"HANK" is OUT

[dave robinson]

Could have grounds for a divorce there Dave!

Not a prayer. I have to hold my hand up and say that after a few listens this album does nothing for me.

To my ears there's nothing exiting about it or is there anything fresh. The arrangements (if you want to call them arrangements) are poor and do not add to the original tunes in the way that they ought to. It was the crap arrangement of Summertime that had my missus reaching for the volume control to turn it down - sorry.

I would add that if anyone is brave enough to perform the likes of Summertime at a live gig , in front of ordinary folk, you would see the room empty - fast.

At best I will use this as background at our live gigs between sets.

[hbmartin]

I love it! It's a GREAT ALBUM and heading into the Top 10 where it deserves to be.
Worth the wait to hear the real thing at last, rather than all this so-called tribute stuff that's out there.

[dave robinson]

It will make the top ten, but only because of the publicity. It will fade in weeks. It's being backed by the 'we can polish a turd brigade' et al the Simon Cowell ilk. They always do OK for a while then fade to grey.
A good album stays around for months, because of it's quality, this one won't. I'm not happy to admit that, but ordinary folk don't like it.

[Squier Ken]

Sorry folks but I'm with Dave on this one. I've just been listening to the CD again in the hope that perhaps it is better than I first thought. But I just had to turn it off half way through. Too much noise and not enough melody for me. Oh well, chacun à son goût as they say....

Ken

[ecca]

There's some lovely twiddly bits though...........
Eminently nickable, really classy.

[Billyboygretsch]

Fell asleep listening for the third time. Was in the summer sun at the time. Elevator music apart from summer guitar. What does he do next ?? Hope not more of this or I for one won't be a buyer. Twang is a great CD. Why does he not get together with other eminent guitarists and rerecord some of the greats in a fresh new way.

[MikeAB]

There can't be many releases that have inspired such a wide ranging set of opinions - likewise on Charlie Hall's site. The verdict seems to be drifting towards 'not very good' , but I experienced something I notice many others have i.e they hated it at first play but it is getting better. Others say the opposite but I too really hated it on first play and am very surprised at how I am starting to like about 75% of it (will never like 'Sealed' though - total waste of a track especially as Shads did it better).

I've always reckoned we have to wait until the tunes 'become' Hank's i.e. when the originals come up on the radio and suddenly sound like vocal versions of the instrumentals. I do find that happens with time!

The complex arrangements are probably a response to fan complaints about earlier tracks just being Hank replacing the original vocal line - something some critics seem to be implying they now suddenly prefer - so he can't do anything right can he!

And as for 'Summer Guitar' it's good but not that terrific (like Summertime and W. Sunset are becoming as they get familiarised) - and if it's the best self composed number available then I think another 13 tracks of original but less good material would not a super album make.

Must say I would have preferred 'Summer Guitar(s)' as the title and the tag line to be 'the unmistakeable sound of Hank Marvin'. It's very naff, this summer connection, and 'Hank' should have been reserved for another album.

[Billyboygretsch]

There is one track which sounds a bit Les Paul. I think changing from what is expected from Hank into a number of genres seems to indicate he is not sure where he is going.
I think Eric Clapton playing with Wynton Marsalis was a big risk but he managed to carry it off as the other musicians were superb and helped him perform in a genre not associated with him. He admits he was nervous about doing it

[MeBHank]

It will make the top ten, but only because of the publicity. It will fade in weeks. It's being backed by the 'we can polish a turd brigade' et al the Simon Cowell ilk. They always do OK for a while then fade to grey.
A good album stays around for months, because of it's quality, this one won't. I'm not happy to admit that, but ordinary folk don't like it.

Albums that stay in the charts for months normally feature plenty of original material, Dave. We all know Hank's constraints.

I'm finally getting my first full listen of the album. It's the best produced work from Hank since "Into the Light" and "Heartbeat", IMO (though "Guitar Player" was a particular highlight). I have to break with popular opinion and say my favourite track so far is Summertime. Seriously loving it! I'll probably post another comment when I've heard the whole CD.

J

[ecca]

I have to rescind my previous critical comment and say that there's some really nice playing on it.
Not my choice of tunes and a certain amount of 'flannel ' on the intros and outros but classy playing indeed in places.