Brand X were an English jazz fusion band from London. Formed in late 1974, the group originally featured vocalist and percussionist Phil Spinelli, guitarists John Goodsall and Peter Bonas, bassist Percy Jones, keyboardist Robin Lumley and drummer John Dillon. After Spinelli, Bonas and Dillon left, the remaining members and new drummer Phil Collins became a largely instrumental outfit. The latest lineup of Brand X included only one official member, Goodsall, alongside keyboardist Chris Clark, percussionist Scott Weinberger, and drummer Kenny Grohowski, and ended in 2021 with Goodsall's death.
The official Brand X website has asserted that the only official legal members of Brand X since its reformation were original members Jones, Goodsall, and Lumley. All other musicians during this time period are described as legally being "employees" and "guests"
The last and reformed editions of Brand X, all sans Phil Collins, are heard on this double CD set of live performances in Chicago and New York City, respectively. Founding members John Goodsall (electric guitar) and Percy Jones (electric bass guitar) lead the band through classic fusion territory familiar to fans of the band; most of their best material is heard at sometime or another on this two hour excursion. For the Chi-town dates, drummer Kenwood Dennard, percussionist Morris Pert, and keyboardist Robin Lumley comprise perhaps the best overall talent of the many incarnations of Brand X. Highlights include the galloping guitar and klip-klop percussion that inform"Disco Suicide" with a frequently repeated second melody. "Access to Data" uses multi-melodies, a 10/8 figure, and furious guitar coda. Stepping up to 11/8 then 7/4 during "Nuclear Burn," Goodsall uses one of many direct references to the Mahavishnu Orchestra, a repeated line sparking Lumley's screaming synth. The final three tracks are muddy, not as audible or well recorded. A 6/8 head, bridge, and tail for "Euthanasia Waltz" sounds flat, "Malaga Virgin" is a ten-minute Jones-led 4/4 jam, and "Deadly Nightshade" uses a pretty bell-like sweetness to a leaden or quick funk and chiming, repeated synth lines for guitar, truly a great tune. For the second CD in N.Y.C., it's just Jones and Goodsall with drummer Frank Katz, and this stripped-down edition is naturally not as potent, but good nonetheless. The free symphonic electric guitar/synth three-minute egg "Guitar Concerto" is followed by the 6/4 stair step Mahavishnu-type funk of "Thalidomide Squid," while "Strangeness" is simply a workout for Jones and Katz.Katz does a rock slow and fleet, wild "Drum Solo," and "Church of Hype" is a straight 4/4 rock number. The final two selections are in the Mahavishnu bag too; "Healing Dream" is an acoustic guitar solo with John McLaughlin's signature repetition, while "Macrocosm" uses similar changes only in 7/8 with Goodsall's stinging and poignant electric six string. Brand X has always been an expert at using the improvisation of jazz melted over the base loudness of rock or R&B rhythms. They were hardly the off brand, more like the real thing in the fusion-oriented '70s, and this disc proves the idea was still viable beyond its time.
Track listing:
CD -1 Live In Chicago 1977 (63:08)
1. Disco Suicide (7:08)
2. Nightmare Patrol (8:22)
3. Why Should I Lend You Mine (2:59)
4. Access to Data (7:46)
5. Nuclear Burn (8:22)
6. Euthanasia Waltz (6:09)
7. Malaga Virgin (9:51)
8. Deadly Nightshade (12:31)
CD - 2 Live In New York 1993 (55:53)
1. Introduction (1:56)
2. A Duck Exploding (9:47)
3. Guitar Concerto (2:41)
4. Thalidomide Squid (5:53)
5. Strangeness (6:14)
6. Cambodia (6:50)
7. Drum Solo (7:10)
8. Church of Hype (5:39)
9. Healing Dream (3:46)
10. Macrocosm (5:57)
Personnel:
Disc one:
- John Goodsall / guitar
- Robin Lumley / keyboards
- Percy Jones / bass
- Kenwood Dennard / drums
- Morris Pert / percussion
Disc two:
- John Goodsall / guitar
- Percy Jones / bass
- Frank Katz / drums
