LADY CORYELL

LC's second album (released on his usual Vanguard label) is obviously dedicated to the missus, who was apparently pregnant a second time (see the album's fourth track title) and is a bit of a pot-pourrit, just like Larry's early albums were, and is noteworthy for the appearance of two Coltrane cohorts, Jones & Garrison. The album ranges from straight jazz to purposely poorly recorded country tracks (the Dylan- sounding Two Minutes Classical and the opening Grateful Dead-like Herman Right), to the Cream-esque Sunday Telephone and the purely Hendrix-ian title track (much reminiscent of Jimi's 1983/Tides) with its 6- mins+ of searing guitars.

The album's much jazzier flipside starts on the dreamy Thing, soon followed by Garrison's Treats Style and the cover of What Love Is, both in a very traditional jazz. Stiff Neck is one of this side's highlights with its jammy guitars with Elvin Jones' excellent drumming. Note that LC ^lays all bass on this album, but on this particular track, he chose guits & drums. The excellent Cleo's Moods closes the album in a fantastic guitar feast.

Lady Coryell is certainly not LC"s best early album, but it remains very much a good career-consolidating album, that deserves to be included in the progheads' second or third batch of LC album acquisition. Still recommended enough, but it is rather uneven.