Mike McGear "McGear" 1974***

As it so often happens, I was drawn to this album by the cover - in this case, the Gulliver reference. Usually I browse second-hand record shops not looking for something specific but hoping for a new discovery. It may be a striking album cover or a familiar name in the credits that leads me to take a record to the listening station or look for reviews on my mobile. In this case, both tests were positive: I liked what little I heard, and read good things about this album (4,5* stars on allmusic.com). So this guy McGear comes from Liverpool, and he isn't your average singer/songwriter. Instead he used to be part of various collectives (Scaffold, Grimm, McGough & McGear) combining music, poetry, and comedy. This album though is, with the exception of Kinks-like parody "Norton", a straight pop rock affair. It opens with a cover of Roxy Music's "Sea Breezes". As a singer he's no Brian Ferry, indeed his vocals on this album are competent rather than sensational, but it's still a great song beautifully played. "What Do We Really Know?" is a glam rock boogie with a crunchy guitar riff coda. This track was written by McGear's brother Paul, whose imprint is all over the record: as co-writer, backing vocalist and musician, while many members of his band are here providing instrumental backing. Lead single "Leave It" is another of his compositions, an fun upbeat number with nice sax. Side 1 closes with "Have You Got Problems?" a retro number with rockabilly and doo wop elements. Pleasant-sounding, but at 6+ minutes, it overstays its welcome. Side 2 opens with ballad "The Casket", in some respects a Celtic sister melody to "Sea Breezes". "Rainbow Lady" is a sympathetic mid-tempo piece, "Simply Love You" a (probably too) sweet and earnest lovesong, and "Givin' Grease a Ride" a interesting hard rocker with futuristic synths. The album closes with "The Man Who Found God on the Moon", a pretty tune with country and prog influences, somewhat reminiscent of Cockney Rebel. In general, the album displays a lot of variation, which is not necessarily an advantage. Glam, pop, rock, prog, and the English music hall tradition are part of the mix, while the influence of big brother Paul is evident everywhere. But there's also a consistency in quality, with good compositions and performances throughout. As I said previously, the album cover is also nice, featuring McGear as Gulliver, as well as many tiny figures representing friends and band members. So maybe this isn't exactly a lost classic, but it's certainly a good 70's album well worth listening. It nevertheless didn't save McGear's career - he'd never make another solo LP, and would soon retire from music altogether and revert to his original name: Peter Michael McCartney.

**** for Sea Breezes, Leave It, The Casket, Givin' Grease a Ride

*** for What Do We Really Know?, Norton, Rainbow Lady, Simply Love You, The Man Who Found God on the Moon

** for Have You Got Problems