Excellent addition to any
prog rock music collection
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Songs / Tracks Listing
1. Theme One (3:34)
2. Killer (7:12)
3. Heidi Goes to Town (3:01)
4. El Sid (5:00)
5. Sweet Poison (6:23)
6. The Loner (4:46)
7. Over the Top (8:36)
Total Time 38:32
- Cozy Powell / drums & percussion (3), tubular bells, timpani, snare, gong & recorders (7)
With:
- Bernie Marsden / guitar (1,4)
- Gary Moore / guitar (2)
- Clem Clempson / guitar (5,6)
- Don Airey / piano, Moog, Yamaha CS-80
- Max Middleton / Fender Rhodes (5,6), Moog (6)
- Jack Bruce / bass
Artwork: Ian Murray with Bob Carlos Clarke (photo)
LP Ariola - 201 178 (1979, Germany)
CD Polydor - P33P-25033 (1987, Japan)
CD Polydor - UICY-93968 (2009, Japan) Remastered (?)
CD Polydor - UICY-25637 (2016, Japan) Remastered (?)
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Collaborators/Experts Reviews
Review byRaff
SPECIAL COLLABORATOR Honorary Collaborator
Many people would not readily associate the name of the late, great Cozy Powell with a 'highbrow'musical style such as Jazz-Rock/Fusion. The flamboyant, hard-hitting veteran drummer, the powerhousebehind such high-profile, hard rocking acts as Rainbow, Michael Schenker Group and Black Sabbath(not to mention a brief stint replacing Carl Palmer as the P in ELP), was not renowned for thesubtlety of his approach to drumming. Having been considered a as a replacement for both John Bonhamand Keith Moon should bear witness to the fact that Cozy, though by all means a very skilled, highlyregarded practitioner of his craft, was certainly not cut out of the same cloth as the likes of BillBruford.
However, Cozy was not only about bashing the living daylights out of his kit. As someone who hadbeen a fixture of the British rock scene for over thirty years by the time of his tragic death, forhis first solo outing he was able to assemble a cast of musicians to die for - many of themassociated with seminal jazz-rock band Colosseum and its later incarnation, Colosseum II. Powell'srhythm sidekick is none other than bass legend Jack Bruce, whose overall performance is nothingshort of awe-inspiring; while guitars are provided by Irish hotshot Gary Moore, Dave Clem Clempson(of Colosseum and Humble Pie fame), and former Babe Ruth and Whitesnake member Bernie Marsden (alongtime friend and collaborator of Powell's). Current Deep Purple keyboardist Don Airey (another ofCozy's longtime friends and musical partners) and Jeff Beck collaborator Max Middleton areresponsible for the lush tapestry of keyboard sounds.
Wholly instrumental, Over the Top is bookended by two tracks that are in some ways a statement ofintent: the grandiose yet infectious Theme One (known to most proggers in VDGG's version), and theno-holds-barred drum extravaganza of the title-track, based around an extract from Tchaikovsky'sOuverture 1812 (which was soon to become Cozy's live showcase), complete with artillery andsumptuous orchestral arrangements. The remaining five tracks, however, more than hold their ownagainst those two exhilarating pieces - my personal favourite being the aptly-titled, fast-pacedKiller, punctuated by Bruce's deft, dynamic bass work, and further enhanced by Gary Moore's owntrademark blend of technique and emotion. The slower, melodic Sweet Poison and the bluesy, wistfulThe Loner (dedicated to Cozy's mentor, Jeff Beck) both feature sterling performances from ClemClempson on guitar and dazzling keyboard work from Max Middleton (who wrote both tracks); while theBernie Marsden-penned El Sid offers further proof of Jack Bruce's chops as a four-stringer.
Those who loved Colosseum II's three albums and Jeff Beck's Wired and Blow by Blow will findthis album essential listening. Anyone looking for the perfect blend of stellar musicianship andemotional intensity will not be disappointed by Over the Top, an album miles away from the oftensterile display of technical skill that seems to plague modern-day progressive rock. Indeed, anexcellent addition to the PA database - 4.5 stars for this forgotten masterpiece.
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Posted Friday, January 2, 2009 | Review this album | Report (Review #196934)
Review byb_olariu
PROG REVIEWER
Cozy Powell - a guy who needs no introduction.
