Nucleus - Pretty Redhead (CD)

All Music Guide

The six BBC tracks on The Pretty Redhead boast fine sound and were recorded at sessions on March 9, 1971 and October 6, 1982. The tracks present Nucleus at quite different phases of their career. The personnel differ quite a bit on each session, too, though Ian Carr and John Marshall are present on both. The first three tracks are from the 1971 date, and show them as an instrumental jazz fusion band not too far removed in tone from the latterday Soft Machine hardly a surprise as Karl Jenkins and John Marshall would both join that band the following year. The influence of early electric Miles Davis is heavily felt as well, in a performance that marked one of guitarist Chris Spedding's last appearances with the outfit. As the sleeve notes point out, the version of "Song from a Bearded Lady," a tune from their second album, differs markedly from the studio arrangement in its introductory portion. Despite the large shuffle in personnel, Nucleus were playing in pretty much the same style,... though perhaps a tad more inside, on their 1982 session, which marked their only known recording with the lineup featuring Carr, Marshall, saxophonist Tim Whitehead, guitarist Mark Wood, and bassist Joe Hubbard. It's also notable for the inclusion of the group's only known recording of Carr's composition "The Pretty Redhead," though Carr's brief comment at the top of the liner notes laments his failure to hit a couple of high notes in the intro and coda. - Richie Unterberger, All Music Guide Read more Less