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Circus = LP = (LP)
This 1969 eponymous Circus LP represents the first recoded appearance of sax player and session musician Mel Collins, an early and recent member of King Crimson, who has backed everyone from the Rolling Stones to Cliff Richard. The four-piece jazz fusion outfit Circus recorded their only album in two days of sessions that relied on their established live set. And what an eclectic set it is! Five out of the eight tracks are covers by the Beatles, Sonny Rollins, Charles Mingus, the Mamas & the Papas and Tim Hardin. I was familiar with four of these songs, which made the album more accessible to me. I know, I know, the elephant in this review is how does the Beatles' "Norwegian Wood" fare? The answer is, amazingly well. Collins' sax fits the well known melody like a glove, while a fuzz guitar compliments his vamping. The instruments quiet as vocals enter, then slowly build into an unexpected heavy guitar, bass and drums finale.
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