Alvin Lee and Mylon LeFevre - On The Road to Freedom

1. On the Road to Freedom
2. World Is Changing (I Got a Woman Back in Georgia)
3. So Sad (No Love of His Own)
4. Fall Angel
5. Funny
6. We Will Shine
7. Carry My Load
8. Lay Me Back
9. Let 'Em Say What They Will
10. I Can't Take It
11. Riffin
12. Rockin' Til the Sun Goes Down
13. So Sad (No Love of His Own) [Single Version][*]



By Dennis Hawley (Asheville, NC) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)
This side project of Alvin Lee (departing from Ten Years After's no-holds-barred style) contains some of his best work. Those who are only familiar with such monster albums as 'Cricklewood Green' and 'A Space in Time' may find this work puzzling. Hooking up with American gospel singer Mylon Le Fevre, Lee served up helpings of more textured, sophisticated music than TYA. Even overt rockers like 'Riffin' and 'Fallen Angel' exhibit a more "roots-rock" sound than such songs as '50,000 Miles Beneath My Brain'. Using the talents of many big names (including George Harrison and several 'Traffic' members), the result is more varied and intricate than previous works. Even his blistering guitar work shows more finesse than usual with TYA's releases. The songs here range from the interesting-but-mediocre ('Lay Me Back' and 'Carry My Load') to the truly superlative (the title tune, 'The World is Changing' and the country-fried 'Funny'). In my opinion, one of Alvin Lee's best songs (maybe his very best) is the titular 'On the Road to Freedon'; with Mylon Le Fevre providing only backing vocals on this track, it effectively is Alvin Lee and Traffic (Steve Winwood on piano, Jim Capaldi on drums and Rebob on congas). Boy, is it one great song. Searing guitar, solid drumming, tasteful piano, a rousing melody and Lee's vocals never sounding better. It's nice to have this release available after so long.
One other point...I don't agree at all with the negative review published here. I cannot hear any "needle scratching" (and I have a very good quality system). What I do hear is great separation, full-ranging dynamics and clarity. Maybe the reviewer got a bad disc. This is on the Repertoire label, known for their superior quality products (check out their release of 'Broken Barricades' by Procol Harum for a sonic treat).


By Gord Wilson (Bellingham, WA USA) - See all my reviews
(TOP 500 REVIEWER)
I had this as a record, along with a number of other Mylon LPs. Since most reviewers wrote about the Alvin Lee/ Ten Years After side of the duo, I'll write about Mylon's colorful past. Mylon came from the LeFevre southern gospel singing family and was kicked out for having long hair. His rock band, The Holy Smoke Doo Dah Band was the first group to have its own custom rolling papers. He cut an album on Cotillion called Mylon which, along with Larry Norman, invented gospel rock.

He later returned to his gospel roots (but as a rocker) with a band called Broken Heart, and became a music minister. Along the way he released a number of records, few of which have made it to CD. My favorite is an album called Weak at the Knees on, I think, Warner Brothers (before Broken Heart). Mylon has a great sourthern rock voice. He later made a video called "Stranger to Danger" that some people don't like but I really did, in which he rides a motorcycle, which he loves to do. He's worked a lot with Allan Toussant (sp.?) and is, I think, one of the great neglected rockers of our time.

on the road to freedom (bonus track) - album credits
	Mike Patto		Percussion, Vocals (Background)
	Rebop		Conga
	Andy Stein		Fiddle
	Tim Hinckley		Organ, Piano, Vocals (Background)
	Andy Jaworski		Engineer, Cover Photo
	Chris Welch		Liner Notes
	EROC		Remastering, Restoration
	Mick Fleetwood		Drums
	Alvin Lee		Bagpipes, Bass, Guitar, Mixing, Harmony Vocals, Producer, Vocals, Sitar, Drums
	Harold Burgon		Engineer
	Mylon LeFevre		Guitar (Acoustic), Guitar (Rhythm), Bass, Vocals, Vocals (Background), Harmony, Guitar (12 String), Percussion
	Jim Capaldi		Drums
	Steve Winwood		Piano
	Ron Wood		Bass, Drums, Guitar (12 String), Slide Guitar, Guitar

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