OFF THE RECORD

Not so much a Dregs album as a promotional mini disc for a couple of Ensoniq keyboards ? the EPS "The Ensoniq EPS Performanc Sampler The only sampling keyboard that can play and load at the same time" and Sq-80 "The Ensoniq SQ-80 Cross Wave Synthesizer The on-stage MIDI studio with the sounds that cut"

Having disbanded in 1983 after Industry Standard, the guys got back together in 1987 for this. It did lead to more touring and eventually more studio albums starting in 1994.

This one only has two songs, which had already appeared on two previous albums. Leprechaun Promenade and Take It Off the Top. There's also an interview track. T-Lavitz kind of takes center stage on these tracks and shows off his new toys a little. Alan Sloan is back on violin for the first track and Mark O'Connor, their last violist at that time, does the honors on the second one. Andy West is back on bass, but it's his last showing on a Dixie Dregs album, being replaced by Dave LaRue for the next three albums. Alan Sloan would come back for a live album, then Jerry Goodman took over the violin spot for a studio and a live album.

This one's only a twoby, not because of the quality of the music, but just because it wasn't a regular release and I doubt anyone who doesn't have this already will be able to get their hands on it.

Two tracks and an interview. But at least it was the Dixie Dregs, back together for the first time in six years. Well, mostly. It's Steve Morse, Rod Morgenstein, T Lavitz and Andy West, with Allen Sloan on the first track and Mark O'Connor on the second.

The two songs are rerecordings of "Leprechaun Promenade" and "Take It Off The Top". Both songs are played noticably slower than the originals, and the sounds of the instruments are somewhat different, particularly the keyboards, as this is a demo disk for Ensoniq synths.

The interview is all about the use of the Ensoniq equipment, mostly by Lavitz, but some also by Morgenstein and Morse. I don't think Andy West was there for the taping.

The songs are not bad. But since they are not new songs, this is really just for collectors.