'Hank' arrangements

[MikeAB]

Much to my surprise after my initial feelings I find I'm playing 50% of 'Hank' every day - this hasn't happened since 'Plays Holly'.

I particularly like the fresh and more free form arrangements of Summertime and Waterloo Sunset and if hopefully Hank does more 'Strat' recording then I hope that is the direction he follows - suspect that's what he would like to do.

[Hank2k]

Hi Mike

Im almost the same as you, i didnt like it when i first listened but the more i listen to it the more i appreciate it. Its got a long way to go to match Guitar Player but its certainly in the right direction.

I personally think that may be the last Hank records with the Strat, his interest as he has told many times is with Gypsy Jazz and im almost convinced by the lack of performance of the tracks etc he was asked to do it by management etc to coincide with the 60th anniversary of the strat. Just my opinion of course.

[MikeAB]

Just been reading the reviews on Amazon - they're really all over the place, but mostly very good. Too samey, too jazzy, not like Hank, same old Hank etc etc - take your pick! Must be quite an album to invoke such extremely opposite views! I've even seen both ' more echo than before ' and ' far less echo than usual ' comments on Shads sites to define the Strat sound.

I'm not sure about him being forced to do this by a record company and then it being his last. 'Sealed' would suggest that but 'Summertime' etc suggests he and Ben enjoyed a 'fresh' approach. And Hank curiously said 'California Girls' was his favourite track which does not suggest he didn't choose to do it (as it is surely one of the more ordinary tracks?).

And after all we didn't expect another Strat album after Guitar Man did we? So we can only hope for more and I reckon there's a good chance - fingers crossed .

[JimN]

Just listening to MP3s of the album. The arrangement of A Taste Of Honey grabs the attention immediately, due in no small part by the bassline reference to The Savage.

"Hank Plays Holly" was a listen-once-then-file-away item,. "Hank", on the other hand, is shaping up well...

It could be the best of the post-1990 solo albums (except, of course, for "Into The Light", which would take some beating).

PS: The arranged intro to Summertime puts me in mind of some of the incidental music to the Super Mario video games. I certainly didn't expect the song to be tackled so adventurously.

PPS: Just loading this album onto my iPhone so I can listen in the car.

[MikeAB]

I'd get 'Plays Holly' out again Jim - you have a treat in store!

[Fenderman]

Hank Plays Holly has some pretty good stuff on it such as Everyday, Maybe Baby, Peggy Sue got married and Brown eyed handsome man (or course you can't beat the originals!)

[Twilight Ranger]

I had preordered my CD from Amazon, UK, but didn't receive it until yesterday. Some Finnish record shops do sell Hank Marvin's old CDs but Hank isn't available here - at least not yet.

The CD is listenable but doesn't come anywhere near my Hank Marvin favourites Hank Plays Holly and Marvin At The Movies. I have only listened to it twice and at the moment my favourite tracks are I Only Have Eyes For You and Daydream. Many of the tunes are rhythmic but they don't swing like the best selections on Hank Plays Holly. Some parts of the arrangements appear forced, which is never a good thing in music. I get the impression that the arrangers have desperately tried to come up with something new and exceptional instead of going for simple swing and effortless playing.

I suppose the biggest disappointment for me was Summertime. I am so accustomed to hearing the Elle Fitzgerald and Louis Armstrong version of this great tune and picturing myself lying on a countryside jetty as I listen to it watching the midnight sun disappear behind some fir-trees growing on a hill that I find the arrangement somewhat abominable. I think it'll take a few years for me to get used to it! But that's just me, of course. I'm probably wrong.

An acoustic rhythm guitar has been used on most tracks, which I like. Bruce Welch did that as early as the sixties.

[Fenderman]

I think Summertime is one of the weaker tracks on the album. I've played it a few times and some tracks are growing on me but others aren't. I don't think Good Day Sunshine is very good, that won't be getting played much. My favourite track is the original Summer Guitar, it seems more effort was put into this track and Hank seems to be really enjoying playing it but this album isn't Hank's best solo effort.
What i'd like to see next is an album of all original tracks and even a couple of vocals thrown in but the chances of that are very remote.