These are all the people that come to mind when I heard Lewis Taylor....

--I know Psykosoul and others did a couple of threads on this dude, and I'm here to testify, Y'all--

If You get the chance, Listen To this Man's work --It's Off The Hook!! His work recalls all of the names above, at the same time! a few of his Fans:

Elton John - sent Lewis a letter telling him how much he loved the debut album, and bought 15 copies of it;

D'Angelo - A big Lewis Taylor fan -- brought him over to the US awhile back to discuss collaborations;

Leon Ware--writer/producer/singer and Marvin Gaye collaborator--heard Lewis's tracks and fell out of his seat;

Paul Weller-- does his best to attend as many of Lewis's concerts as he can, an avid supporter;

David Bowie -- declared Lewis's debut "The Best thing I've heard all year..."

and yet, with all that, outside of some industry insiders, he remains virtually unknown....


A multi-instrumentalist, Lewis takes the experimental studio approach similar to Sly Stone, Brian Wilson, Prince, Shuggie Otis and Rundgren, and You hear something new each time you listen -- he embraces the technology, while never losing the warmth of the Live Feel--

Funk and Psychedelia swirl together as if they are one in the same-- raw Bass, fuzz Guitar, and 60's rotating Leslie Cabinet effects sit nicely beside multitracked vocal choruses...his music takes time to build slowly to impressive shifts and cresendos...definitely steps ahead of today's same sounding, cookie-cutter tracks...reviewers have given comparisons to everyone from Radiohead to Marvin Gaye...But ultimately, He sounds like Lewis Taylor...

here are just a few mp3 examples of the different sounds (from his fansite, Lewistaylormusic.com

http://www.lewistaylormus...tmethi.mp3
http://www.lewistaylormus...einele.mp3
http://www.lewistaylormus...eclady.mp3
Check out his site's audibles section, especially the B-sides and rarities...


Give a listen, let me know what ya think...






...
[Edited 3/13/05 11:07am]

paligap said:

Well, anybody that echoes Shuggie, Sly, Todd AND Brian is someone I MUST get hipped to. U know I love Shuggie and Rundgren, pali. And Sly and Brian, well, that goes without saying. Seriously, which joint do u suggest I get first? Tell me.

I have gotten into Lewis over the last 4 months. He is a most gifted cat and a pure soul singer. His debut is very good, especially "Whoever" and the stellar "Song."

I do have II and Stoned pt. I. Apparently a "Lost Album" dropped 2 weeks ago. It costs a grip to get his work but I love it!

namepeace said:

Which one is your fave?

blackguitaristz said:

Oh, Sorry Blackguitaristz--I forgot your mp3 thang ain't workin! I would suggest the first two releases, Lewis Taylor and Lewis II...they have a heavier darker feel, overall...his third album, Stoned, part I is a little more pop-oriented...he's also got two more , The Lost Album--which is more Rundgren/10cc-ish -- and Limited Edition 2004, which is a little of everything...

blackguitaristz said:

I just got II and Stoned pt. I in the last few weeks and haven't gotten a chance to soak them in yet. So the debut is by default my fave.

BUT . . .

Lewis messed around and covered Jeff Buckley's "Everybody Here Wants You" on II. Not as good as the timeless original, but if anyone can and should cover that all-time classic, it's Lewis! Worth the album itself.

namepeace said:

True! Not quite the original, but an impressive rendition....

paligap said:

Which one do u think I would dig, goin by my tastes? The first two or The Lost Album? I love 10cc too. If u had to pick one?

See I knew you'd get more fanfare

I swear listening to Lewis made me put all of my legends on the backburner for a minute. I don't think there's anything the man can't do. On top of being a top-tier multi-instrumentalist and arranger, the man's vocal harmonies are killer.

Listening to samples truly doesn't give this man's music justice.

Initially, I was uneasy about Stoned Pt 2. But listening to The Lost Album brought Stoned Pt 1 and 2 into complete perspective.

Lewis can do no wrong in my book.

blackguitaristz said:

I really think the first album, then move on from there...

psykosoul said:

Thanks again for the heads up Psyko!! I owe ya one!! What did you think of Stoned 1 compared to Stoned II?



...
[Edited 3/2/05 17:25pm]

what's available so far:

Oh my goodness, a Lewis Taylor thread! Awesome.

Manki turned me on to him a couple of years ago. He's a bad boy.

paligap said:

Oh I definitely thought Stoned Pt 1 was the better album by far. I was a bit disappointed by Stoned Pt 2. because it seemed like nothing but dance remixes of Stoned Pt. 1. I really didn't develop an appreciation for it until The Lost Album was released. Now, even though the songs on Part 2 practically make it a remix album, hearing the "progressive" versions of some of them on The Lost Album made me appreciate Lewis' ability to transform songs and give them different lives.