First solo album of this renowed drummer is from 1979 entitled Over the top. Yes indeed is an album overthe top, with some of the finest musicians of that decade and still respected today for their contribution tothe music, Gary Moore (again a musician with a long CV), Don Airey on keys (ex Rainbow , Uriah Heep,etc), Berni Mardsen (ex Babe Ruth , Whitesnake), Clem Clempson also on guitars (Humble Pie) and MaxMiddleton from Jeff Beck fame. The music on this first solo output is jazz rock, something between DixieDregs and some lighter version of Jeff Beck solo releases combined with unmatch sound of Moore's guitarmake from this first album to be a pretious one in jazz rock history. Here are pieces from fast drum beatsto more paced ones to even some realy slow traks, all is here. The musicians contribute to the album alot, and is clear that Cozt left them to make some improvisations here and there, thats wahy the album isgood as a whole not only because is a Cozy Powell solo effort. Not many peoples knows Cozy as a jazzrock drummer, thay know him more from colaboration and aswell as full time member in bands like, BlackSabbath, Whitesnake, Rainbow, Michael Shencker Group (MSG) or ELP (Emerson, Lake and Powell). Hiscontribution to the drummers improvements skills are without doubt unmatch and very well reicived bymany musicians worldwide. Not very much to add, but if you like bands as Dixie Dregs , Jeff Beck youmight give's this album a try. His solo efforts are maybe not something really outstanding, but are good asyou can get from him. 3.5 rounded to 4.
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Posted Monday, February 2, 2009 | Review this album | Report (Review #201431)
Review byEasy Livin
SPECIAL COLLABORATOR Honorary Collaborator / Retired Admin
Cozy Powell appears courtesy of Swindon Town Football Club (sleeve note)
In any list of top rock drummers, the name of the late Cozy Powell is guaranteed to appear. He may not have been the most subtle or the most technically gifted, but he could provide a powerhouse to drive even the most demanding of bands. Such was the journeyman nature of the way Powell preferred to operate that he made many friends along the way. For his first solo album, released in 1979, he called upon a select few of these to make up a band for the purposes of recording. With names such as guitarist Gary Moore, the legendary Jack Bruce on bass, and Don Airey on keyboards, it quickly becomes clear that this is not to simply be a self indulgent drumfest. Not only does Powell exploit the musicianship of these greats, he also persuades them to donate their songwriting skills too.
"Over the top" is undoubtedly the most progressive of Powell's solo releases, recorded when his career with Rainbow was all but at an end (he left them in 1980 bringing him to the attention of Keith Emerson and Greg Lake of ELP who later enticed him to join them in Emerson Lake and Powell).
Inevitably we kick off with some thumping drums introducing George Martin's "Theme one", an instrumental covered rather successfully by Van Der Graaf Generator. This version of the irresistibly catchy melody is entirely faithful while emphasising the strong rhythm of the piece. The track sets the tone for the album, which is one of power and melody, devoid of subtlety. "Killer", written by Don Airey and Gary Moore, is the first time we get to understand Powell's true vision for the album, the 7 minute piece being a jazz rock number with the accent still very much on the rock. The track was recorded live in the studio, the feel being one of controlled improvisation featuring the lead guitar of Gary Moore.
The brief "Heidi goes to town" features the synth of Don Airey in a light repetitive theme not unlike "Theme one". Side one of the album closes with "El cid", a hard rocking piece which contains the screaming guitars of Bernie Marsden, who is credited with writing the song.
The second side of the album has just three tracks, two of which run to over 8 minutes. "Sweet poison" is primarily a vehicle for guitarist Dave (Clem) Clempson to display his skills alongside those of Max Middleton on Fender Rhodes and piano. "The loner" will be recognisable to anyone who is familiar with the work of Gary Moore, as he has made this Max Middleton compostion his own as a solo artist. Here, it is Clemson who plays lead guitar, the 5 minute piece being dedicated to Jeff Beck.
The album closes with a piece of pure inspiration. Powell adapts the latter part of Tchaikovsky's "1812 overture" in a magnificent orgy of "Over the top" rock indulgence. The original overture is one of the most famous pieces of classic music, but here Powell and his posse transform it into a stunning rock suite. The first part of the track gives little indication what to expect although there is a greater tightness to the bombastic melody. Only as Powell takes control do the familiar tones of the 1812, complete with canon fire, take over. The piece is ideal for Powell, allowing him to hit everything in site as we reach the triumphal conclusion.
