Back when rock and roll ruled the world of music globally, veteran London guitarist Trevor Burton was right smack in the middle of the scene, jamming with members of Traffic and the Jimi Hendrix Experience.
But it would be as a founding member of the UK rock band The Move, best known for the tracks – “Blackberry Way” and “Fire Brigade”, among others – that would help launch Burton into the classic rock history books.
Fast forward some 45 years later and not only is Burton still rocking it, the rock critics, including yours truly, are praising his debut solo album, Long Play.
The album, which is in the truest sense an LP (and perhaps an ode to a time when LPs ruled the world) features 11 songs in all, two of which were written by Burton, and the rest of which are cover tracks. They are not just ordinary covers either.
The album opens with one of Burton’s own track, “Hit and Run,” a song which reminds one of his work with The Move. From there, are a number of Nine of the tracks are Burton’s interpretations of well-known indie and alt. songs from modern songwriters like Vic Chesnutt and John Vanderslice; Neutral Milk Hotel’s Jeff Mangum; Pearl Jam’s Eddy Vedder, and The Mountain Goats’ John Darnielle.
Highlights include Trevor’s own ‘Hit and Run’, movingly recalling The Move. One of our personal favorites is his take of Mangum’s “Aeroplane Over The Sea,” which proves to be a very respectful and well-executed rendition. Taking on such iconic indie tracks is always a risk, but the professionalism of Burton does the song justice.
Other standouts include covers of the Refrigerator (Dennis Callaci) song, “Be Positive”; Vedder’s “Just Breathe,” and Vanderslice’s “After It Ends.” The album, which was released last week on Record Store Day, ends with a beautiful rendition of Darnielle’s “Andrew Eldritch Is Moving Back To Leeds.”
British classic rock band The Move, circa 1966. Burton (far light) co-founded the band the year before.
At the age of 69, it makes perfect sense that Burton’s solo debut is more acoustic-oriented and interpretive than his history as a classic rock guitarist. But make no mistake about it; you can hear Burton’s classic rock signature throughout the album.
The skill with which Burton crafts his music, and the passion that still comes across in his playing, are just some of the characteristics of his decades-long dedication to rock music, from the golden age of rock to the present day.
While The Move enjoyed success in the UK in the late 1960’s and early 1970’s, they never were able to break through onto the critical US charts and the band dissolved in 1973. Burton was also a member of the popular Birmingham band, the Steve Gibbons Band, the Pink Fairies and The Idle Race in the 1970s, enjoying a hit single, “Tulane,” with the latter.