Jon Astley: Everyone Loves the Pilot and The Compleat Angler

When I'm in the mood for Thomas Dolby, Jon Astley always seems to come to mind as well, and then I've got to put on one of Jon's albums too! If you don't know much about him, and you like T.D., then here's a chance to get to know him better. One album is a vinyl rip and the other a CD rip.

The first album by Jon Astley followed the release of a single called "Jane's getting serious" which was a chart entry in the States. The album has since become a rare Eric Clapton collectible as he plays on the above mentioned track.
Jon's links with Clapton came from the early 70s when he was a tape operator for the Rainbow concert which is where he met his own co producer Phil Chapman who had run the British Phil Spector fan club in the 60s.
Everyone knows about Astley's skill as a producer, but his personal music went largely overlooked. I heard "Jane's getting serious" on alternative rock stations, and it had a bit of airplay, but the rest of the album went ignored. Big mistake. He writes modestly intelligent rock, and has a way with a catchy bit of rhythm guitar and keyboards. The beats are always just a bit different than what you would expect, and are very hypnotic. Worth a listen... There are a few cuts that are marginal, but "Jane", and "Target Practise" and "Better Never than Late" are good tunes. "Jane" is particularly good, and deserved the airplay it got.

Everyone Loves the Pilot

1. Jane's Getting Serious
2. Lip Service
3. Target Practise
4. Suffering Fools
5. Animal
6. Jumping in the Deep End
7. Better Never Than Late
8. I Want to Dance
9. Disclaimer
10. Emperor

44 Minutes

The Compleat Angler

1.But Is It Commercial?
2.Put This Love to the Test
3.I'll Show You Bastards
4.I Dream About You (But I Cannot Sleep)
5.Menu
6.Been There, Done That [What's Next Mix]
7.Welcome to the Circus
8.Fire the Editor
9.Don't Talk to Strangers

41 Minutes

In addition to a short-lived singing career with Atlantic Records, British-born Jon Astley has made a name for himself as a masterful producer of re-issues, particularly surrounding the Who's back catalogue. A student of the great Glyn Johns during the '70s, Astley developed a working relationship with Pete Townshend that began when he co-produced (along with Johns) the Who Are You project. It was Astley who took a 25 minute demo of the classic title track and edited it down to a (still) epic 6 minute track. Astley then teamed with Eric Clapton for his Just One Night album before re-inventing himself with the rise of the digital age. When the Who's back catalogue was to be re-mastered for CD release it was Astley who got Townshend's nod as the producer and his tightly sequenced, sparkling sounding productions have endeared Astley to the often cantankerous guitarist. ~ Steve Kurutz, All Music Guide

39MB, WMA CBR

http://rapidshare.com/files/82620694/Jon_Astley.rar