One of my favourite Harry Chapin albums is ‘The Last Protest Singer’, an album often overlooked within his canon as it was released some seven years after his death. It was the album he had been working on when he died in a car crash, and it was completed posthumously. The same is true for this, Alan’s sixth solo studio album. It had been 8 years since ‘Another Little Adventure’, although of course there had also been a couple of Lindisfarne albums during that period as well. More than 20 years since his debut ‘Pipedream’ (which I used to own on pre-recorded cassette!), and countless albums with his band, there was absolutely no change in the quality of music he was producing. His solo albums were often more reflective than those with Lindisfarne, and that is definitely the case with much of the material here.
“Treat Me Kindly”, with its string accompaniment, warm bass tones and gentle piano with lightly strummed acoustic is an absolute classic. Why this hasn’t been more widely heard, or even covered by other artists, just shows the poor state of our music media. I would love to hear Coldplay attempt a version of this, as it would be interesting indeed. Although all of the songs are singer-songwriter, there is depth and breadth of styles, so if there is a need for a harmonica (bringing back memories of his time with Jacka) or a slide guitar, then they will be used. This is a very different album to the rambunctious singalong songs which many will associate him with, with far more emotion and a reverence contained within. Here is getting back to the folk style with which he started his career with Brethren back in the Sixties, and if ever an album deserved to be performed in front of a sell out crowd at Cropredy, then it is this.
Malcolm and the guys at Talking Elephant need to be commended for making this available again, and is a perfect introduction to the more thoughtful and reflective side of one of the most important songwriters ever to come out of England.
Rating: 7/10
