Unsung Heroes No.2

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Here's the second in my occassional series "Unsung Heroes" Today;

Glenn Hughes

Glenn Hughes is something of an enigma. World-famous as a Part of Deep Purple between 73 and 76, Vocalist on KLF's Number One hit "America:What time is love?"
he is nevertheless, to the majority of listeners, unknown. His list of collaborators over the years reads like a who's who of rock; Steve Lukather and Bobby Kimball of Toto, Gary Moore, Pat Thrall, Tony Iommi, Motley Crue, George Lynch, to name a few.

He has released consistently stunning solo albums, beginning with 1977's Play me out and culminating in his most recent; Music for the Divine featuring Chad Smith and John Frusciante of the Chili Peppers.

Glenn is arguably the greatest Rock singer of the last 40 years, his range and breadth of styles is simply phenomenal, from the Stevie Wonderesque, Blue-eyed soul of "Coast to Coast", to the straight ahead balls to the wall rock of "Soul Mover" , he never fails to push all the right buttons. His career began in earnest when his band Trapeze stripped back to a 3-piece, and gave the world some of the first Funk-Rock at the beginning of the 70's.
When Purple replaced Ritchie Blackmore with the young Tommy Bolin, Hughes found a soul-mate with whom he could take Purple into funkier territory. The rock fans weren't keen, but with hindsight, the resulting Come Taste the Band album is an undiscovered classic, running the full gamut of musical emotions, from the rocking "Comin'Home" through the funk of "Gettin'Tighter" to the jazzy "This Time Around".

But that album probably encapsulates Hughes' problem in reaching a wider audience. His abilities and styles are so varied, record companies struggle to market him, and partisan music lovers are put off by either the funk, or the rock, or the ballads, depending on their personal preferences. This is why Hughes has a relatively small, discerning, and loyal following. Recently however, it seems the record buying public is accepting a broader view, and steadily, Hughes star is rising once again. Considering the problems he endured through the late 70's and early 80's, self-inflicted, by his own admission, his strength of character to "come back strong" to quote one of his songs, is remarkable. To see him on stage, firing on all cylinders, 37 years after his recording debut, and blowing away opposition less than half his age, is a salutory lesson in how it should be done. Let's hope a new wave of singers and bass players take heed, and learn from the master.

Recommended listening:

Trapeze: You are the Music, We're just the Band (73)
Deep Purple: Come Taste The Band (75)
Glenn Hughes: Play Me Out (77)
Hughes/Thrall: Hughes/Thrall (82)
Glenn Hughes: Feel (95)
Glenn Hughes: Soul Mover (2005)