Jon Lord/Before I Forget Rough Mix

The long-awaited new excavated sound source from the original cassette master that is said to have been in Cozy Powell's possession before his death has been decided to be released! What was unearthed this time was a rough mix version of "BEFORE I FORGET" released by Jon Lord in 1982 (of course, this time as well as the previous "Cozy Tape" sound sources, it was a completely new version that could not be heard officially). (Includes the appearance take)! This work will surprise listeners throughout its approximately 55 minutes, and is sure to be a work that will greatly advance sound source research! In 1980, WHITESNAKE, of which John was a member, released a series of excellent albums, ``READY AN' WILLING'' and ``COME AN' GET IT,'' and gained great popularity in the UK, European countries, and even Japan. I was there. However, after leaving the US tour in the summer of 1981 with IRON MAIDEN and JUDAS PRIEST, the interpersonal relationships between the members deteriorated and dissonance began to emerge within the band. After the American tour, the band will take about two months off until they work on their next album, "SAINTS & SINNERS." Taking advantage of this time, John will begin work on his fourth solo album since ``SARABANDE'' starting in September. Initially, John was considering a direction rooted in classical music as well as a traditional solo. However, with the help of WHITESNAKE members such as Bernie Marsden, Neil Murray, and even Ian Paice, the content of their work became more rock-inspired. Furthermore, with the addition of Mick Ralphs and Cozy Powell, the completed "BEFORE I FORGET" became the most hard rock-oriented of John's solo albums (the album was released after WHITESNAKE went on hiatus). (June 1982). This work is a demo rough mix sound source from the time when "BEFORE I FORGET" was produced, which was excavated from the "BRITANNIA ROW" tape that Cozy had kept ("Bark At This" was written in Cozy's handwriting on the sticker and label). *Photos of the cassette tape and index are included inside the jacket. Many of the takes you can listen to here are in a finished state, and are comparable to those already recorded on the album. However, as it seems to be a test mix just before completion, there are (albeit subtle) differences here and there. The more vivid tone gives the impression that it's a rough version! You can enjoy the fun of a demo and the fun of comparing it to the official version. In this work, the rough mix before mastering makes it feel rare in a good way. In particular, the sound quality of tracks 1 to 6 on side A of the tape is very vivid. The sharpness of the unprocessed treble sounds like it's "bare", which is very different from the neat expression of the completed "BEFORE I FORGET". On the other hand, the level of completion from track 7 onwards, which corresponds to side B, is relatively high (therefore, the sound quality is mellow compared to the first half), but this time the last two songs, "Tender Babes #2" and " The presence of “Unknown Track” is very strong. Everyone who listens will be able to fully enjoy the fun that is unique to demo takes, where you can enjoy songs that you may think you know, but have actually never experienced. Now let's take a look at the recorded songs track by track. 1. Chance On A Feeling A pleasant rock number that was the opening of the completed album. Bernie Marsden's vocals are a bit more subdued compared to the final version, but the backing (especially John's play) is clearer. The length of the song itself remains almost the same. 2. Before I Forget #1 As you can see from the melancholy intro, this is an almost completed take. However, I feel that the bass is more direct than the finished version. 3. Tender Babes #1 It seems to be the same sound source as the previously released "OCTOPUSS IN PROGRESS". Although the composition and mix are almost complete, the sound of Koji's drums exploding with bare tones is truly impressive. Furthermore, compared to the finished version, his drums seem to come in faster (albeit only slightly). 4. Where Are You This is one of the most popular ballads on the album, featuring Elmer Gantry's manly vocals. There is also a difference in tone, and John's keyboard has more presence. 5. Only the second half of Bach Onto This #1 song is included. For some reason, the first half of the song was cut, giving the impression that the song starts suddenly, but thanks to its rawness, this take feels even more powerful than the finished version (Simon Phillips plays the drums here). 