Gillan's Solo Stuff 1976-1982: A Rating Retrospective

[Zzzptm]

Ian Gillan Band:
Child in Time
Clear Air Turbulence
Scarabus
Live at the Budokan

Gillan:
Gillan
Mr. Universe
Glory Road
Future Shock
Double Trouble
Magic

Not going to do an H&H because that's a ton of work to do and not everyone is familiar with all of Gillan's solo work.

The first IGB album burned me, Scarabus was OK, and the live album totally turned me off from even wanting to try to find anything else good by the band. Basically, I consider only Scarabus listenable, and that only just. Colin Towns is a gem of a player, but jazz-fusion is not a style I'm a big fan of to begin with, and IGB's take on the genre is unimpressive.

For Gillan, the eponymous first album was a Japan-Aus-NZ-only issue, so I missed out on that one as a kid. I started at Glory Road, tentatively, as I'd already been burned by IGB. I liked it a lot and have also really enjoyed Future Shock and a live CD that featured works from those albums along with stuff from Mr. Universe.

Magic, however, was disappointing for me. The loss of Bernie Torme had a big impact on their sound as far as I was concerned. The album is hit and miss for me. Double Trouble even more miss than hit, with the live set just not impressing me at all.

INTERESTING NOTE: Just after dissolving IGB, Blackmore invited Gillan to join Rainbow! Gillan turned him down, but just imagine him covering "Since You've Been Gone"... interesting thought...

[KiloDeltaCharlie]

The only one I'm really familiar with is Future Shock which I really liked when it came out. How much that was down to the accompanying artwork I'm not sure. But I did like a number of the songs quite a lot.

Anyway, I didn't hear it for many years (maybe 15+) because I didn't have a turn table, but I got it on CD a few years back... and I was SOOOO dissapointed with the album, it really is quite a weak effort!

Maybe it's a classic example of how your tastes can change over the years.

[Charger]

Well I'm missing Child In Time, Live, Gillan and Mr. universe. The latter one I do have on mp3 though.

Glory Road (including For Gillan Fans Only), Future Shock, Double Trouble and Magic are are pretty damn good but I do prefer Magic out of them all...frankly Demon Driver is just as good as anything he did with Purple...that song is just incredible...the vocal melody is out of this world...something that only Ian could come up with.

Janick was a great pick after Bernie. Very techincally talented guitarist...It is kind of sad that Gillan band disbanded so quickly after this...I can only imagine what the next album could have been.
But thankfully Janick eventually joined Maiden where he got the spotlight he rightfully deserved.


Honestly I've always pondered what Ian was thinking about that whole Jazz/rock fusion thing with IGB...Not among his finest ideas I'd say! 

[Zzzptm]

Yeah, the "On the Rocks" track from Glory Road illustrates that fade in interest. I loved it when I was a kid in the early 80s. It was so epic and massive. Now it just sounds cheesy and over-the-top, like Gillan was channeling the ghost of William Shatner.

On the other hand, "No Easy Way" still holds up well over time. Torme's solo at the start made me a fan of his for life.

I'll give "Demon Driver" another try, though.

[Tyr66]

INTERESTING NOTE: Just after dissolving IGB, Blackmore invited Gillan to join Rainbow! Gillan turned him down, but just imagine him covering "Since You've Been Gone"... interesting thought...

1979 Marquee lub London .
Blackmore on stage with Gillan. A Reunion for the Two Pruple men but also an Outlaws one for The Man in Black and Mick Underwood .

[Zzzptm]

I'll give "Demon Driver" another try, though.

Back from that try... it's an OK tune, but I liked "What's the Matter", "Living for the City", and "Long Gone" best from that album.

[Charger]

I'll give "Demon Driver" another try, though.

Back from that try... it's an OK tune, but I liked "What's the Matter", "Living for the City", and "Long Gone" best from that album.

Long Gone is actually one of my least favourites...

I'd rank
Demon Driver
What's The Matter
Bluesy Blue Sea
Living A Lie
Living For The City
Driving Me Wild
Caught In A Trap
You're So Right
Long Gone


Listening to the album right now.

[Zzzptm]

Listening to the album right now.

This happens to me a LOT because of this forum!

[Charger]

Listening to the album right now.

This happens to me a LOT because of this forum!

Me too! Which is a big part why I love this place!