Homeland

 

Ellis, Beggs & Howard - Homelands [PL 71855 UK 1988 24-Bit FLAC]

I thought I'd rip this album after recent Kaja events over on ESWA 2.0. Bassist Nick Beggs joined forces with soul singer Austin Howard and successful multi-instrumentalist, Simon Ellis to form this trio who had a big hit across Europe with Big Bubbles No Troubles. The single was quite unique due to the unusual sound that Beggs created with the Chapman Stick by running it through a flange pedal and a Midi. The effect is really quite funky and easily stands out on this albums worth of adult pop-rock. RCA Records failed to drum up similar success with the epic sounding follow-up Where Did Tomorrow Go? Consequently a second album was abandoned at the demo stage and the trio disbanded to become session musicians. 

What this album does prove is what an accomplished bassist Beggs is. Only Mick Karn springs to mind as an equal from this generation of musicians, just listen to the bass work on the title track to understand how far Beggs had come from his first forays into the world of pop.

A1  Where Did Tomorrow Go? 
A2  Bad Times
A3  Two Lonely Hearts
A4  Hungry Man
A5  Ju Ju Goodbye
B1  Say A Prayer
B2  Why Does Living (Become A Crime)?
B3  Big Bubbles No Troubles
B4  Homelands
B5  I Would Die For You