TONY ASHTON & JON LORD

TONY ASHTON & JON LORD - First Of The Big Bands Album Reissued



Purple Records have released the remastered edition of TONY ASHTON & JON LORD‘s First Of The Big Bands album.

According to a press release, digitally remastered and expanded edition of this 1974 album from the duo spearheaded by DEEP PURPLE's Jon Lord. This album was begun as far back as the autumn of 1971 at Apple Studios. Ashton and Lord fancied trying a single, a song called 'We're Gonna Make It'. They had such fun that it was decided to plan a whole album. Further sessions took place in 1972 and 1973, with Ashton and Lord wanting to create the feel of a big band in the studio. Rather than do overdubs, they had up to 15 musicians working together at any one time, often with two drummers. Despite both musicians having plenty of other commitments (Lord with Deep Purple, Ashton with the final Ashton, Gardner & Dyke album and then a hectic tour with Family), the album was largely finished by 1973 but delayed until 1974 to avoid confusing the market during the line-up changes in Deep Purple.

The remastered CD contains two bonus tracks – the single b-side 'Sloeback' and an alternative version of 'Downside Upside Down' – along with extensive liner notes by Simon Robinson.