt Powell's reputation.  I'm sure it was just a coincidence that Powell was signed to a contract by Polydor, which happened to be Rainbow's label.

In addition to all the bands he'd been a member of, Powell's catalog as a sessions player seems almost endless.  As a result it was no surprise he had his choice of backing musicians - this outing including Deep Purple keyboardist Don Airey, Cream bassist Jack Bruce and Whitesnake guitarist Bernie Marsden.  What was surprising (at least to my ears) was the direction Powell took for his debut.  Featuring seven instrumentals (Powell co-writing two of the tracks), anyone expecting to hear a continuation of Rainbow-styled hard-rock was going to be surprised.  Tracks like "Killer" and the opening section of "Sweet Poison" found Powell and company dabbling in jazz-rock fusion.  Mind you on tracks like "El Sid" the results were more rock than jazz, but this wasn't Ritchie Blackmore-styled rock. It also wasn't a listen-to-what-a-great-drummer-I-am set.  With the exception of a short solo on the title track, Powell kept the spotlight on the other band members.  Admittedly initially the set didn't make much of an impact on me.  The performance were all professional and occasionally a melody would jump at me ("Heidi Goes to Town" and the ballad "The Loner"), but for the most part the set reminded me of the kind of music you hear when you've been on an extended hold while trying to contact the electric company about your erroneous bill.  It's seemingly meant to reduce that sense of frustration you're feeling while waiting to talk to someone. (It seldom works for me.).  Not an album I want to hear very often, but I've held on to it for a decade and it sounds tremendous on a good stereo system.  Moreover there's no denying Powell can crack those drums and having three talented guitarists on the album (Clem Clempson, Bernie Marsden and Gary Moore) doesn't hurt.  Would rather listen to this than one of Jeff Beck's mid-'70s solo albums.

"Over the Top" track listing:
(side 1)

1.) Theme One (George Martin) (Instrumental) - 3:36 rating: ** stars

Well naturally the instrumental "Theme One" started out with some Powell percussion.  Unfortunately from their the tune dived into late-'70s pseudo-Star Wars soundtrack territory.  Don Airey's cheesy synthesizers (with what sounded like light saber sound effects) took most of the spotlight time.  Recorded for their 1971 "Pawn Hearts" album, the Van der Graff Generation was way better.  I've always wondered why this one was tapped as the leadoff single:

   7" UK pressing

- 1979's "Theme One" (instrumental) b/w "Over the Top" (instrumental) (Ariola catalog number ARO 189)

   12" UK pressing

- 1979's "Theme One" (instrumental) b/w "Over the Top" (long version) (instrumental) (Ariola catalog number AR0D 189)

2) Killer (instrumental) (Don Airey) - 7:16 rating: ** stars 

"Killer" offered up sort of a boogie-meets jazz rock fusion tune with Bruce's bass and Airey's synthesizers again front and center.  What was with the light saber sound effects?  Talk about a patented early '80s sound.  YouTube has a shortened performance of the song recorded at a January 1980 performance on the BBC's Old Grey Whistle Test television program.  While most of the attention went to Bruce and Powell, the performance left me wondering how Clempson remains such as overlooked player.  Cozy Powell feat. Jack Bruce - Killer (Old Grey Whistle Test, 8th Jan 1980)   

3.) Heidi Goes to Town (instrumental) (Cozy Powel - Don Airey) - 2:57 rating: *** stars

Apparently named after Powell's dog, "Heidi Goes to Town" was s side one's most pleasant melody. The synthesizers gave the track a slightly classical flavor.  It was tapped as the album's third and final English single:

- 1980's "Heidi Goes To Town" (instrumental) b/w "Over the Top (Part 2)"  (instrumental) (Ariola catalog number ARO 222)

4.) El Sid (instrumental) (Bernie Marsden) - 5:09 rating: *** stars

In addition to writing "El Sid" the late Bernie Marsden was featured on lead guitar.  You can clearly hear his unique playing style.  The result was the album's best straight ahead rocker.  The song was also tapped as the slip side to Powell's "The Loner" single.

(side 2)
1.) Sweet Poison (instrumental) (Max Middleton) - 8:24 rating: *** stars

"Sweet Poison" opened up as a soft, keyboard dominated melody.  Luckily things got a lot better two minutes in when Clem Clempson's guitar took charge.  It was also one of two tracks featuring Max Middleton on synthesizers (giving the tune a sports-program soundtrack feel).

2.) The Loner (Dedicated to Jeff Beck) (instrumental) (Max Middleton) - 4:50   rating: **** stars

Given Middleton was one of Beck's sidekicks the song's subtitle should not have come as a surprise.  Given Powell was also a member of the Jeff Beck Group, his decision to record "The Loner" should not have been a shock.  With Clempson on lead guitar, I've always felt "The Loner" sported the album's prettiest melody.  YouTube also has a clip of the band performing this one for a January 1980 performance on the BBC's Old Grey Whistle Test television program: Cozy Powell feat. Jack Bruce - The Loner (Old Grey Whistle Test, 8th Jan 1980)

- 1979's "The Loner" (instrumental) b/w "El Sid" (instrumental) (Ariola catalog number ARO 205)

3.) Over the Top (instrumental) (Don Airey - Cozy Powell -  Pyotr Tchaikovsky) - 8:39 rating: ** stars  

"Over the Top" started as another Don Airey spotlight opportunity.  The parented '80s sound and production didn't the opening section any favors.  Things got a little more interesting as Jack Bruce's bass stepped to the forefront, though much of that energy was dissipated by an extended Powell drum solo.  (I know, why'd you buy this album if you didn't want to hear a drum solo ...)  It wasn't until the 5:28 mark that Powell's arrangement of Tchaikovsky's "The Year 1812, Solemn Overture" (aka "The 1812 Overture") kicked in.  Fans fawn over the song, but I've never heard the magic.  It's always struck me as being something you might have heard on a late inning ELP album, or gawd forbid one of Paul O'Neill's Trans-Siberian Orchestra Christmas albums.   Pass.  An edited version of the song appeared as the "B" side to Powell's "Theme One" 45.

 © Scott R. Blackerby January 2026