Allan Holdsworth - Road Games (1983)

Finally got hold of something by the erstwhile Gong guitarist whose unique style I've been enjoying so much on their post-Daevid Allen records.  It's not much - a 24-minute mini-album - but it's a start.  Road Games came to be from Eddie Van Halen enthusing to Warner Bros about how much he loved Allan Holdsworth's playing.  It would be a short-lived stint at the corporate behemoth - Holdsworth and producer Ted Templeman didn't get on, and the maverick guitarist broke free of his contract shortly afterwards for pastures new.  Road Games, however, is still pretty damn good.

A top-flight jazz fusion trio was established with Zappa drummer Chad Wackerman and Bruford bassist Jeff Berlin, both of whom Holdsworth knew and liked.  Three of the six tracks also added vocals: Bluesbreakers/Juicy Lucy singer Paul Williams, who also worked with Holdsworth on either side of Road Games, sings the title track, and Jack Bruce is featured on the last two songs.  As fine as their contributions are, Road Games is really all about the music created by the core trio. 

Opening track Three Sheets To The Wind starts out with a clean, Metheny-esque chiming tone, but soon Holdsworth's overdubbed lead lines start to cook, showing just why someone like Van Halen would've admired him.  The title track is more of a straightahead rocker, and although the guitar solos are great, I much prefer the jazzier stuff, like Water On The Brain Pt. 2 (there's no Part 1) which follows, or the more laidback Tokyo Dream, which really lets Holdsworth stretch out.  If you want to listen to a really great and underrated guitarist, there's far worse ways to spend 20-odd minutes.

Original 12" cover

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pw: sgtg

Previously posted on SGTG:
Gong - Gazeuse!
Gong - Expresso II