6. Before I Forget #2 Same as "Bach Onto This #1" above, only the second half of the song is included (probably Cozy cut out the unnecessary first half to check the playing of Simon Phillips and Ian Paice) (I guess he did it). This also impresses with its very direct sound quality, with the high-pitched sounds coming at you as if they were piercing your ears. 7. Bach Onto This #2 (The tape sticker says "Bark At This") The intro, which uses Bach's "Toccata and Fugue in D minor," is impressive, just like DEEP PURPLE's 1985 live show when they reunited. Target. This one has a mellower tone compared to the official one, and it feels like listening to an analog record. 8. Say It's All Right A moving masterpiece sung by veteran female vocalist Vicki Brown. This is also a nearly completed take, but the soft, mild tone that hits the ear expresses the depth of the song more than the current CD. Vicki Brown, who sings here, is Joe Brown's wife and has also performed with Gary Moore, David Gilmour, and Roger Waters. 9. Hollywood Rock And Roll A number where you can enjoy not only classical music but also John's light playing (this song is sung by John's close friend Tony Ashton, who is also known for his activities in PAL, etc. Also, the guitar is played by Mick Ralphs, and the rhythm is played by John) Note that the section is a BAD COMPANY group consisting of Boz Burrell and Simon Kirk). This also has a mellower sound quality than the official one. 10. Burntwood An instrumental where you can enjoy John's profound playing and delicate piano. It's almost complete. 11. This track was added to the 1999 re-release of the Pavene album. This is a very beautiful instrument with a gentle touch keyboard. This is also almost finished. 12. Tender Babes #2 One of the biggest listening spots in this recording. Another take of "Tender Babes", which is about 4 minutes long, and of course not officially recorded. It features a more profound and solemn progression than the completed "Tender Babes", and the intro with a thick tone is reminiscent of the later "Perfect Strangers" (also pay attention to John's voice count at the beginning). John may have thought that this take would lead to a hard development of the band performance, or conversely, it is possible that this heavy take was considered ``too heavy'' and was replaced by the band performance. 13. Unknown Track This is also an official unrecorded take of a large listening station. This is a track where John layers a synth on a rhythm machine, and this rhythm has a Southeast Asian polyrhythm style, making it stand out even among the original recordings. Although it is a short piece that lasts less than two minutes in total, its unique flavor makes it a suitable ending to the entire series, and will leave a lasting impression on the listener. In the completed “BEFOR I FORGET”, Koji only participated in one song, “Tender Babes”. However, the fact that Cozy had a tape containing almost all the songs on the album, and the title "Bark At This" written on the tape sticker (which of course was probably a reference to "Bach Onto This") ), it is possible that Koji was asked to perform other songs as well. One way to enjoy this work is to imagine another “BEFORE I FORGET” that might have been possible while listening to these takes. In this work, many takes are almost completed, and some songs seem to have been adopted straight into the official version. Still, there is a big surprise that “John’s solo album” existed in the rough mix, including the completely unreleased take of the last two songs. This work is a treasured sound source from the time when Jon Lord as a solo artist approached hard rock, and is a must-listen for DEEP PURPLE and WHITESNAKE fans. A definitive book that will further the examination of British hard rock history is here! Taken from the original master cassettes(2 X Britannia Row Recording Studios tapes) belonged to Cozy Powell. 1. Chance On A Feeling 2. Before I Forget #1 3. Tender Babes #1 4. Where Are You? 5. Bach Onto This #1 6. Before I Forget #2 7. Bach Onto This #2 8. Say It's All Right 9. Hollywood Rock And Roll 10. Burntwood 11. Pavene 12. Tender Babes #2 13. Unknown Track　 Jon Lord - Piano, Organ , Keyboards, Mini Moog Bernie Marsden - Guitar (1, 5, 7), Lead Vocals (1) Mick Ralphs - Guitar (8, 9) Tony Ashton - Lead Vocals (9) Elmer Gantry - Lead Vocals (4) Vicky Brown - Lead Vocals (8), Backing Vocals (1, 2, 6, 9) Sam Brown - Backing Vocals (1, 2, 6, 8, 9) Boz Burrell - Bass (9) Neil Murray - Bass (1-3, 5 -8, 10, 12) Ian Paice - Drums (1, 2, 6) Cozy Powell - Drums (3, 12) Simon Phillips - Drums (5, 7, 8) Simon Kirke - Drums (9)