John Fiddler - The Big Buffalo - The Reviews.
"Classic Rock - Wonderous Stories" - by
Terry Craven
John Fiddler is probably better known for his work with Medicine
Head and the British Lions and (maybe even with the 1993 reunion
project with the Yardbirds) Box Of Frogs. His distinctive vocals
making for an exciting brand of rhythm and blues that also suited
the folk circuit and this certainly helped to broaden his appeal
bringing him critical acclaim throughout his career. These days
John works as a solo artist but given his past and number of contacts
in the game then I guess that you can rule nothing out. Originally
released as "Return Of The Buffalo", the album has been
remastered by Angel Air and re-released with the addition of four
bonus tracks. The liner notes make for compelling reading and
it is awe inspiring when you consider the wealth of talent that
John Fiddler has worked with. This has rubbed off on him and this
CD is an eclectic mixture of up-tempo rockers, ballads and r 'n'
b classics that should prove to be popular with anyone fortunate
enough to hear it. Seventeen of the tracks are self-composed with
the Lennon classic "Working Class Hero" being the only
cover and such is the nature of his voice that he instantly almost
claims it as his own. There has been much debate within CRS circles
as to what actually is classic rockand such is the strength of
this album that I would be tempted to put it forward as the sheer
defination of this genre.
The Big Buffalo - "Pleasure Doing Business With
You" - by Phil Holbrook
Probably best known for his work with Medicine Head, John Fiddler
was of course the voice of the British Lions, the last reincarnation
of Mott The Hoople. The 80's saw John work with Jim McCarty and
Chris Deja (ex Yardbirds) on the Box Of Frogs project, which also
featured a host of rock legends. Since then, John has kept a fairly
low profile since reforming Medicine Head in the early 90's, but
now continues his solo career with the release of The Big Buffalo,
an album he recorded back in 1994, but only now has surfaced on
Angel Air. Time For Love opens the album and has an almost heavy
metal feel to it. Emotional lyrics and catchy hooks ensure you
want to keep listening.
Things slow down for Princess and by the time we get to Time Will
Tell echoes of Bob Dylan are to the fore. Good use of a harmonica
add to the Dylan feel but these songs are very much John's own;
he's a powerful songwriter and I could see Neil Young covering
Strong Heart or maybe Tom Petty doing a version of Hurt. John
has written all the tracks on the album with the exception of
Lennon's Working Class Hero where John F delivers a great vocal.
Another standout track is the live favourite Walkin Blues. Anyone
who saw John Fiddler live last year at the Mott The Hoople Convention
will know John has the ability to entertain an audience extremely
well. Anyone who is expecting an album of quality songs delivered
by a very able singer/songwriter will not be disappointed, although
I would have liked one or two more rockers. We can expect a brand
new album from John later in the year, but sit down, turn the
lights low and enjoy The Big Buffalo a very classy album.
The Big Buffalo - "Half Moon Bay" - by Terry
Burgess
Our appetites had been whetted by the not included here Only The
Roses on last years Eagle Records compilation Mott The Hoople
- Friends And Relatives.
I have to admit that John Fiddler remained pretty much just a
name to me as I had missed out on the British Lions stuff when
it originally came out, although I can remember the Medicine Head
chart hits of the seventies.
So, this record had to act as his real introduction to my ears
and on first play I felt it didn't live up to the aforementioned
Only The Roses. But it's the old story about records growing on
you and I find myself singing titles from this collection while
doing the washing up and the CD is being played here in the office
quite a lot.
Apart from anything else - like great songwriting, catchy tunes,
good singing, great playing (which are all here) - this record
boasts a great sweep and depth of styles from the acoustic solo
stuff, passionate blues, rock pieces and so on.
A few years ago, several of these tracks could have been released
as singles - not sure how they'd fare today, though.
Again, as I've said elsewhere, Fiddler can easily be seen as the
true heir to Hunters Mott The Hoople throne and on this evidence
he gives our Ian a good run for his money. Oh why, oh why didn't
the Lions call themselves Mott The Hoople? Not the done thing
back then I suppose... answers on a postcard please.
This was all apparently, recorded back in 1994 and the last four
tracks are all bonus to the original set. And if a few of these
are a hint at what is still to come then there are plenty of good
tunes to delight us over the next few releases.
John is currently (April - May 2000) on tour in the UK and Germany
and I recommend you look in the press for details and have an
evening out listening to some great songs.
Finally, and this is going to be a funny thing to say on a Mott
The Hoople web site but, one of my favourite all time writers
and singer songwriter type people is and has been for ages Gerry
Rafferty (he of Humblebums, Stealers Wheel and "Baker Street"
fame). John Fiddler has put himself up there in my own hall of
fame with this CD.
You won't regret trying to blag a listen, but once bitten you
will want more. So buy it and complete your Mott The Hoople family
and friends collection.
The Big Buffalo - Adrian Perkins Website - by Adrian
Perkins
John Fiddler is a name familiar to some, but unfamiliar to many,
so let me enlighten you. He first shot to fame as leader of British
prog-rock band Medicine Head, who enjoyed critical acclaim and
indeed major chart success in 1973/74 with such hits as One And
One Is One and Slip And Slide. After Medicine Head folded in early
1977, he teamed up with the remanants of Mott The Hoople to form
the brilliant but short-lived British Lions. And in the mid 80's
he found himself part of a Yardbirds reformation, a project which
eventually was named Box Of Frogs. In between all this, John has
persued a solo career, culminating in his 1993 solo album Return
Of The Buffalo, which is now reissued here as The Big Buffalo
with four bonus tracks.
John is an accomplished vocalist, adept at ballsy rock numbers
as well as softer ballads, as his varied career has demonstrated.
That said, those expecting rockers in the British Lions mould
are bound to be disappointed, as this album is more in the soft
/ acoustic rock territory. Sometimes this works, and hits the
emotional nail on the head, such as on Hurt and Win Or Lose, which
features some soaring lead guitar from guest musician Laurence
Archer.
Most of the tracks, tho' are just John (so we are told) playing
drums, bass, keyboards and (mostly) acoustic. Sometimes this works,
sometimes it dosen't but here it seems to work well and at times
the listener can be fooled into believing this is a "band"
effort. His cover of Lennon's Working Class Hero is businesslike,
and Robert Johnson's Walkin' Blues is "the business"
which I am sure works well live too.
That said, much of the rest of the album comes over as one-paced
with the result that there is no light and shade and no standout
tracks that stay in the memory. This is a shame as recent concert
performances have shown that John can certainly "cut it"
when he puts his mind to it.
As always with Angel Air releases, you get a 16-page booklet,
this time written by Jay Wyatt (long-time friend of John) and
Dale Griffin, and providing a concise biography of JF's career.
Ultimately I was disappointed, tho' long-time Head fans could
well appreciate the softer side of John's repertoire. But it strikes
me this could well be one of those albums which, like a fine wine,
improves with age and repays repeated listening.
The Big Buffalo - Rock Squad - by Steve Barrett
Here in low down Grimsby the squad are rocking and keeping Angel
Air up there and what great sounds and boy did your latest promo
CD to me bring it back. I met both John (Fiddler) and Peter in
the 70's and not only love their work but it is 2000 now and I
still play the Medicine Head records and what about this album.
Well simply 11/10. Welcome back, where have you been. I'm doing
2/3 shows this week and the summer season and this is doing every
gig, playing tracks 1, 4, 6 & 8 and listening to all to and
from the gigs. This release needs air play on the radio, send
it to all the stations "please".