Brian May + Friends – Star Fleet Project – EMI
By Jeffrey Easton
In 1983 Brian May had some down time, some talented friends and some amazing ideas. What came from that was some brilliant music that has stood the test of time. Star Fleet, the track itself, features a fire that burned up Brians’ fretboard and onto radio waves as soon as this mini LP dropped. Enlisting the likes of Eddie Van Halen and Phil Chen, this marvel took wings and flew like a stealth bomber. Now here we are 30 years later, so many things have changed, sadly Eddie is no longer with us but the music is. So with this anniversary, there are a few CD packages that have been reissued but we have a vinyl reissue of which I am reviewing. I know there are purists that argue against vinyl but as my speakers…and I am sure my neighbors, can attest, this remastered vinyl edition has a brilliant clarity unmatched by any medium but that is just my opinion. The LP opens on Star Fleet, a small jam and then the massive keyboards of Fred Mandel blow through the doors with Brian Mays signature guitar tones. Brian has had a hand in so many compositions over the years but as for pure energy, this ranks top 5 easily. It stands toe to toe with any of the hard rock and metal bands that were releasing at that time. But this LP isn’t all brash, its blues as well with the other two cuts, Let Me Out and Blues Breaker. Let Me Out is Brian pleading against Eddie soloing some of his purist fire. This was during Prime Van Halen, Eddie was bringing his A game to the sessions and wailing up against Brian. Brian had that distinct tone as well as Eddie, no problem picking them apart. The album closes with the burning blues track Blues Breaker. A pounding rhythm track with Eddie and Brian trading intense solos that goes for repeat listens. Considering our loss of Eddie, this means even more that we have this again to grace our turntables. To think, this started as a simple idea from Brian and here we are 30 years later celebrating that idea with a monumental piece of vinyl. If you lost your copy, never owned this or need a new one, BUY this issue, you need to experience it.
Brian May Official Site
BUY Star Fleet Project!
By Jeffrey Easton
In 1983 Brian May had some down time, some talented friends and some amazing ideas. What came from that was some brilliant music that has stood the test of time. Star Fleet, the track itself, features a fire that burned up Brians’ fretboard and onto radio waves as soon as this mini LP dropped. Enlisting the likes of Eddie Van Halen and Phil Chen, this marvel took wings and flew like a stealth bomber. Now here we are 30 years later, so many things have changed, sadly Eddie is no longer with us but the music is. So with this anniversary, there are a few CD packages that have been reissued but we have a vinyl reissue of which I am reviewing. I know there are purists that argue against vinyl but as my speakers…and I am sure my neighbors, can attest, this remastered vinyl edition has a brilliant clarity unmatched by any medium but that is just my opinion. The LP opens on Star Fleet, a small jam and then the massive keyboards of Fred Mandel blow through the doors with Brian Mays signature guitar tones. Brian has had a hand in so many compositions over the years but as for pure energy, this ranks top 5 easily. It stands toe to toe with any of the hard rock and metal bands that were releasing at that time. But this LP isn’t all brash, its blues as well with the other two cuts, Let Me Out and Blues Breaker. Let Me Out is Brian pleading against Eddie soloing some of his purist fire. This was during Prime Van Halen, Eddie was bringing his A game to the sessions and wailing up against Brian. Brian had that distinct tone as well as Eddie, no problem picking them apart. The album closes with the burning blues track Blues Breaker. A pounding rhythm track with Eddie and Brian trading intense solos that goes for repeat listens. Considering our loss of Eddie, this means even more that we have this again to grace our turntables. To think, this started as a simple idea from Brian and here we are 30 years later celebrating that idea with a monumental piece of vinyl. If you lost your copy, never owned this or need a new one, BUY this issue, you need to experience it.
Brian May Official Site
BUY Star Fleet Project!