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The Atavachron FAQ v2.1: Recordings
 | | The Atavachron
Frequently Asked Questions
File
Version 2.1
Section One: Recordings |
Last Updated 9/24/96
Please send corrections, additions and comments to :
atavachron-request@addimension.com
Recordings
Recordings
The official Atavachron discography found on this Web server, while
incomplete (see related question), is the most
comprehensive discography ever sanctioned by Allan Holdsworth. We hope at
some time in the future to have a version of the discography annotated by
Allan.
Allan's intense dislike of bootlegging --
and the loss of quality control it represents -- is well-known.
Given the fact that Allan continues to be supportive of
Atavachron, and remains in contact with us so that we might
benefit from the most accurate and timely information available
about his various projects, the moderator feels that allowing
bootleg discussions would be
very discourteous, at best. At worst, it would present an
ethical dilemma which would likely sever Atavachron's ties with
Allan permanently.
Are you saying that anything not listed in the Atavachron
discography is a bootleg?
No, not necessarily. Allan says there are some releases available on what are
generally reputable, legitimate labels which, for one reason or another, he
feels should not be included in an official discography. While I do not
agree with the reasoning behind some of his requested exclusions, I have
chosen to honor Allan's wishes in this matter, mainly as a show of respect.
This is certainly the source of much controversy, and I understand why some
people feel this is not a good arrangement (I don't usually agree with
those people, but that's another story!). The reason I even mention this is
because some have suggested that there's something inherently wrong about my
allowing Allan this kind of control over the discography. All I can say is
that I'm not hiding anything -- I'm telling you NOW exactly how things stand
in regard to the discography -- and I offer no apologies for this. If that's a
problem for you, please remember that you are no more obligated to use these
resources than I am to manage them the way you see fit, thank you.
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This is probably THE single most frequently asked question.
Answer: No. Warner Bros. still owns the mechanical rights to this EP,
and show no real signs of being interested in a CD pressing
(this is Warner's only recording of Allan's). Restless Records
apparently inquired about licensing Road Games from Warner, but
the price they were quoted was, in the words of Claire
Holdsworth (Allan's wife), "exorbitant." |
|  |
There IS however a more-recent recording of the tune "Tokyo Dream"
available on Wardenclyffe Tower + 3
(Polydor K.K. Japan
POCJ-1162). This is a different version of the tune, recorded
in late 1992, with Jimmy Johnson on bass, and Chad Wackerman
on drums.
Allan says this album, recorded in 1976, consisted of tracks
which were recorded while the band was supposedly only
practicing and laying down ideas. They were unaware that the
tracks would actually be used for the album. In this case, it
would seem that Allan was lucky in the contractual sense (a
seemingly rare event in Holdsworth history), as he has been able
to successfully halt the album's distribution on three separate
occasions -- the latest being Sony/Columbia's reissue of it
under their Contemporary Jazz Masters series.
 |
The three extra cuts on Wardenclyffe Tower+3
(the Polydor KK pressing of the release) were the result of simple economics: In
Japan, the U.S.
import of the CD would have cost less than a domestic Japanese release, therefore
Polydor KK wanted there to be some incentive for Japanese buyers to pay the higher
price for the domestic version. The three extra cuts were (obviously) the
incentive. |
Not at this writing, but Allan has expressed a reluctant desire to work on
one. Keep watching Atavachron for updates.
|
Only the REH instructional video is legitimate (see
related question for more details). |
 |
No, but he was credited with appearing on the track "English
Rancher," on the cassette version of Stand Up (but not the LP
version). Allan did indeed record a solo to be used in the tune,
but there was a synchronization problem with the tape that Allan
sent Morse, and therefore the solo wasn't used. By that time,
the j-cards for the cassettes had already been printed -- hence
the mistake.
As an aside, there's a good interview with Steve
Morse conducted by Kevin Ferguson in 1994. While the "English Rancher"
incident isn't mentioned, Steve has some rather complementary things to say about
Allan in the interview.
Good eye, there. Yes, that does refer to Allan, but none of his
contributions for the soundtrack actually made it to the final print of the film.
Allan said that the film's musical director, Mike Mancina, is a fan of Allan's,
and asked if he would be interested in working on the project. Allan did some
work on an Alesis ADAT and gave it to Mancina, but apparently none of the
material was actually used in the theater or video release of the film.
According to Claire Holdsworth, Allan knows that Donovan has said this in
interviews before, and he's somewhat amused by it, since he was nowhere near that
session when it was recorded. Coincidently, another famous guitar player who's
often "credited" with playing on this track is Jimmy Page, who also denies
being the one to play on it.
Claire said Allan's best guess was that perhaps the late Ollie Halsell (of
Tempest, Patto, etc.) played on the tune.
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The Brewery refers to Allan's home studio. There's a very nice picture of
the interior of The Brewery in the CD insert that comes with the Polydor
KK release of None Too Soon. Note the Captain Kirk "action figure"
perched atop the left monitor speaker. |
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