While the album is credited to Cozy Powell, this is very much a band album. Powell resists any temptation to make the drums the focus of the set, preferring to use his skills to drive along the rhythm behind the musicians. It is to his great credit that we are not subjected to endless percussion solos, but instead are treated to the combined talents of an enviable collection of great players. While probably rightly classified overall as a jazz rock album, it is the rock aspect which is by far the more dominant here.
The word subtlety should not be used anywhere in connection with this album. This is Powell at his "Over the top" best. Turn everything up to 11, and simply enjoy it.
Incidentally, another the sleeve note says "Lyrics enclosed"; but don't go looking for them, nobody sings!!
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Posted Sunday, February 15, 2009 | Review this album | Report (Review #202856)
Review bySouthSideoftheSky
SPECIAL COLLABORATOR Symphonic Team
More of that Jazz
Cozy Powell is possibly my favourite drummer of all time and he has worked with many of myfavourite musical artists like Ritchie Blackmore in Rainbow, Keith Emerson and Greg Lake inELP, Black Sabbath and Brian May among many others. Here we have him together with GaryMoore and Don Airey who just came from their stint with Colosseum II.
I'm sure that Cozy and his friends had a tremendous time putting this album together, andOver The Top is indeed a fun album to listen to in parts. We find here some great drumming,guitar and keyboard work. It is mostly an enjoyable listen clearly belonging to the Jazz-Rockcategory with some Blues influences (not surprisingly with Gary Moore on board). However,the whole album sounds basically the same with little variation in mood or tempo. The wholealbum is instrumental and hearing the whole album in one go can be slightly tedious. I do notfind this music particularly progressive (if not Jazz-Rock is Prog by definition).
It's very hard to know who I should recommend this album to. Fans of Rainbow and BlackSabbath is bound to find this music too cheerful and lightweight; fans of ELP will probably findthis too jazzy and not symphonic or progressive enough; serious Jazz-Rock/Fusion fans willlikely find this music too simple and not complex enough. Hence, only serious followers ofCozy's drumming and hard core fans of Gary Moore are likely to find this album of genuineinterest.
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Posted Saturday, August 1, 2009 | Review this album | Report (Review #229369)
Review byMellotron Storm
PROG REVIEWER
Cozy Powell carved out a pretty good career for himself and certainly starting out in the early seventies as part of JeffBeck's band was getting off on the right foot. "Over The Top" was his first solo album released in 1979. Three guitaristshelp out and I'm not the biggest fan of Clempson or Marsden but yes Gary Moore does it for me but his bluesy stylewill unfortunately be on one track only as in "Killer". Check out his playing 5 1/2 minutes in to the end. Jack Bruce onbass. Nice. Don Airey adds synths and piano and man I could do without the synths on here. Especially "Heidi Goes ToTown" where the synths sound bad. Even the self titled closer features plenty of those synths and no guitar. Nooo! Itdoesn't end well. The opener is a cover and then we get "El Sid" with that great sounding rhythm section and theguitar doesn't sound good at all to start but it sure gets better later on. And speaking of Jeff Beck "The Loner" isdedicated to him. The guitar is the focus as bass and drums support. Some piano then the synths lead 3 minutes inbut the guitar is back leading quickly.
I really like Cozy's playing and he sounds more "Rock" than "Jazz" to my ears.
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Posted Tuesday, April 27, 2021 | Review this album | Report (Review #2538355)
Latest members reviews
In the late Seventies I was very much into jazzrock sounding music, like JL Ponty, Al DiMeola, Jeff Beck and ColosseumII. So it was no surprise that I stumbled upon the late drummerCozy Powell, on this first solo LP many contributionsare by musicians that have played with the aforementioned ba... (read more)
Report this review (#1871202) | Posted by TenYearsAfter | Thursday, February 1, 2018 | Review Permanlink
I'm very glad to see a review of over the top here ! All Raff says in his review is absolutely true.When I was around 16 y.o., me and friends used to go to the beach listening in last volume someexciting music...eh..eh...good times around 1979... there were 5 teens in the car and the only one... (read more)
Report this review (#197065) | Posted by Prog_Veteran | Saturday, January 3, 2009 | Review Permanlink
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