Willie Logan 'The Legend lives on' (CD 97 UK, Ultra Budget collection of guitar led instrumental Bolan
compositions)
Perhaps the trouble with being a
songwriter with a memorable vocal style is that other artistes shy away from
covering your songs for fear of an unfavourable contrast being drawn with their
own voice. Such worries did not stop
Willie Logan making this collection of instrumentals of Marc Bolan songs.
Nor did it stop the record company
putting a picture of Marc Bolan and his name on the front of this album more
prominently than that of the artist.
Although the blurb on the back cover explains what it is all about, for
some people, by then, it is all over and they are through the checkout. I have seen this set listed on the Marc
Bolan page of two record retailers internet site without explanation.
Shame, because while
Willie Logan's does fair to good covers of Tyrannosaurus Rex material ('Child
Star', 'By the Light of a Magical Moon', 'Salamanda Palaganda' and 'Debora'),
the T.Rex songs are reduced to little more than shopping mall music. Mr. Logan's technique is to take the vocal
line on the guitar: that would be OK but the rhythm section is left to a poorly
programmed beat box that completely neuters the familiar unpredictability of
Bolan tracks. The Tyrannosaurus Rex
songs do not suffer so badly, being more gentle if no less vigorous than their
T.Rex brethren concentrating on the tune more than the rhythm works agreeably
well for them. 'Debora' especially
benefits by being slowed down, leaving the guitar time to bring out the often
overlooked melody.
Anyone who enjoys the melodic
counterpoints set up by the Visconti strings will be sorry to find they are
ignored. I'm afraid Willie Logan's own
instrumental contribution adds nothing to the party. Because this is an ultra budget release I expect the bare minimum
of packaging, but I don't expect spelling errors such as '20th Centure Boy'.
I am afraid one good track (and the
interpretation of 'Debora' is definitely very pleasing), three reasonable’s and
a load of very avoidable does not make for an album easy to recommend. However, I would come back for a collection
of strictly Tyrannosaurus Rex songs if it were ever made. Meanwhile, should you find 'The Legend lives
on' for a pound or a dollar or a euro in a bargain bin somewhere, buy it by all
means.
I have named the interesting songs, which is
more than you get with most background music; no further track listing is
necessary.