Classic Cuts: Jan Hammer - First Seven Days

[Doctor Frankensteinway]

I had not listened to this record in some twenty years. Still holds up. The themes and melodies sound as fresh today as they did in 1975. Some of the drum sounds are a little dated, but the synth sounds are stellar.

 

For the most part, Jan Hammer played Moog ~ Minimoog in every usual timbre, but sometime run through a guitar amp. In addition, Oberheim 4-voice was used ~ producing some very crystal (pseudo-digital) sounding bells.

 

On a couple of tracks the Moog is blended with an Oberheim SEM Expander and this is what helped to define Hammer's sound certainly well into his Miami Vice days.

 

Mellotron, RMI and Freeman String Symphasizer(sp?) help to round out the keyboard palette ~ and of course there is a healthy dollop of acoustic piano. Was there a smattering of Rhodes and Clavinet? I don't think so . . have to listen again.

 

Musically, now I remember how captivated I was all those years ago. In a sea of Wakeman, Emmerson, Banks and Lord, Jan Hammer delivered something a little more subtle, fusing contempoary jazz with expressionist tones. Miles Davis meets Stravinsky if you like. Solid compositions with beginning, middle, development and end.

 

On top of that, Jan "Jammer" Hammer blows a pretty mean Moog. It was during his tenure with Jeff Beck that he honed his "guitar" solo skills ~ and here and there on the album one forgets there is no guitar at all involved. I like this album much better than his later "Black Sheep/Jet Stream" phase.

 

'First Seven Days' certainly changed my life way back in 1977 or whenever it was that I bought it. I think it should be re-issued on CD if it hasn't already. It could compete head-on with any number of keyboard or synthesizer albums today (hello Stereolab!) . ..

[Mr Blab Blab Bla]

Originally posted by Doctor Frankensteinway:

 

'First Seven Days' certainly changed my life way back in 1977 or whenever it was that I bought it. I think it should be re-issued on CD if it hasn't already. It could compete head-on with any number of keyboard or synthesizer albums today (hello Stereolab!) . ..

 

Interesting to note that Plants and Trees is still Jan Hammers fav composition. Great LP, I bought it on holiday in Florida back in the late 80s. Wish Jan still composed like that...

 

Oh Yeah was another cool LP, lovely rhodes work... also check his work with Steve Grossman from the early to mid 70s... very nice indeed!!

 

Peace

Neil

[Ed A.]

Originally posted by Doctor Frankensteinway:

I like this album much better than his later "Black Sheep/Jet Stream" phase.

 

'First Seven Days' certainly changed my life way back in 1977 or whenever it was that I bought it. I think it should be re-issued on CD if it hasn't already. It could compete head-on with any number of keyboard or synthesizer albums today (hello Stereolab!) . ..

 

The "First Seven Days" was the first Jan Hammer album I ever bought (1975?) and IMO, it's the best work he's ever done. Definitely better than the later stuff where he was intent on being a "keyboard guitarist". He really should reissue it on CD (I'd buy it in a minute), but in the meantime, many of the cuts from this album can be found on his "Early Years" compilation CD.

 

Funny you should mention Stereolab because I'm a major Stereolab fan. Do you hear a similarity between Jan Hammer's early music and Stereolab?

[BP3]

The use of the Freeman on "The First Seven Days" is great. I believe he processed the Freeman through a Moog modular filter bank to bring out the 'wood'.

 

Truly excellent album!

 

"Oh Yeah" was also one of my favorites.