Don't get me wrong. Stoned Part 2 is my least favorite out of all of the releases. But I can appreciate it for what it is: "a different approach".

paligap said:

I think anyone who can make the transition from the first LP to the second and still be interested will have no problem loving the music of Lewis Taylor. With the exception of Stoned Pt 2., I think every album is an expansion of the first. There's no way anyone could listen to the first LP and believe that the same guy created The Lost Album.

psykosoul said:

Oh Yeah! and how about those Captain Beefheart covers on the website? Then he turns around and does a great version of Aretha's(and Stevie's) Until You Come Back To Me!! ... Man, he just defies categorization -- probably why he never gets played ...I mean, can you imagine trying to explain an artist like this at these Clear Channel stations?




...

TheOrgerFormerlyKnownAs said:

That first 1996 album is amazing,but sadly I could'nt really
get into his other stuff.That debut album is raw soul.
I just hope he 1 day comes up with a worthy follow up 2 that 1.
/peace Manki

manki said:

manki said:

You couldn't get into II, Manki?

paligap said:

I just love that dark feeling & the songs better on the
first 1.It was a long time since I listened 2 the second
album,but "Stoned" & "Stoned II" I really can't get into.
Sorry
/peace Manki

paligap said:

Where can I hear those?I don't see them on the site.
/peace Manki

paligap said:

What?! Now this is something I have to hear. I love both Todd Rundgren and 10CC (one of the most underappreciated pop acts, if you ask me), and I've already said many times how I feel about Brian Wilson.

My favorites from each album:

Lewis Taylor
1. Lucky
2. Bittersweet
3. Betterlove (that intro is jaw-dropping)
10. Spirit

Lewis II
1. The Way You Done Me
2. Satisfied
3. I'm On the Floor
4. Blue Eyes
5. Everybody Here Wants You

Limited Edition 2002

1. Lucky (acoustic)
2. Song (acoustic_
3. Track (acoustic)
4. If I Lay Down With You
5. Heart of the Sunrise

Stoned Pt. 1

1. Stoned|Part I
2. Positively Beautiful
3. Send Me An Angel
4. Lovin U More
10. Lovelight
11. Sheneverdid

Stoned Pt. 2

1. Reconsider - this song could be a huge dance smash
2. Keep On Keeping On

Limited Edition 2004

1. Back Together
2. Consider
3. No Hope In Here

The Lost Album

1. Listen Here
2. Leader of the Band
3. New Morning
4. See My Way
5. One More Mystery

manki said:

check In the Forums section, under Site News, in the thread, "hcmny"



...
[Edited 3/3/05 12:35pm]

My favorite Lewis Taylor Tracks, so far:


Bittersweet(extended)
Got Me Thinkin all About It
Cherry Blossom
You Make Me Wanna
Betterlove
The Way You Done Me
Waves
Pie In Electric Sky/ If I Lay Down
I'm On The Floor
I Dream The Better Dream
Blue Eyes
Sheneverdid
Lovelight
Damn
How
Consider
Heartache
New Morning
Listen Here




...
[Edited 3/4/05 14:33pm]

hey Psykosoul, Do you know how the Limited Edition 2002 come about?

paligap said:

It was planned as a bonus for those attending a show he did in the UK that year, just to showcase his versatility without being under the scrutinizing eye of a major label (he had just gotten dropped by Island Records). Initially only 100 CD-Rs were pressed in white die-cast sleeves and word of mouth spread so fast by those in attendance that the demand grew tremendously. I believe he pressed up an additional 100 and sold them on the site. Once they were gone ... they were GONE I just got my hands on a copy last year. THANKS GEOFF!!!!

paligap said:

Aww man, I'd forgotten all about the B-Sides.

Pie In Electric Sky

Actually, listening to all this stuff, I kinda see why Lewis didn't get support from the record company and virtually no airplay...

Imagine if Marvin Gaye's first album was Here, My Dear, and Prince's first few releases were Around the World In a Day, Parade, and some of the darker tracks on Sign of The Times ( Ballad Of Dorothy Parker, IT, If I was Your Girlfriend), and if Joni's first album was Hissing Of The Summer Lawns, Stevie Wonder's debut was Secret Life of Plants, and Todd Rundgren and Brian Wilson started with A Wizard, A True Star, and Smile, respectively....critics and other musicians would hail it, and they would've gotten a small, loyal fan base, and that might be about it...

Lewis's case is even more hopeless , coming out in the late Nineties...People were gettin' swept away by crap like the Macarena, no way in hell they were gonna get something like this...




...
[Edited 3/4/05 11:03am]

paligap said:

you are absolutely right. I am suprised that people who are fans of every artist you mentioned above hasn't gone ape-shit over Lewis yet... especially Prince and Rundgren fans.

I mean I know he's virtually unknown outside the UK, but DAYUM!!!!