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Ten Years After

A Space in Time: 50th Anniversary Two-CD Edition

Review by Gary Hill

This is an absolute classic album. This new double CD set was released, a little late, in honor of the 50th anniversary of its release. I know Ten Years After are considered a blues rock band, but really this set proves that their sound is much harder to pin down than that. I have to admit that I hadn't heard the album for years, so I came at it with very fresh ears.

This album includes a brand-new mix of the album on the first CD. The second CD has the original mix. Now, I have to admit, I listened to them in the reverse order to get the proper effect. I am often not a fan of new mixes of classic albums. This is an exception to that rule. This just seems clearer and more distinct on the first CD. Other than one track, and I've noted it in the track reviews, it's not a huge change in terms of needing specific references, but it all just comes to life better. I should note that since the songs are the same, I've used the same track reviews for both CDs, but did make that one note in the first CD review. Overall I'd say that if you liked the album in the day, you will probably love the new mix of it.

This review is available in book (paperback and hardcover) form in Music Street Journal: 2023  Volume 4 More information and purchase links can be found at: garyhillauthor.com/Music-Street-Journal-2023.

Track by Track Review
CD One
                       
Chris Kimsey 2023 Mix
                      
One Of These Days

A gradual, but dramatic, echoey introduction gets things going here. We're brought into a cool intermittent blues rocking jam from there. This is very much in line with the kind of thing early Fleetwood Mac was known for. In fact, I'm really reminded of the Peter Green era of that band, perhaps with some John Mayall thrown in for good measure. Then again, I can also make out hints of early Pink Floyd here. A killer instrumental jam later complete with harmonica soloing lands closer to Led Zeppelin territory.

Here They Come
The spacey intro on this sounds better to me than it does on the original mix. This has a psychedelic, nearly space rock groove to it. It still has some of that blues rock thing at play, too. This drops to a mellower, bouncy groove that has a real folk music vibe later.
I'd Love To Change The World
Certainly the best known track from the band, the riff that opens this is so classy. The lyrics are a bit problematic today, but the hippie aspects of it still work well. This has a great balance between mellower, picked guitar sections and more rocking, strummed ones. It also has some definite psychedelic angles built into it.
Over The Hill
There are some symphonic strings on this cut. The track has almost a proto-prog vibe. There are definitely elements of psychedelia in the mix. Symphonic elements take place at the end.
Baby Won't You Let Me Rock 'N' Roll You
There is a strange bit of weirdness at the start of this. The cut drives out with classic rock and roll sounds from there.
Once There Was A Time
This has a lot of down-home, old-time blues in the mix. It's another killer tune. It turns to more of a retro rock and roller later.
Let The Sky Fall
Another with healthy helpings of psychedelia and space rock in the mix, this also includes more straight-forward rock. It has a nice balance between mellower, spacier stuff and the more rocking. This drifts into some particularly cool psychedelia on the instrumental break.
Hard Monkeys
For some reason this reminds me to some degree of The Guess Who. Then again, it's also a little like "I'd Like to Change the World." It's another with a good amount of contrast between mellower and more rocking stuff.
I've Been There Too
Another straightforward rocker, this doesn't break any molds, but it's very well done. The extended instrumental section later is on fire.
Uncle Jam
This instrumental piece has a lot of blues and jazz built into it. It's classy.
CD Two
                      
Original 1971 Mix
                     
One Of These Days

A gradual, but dramatic, echoey introduction gets things going here. We're brought into a cool intermittent blues rocking jam from there. This is very much in line with the kind of thing early Fleetwood Mac was known for. In fact, I'm really reminded of the Peter Green era of that band, perhaps with some John Mayall thrown in for good measure. Then again, I can also make out hints of early Pink Floyd here. A killer instrumental jam later complete with harmonica soloing lands closer to Led Zeppelin territory.

Here They Come
This has a psychedelic, nearly space rock groove to it. It still has some of that blues rock thing at play, too. This drops to a mellower, bouncy groove that has a real folk music vibe later.
I'd Love To Change The World
Certainly the best known track from the band, the riff that opens this is so classy. The lyrics are a bit problematic today, but the hippie aspects of it still work well. This has a great balance between mellower, picked guitar sections and more rocking, strummed ones. It also has some definite psychedelic angles built into it.
Over The Hill
There are some symphonic strings on this cut. The track has almost a proto-prog vibe. There are definitely elements of psychedelia in the mix. Symphonic elements take place at the end.
Baby Won't You Let Me Rock 'N' Roll You
There is a strange bit of weirdness at the start of this. The cut drives out with classic rock and roll sounds from there.
Once There Was A Time
This has a lot of down-home, old-time blues in the mix. It's another killer tune. It turns to more of a retro rock and roller later.
Let The Sky Fall
Another with healthy helpings of psychedelia and space rock in the mix, this also includes more straight-forward rock. It has a nice balance between mellower, spacier stuff and the more rocking. This drifts into some particularly cool psychedelia on the instrumental break.
Hard Monkeys
For some reason this reminds me to some degree of The Guess Who. Then again, it's also a little like "I'd Like to Change the World." It's another with a good amount of contrast between mellower and more rocking stuff.
I've Been There Too
Another straightforward rocker, this doesn't break any molds, but it's very well done. The extended instrumental section later is on fire.
Uncle Jam
This instrumental piece has a lot of blues and jazz built into it. It's classy.
 
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