Dana Gillespie
"What Memories
We Make:
The Complete
MainMan
Recordings
1971-1974"
© Cherry Red
June 11 - 17, 2023
Year of Release: 2019
Rating:
Disc One:
1971 Promo Album
Mother Don't Be Frightened
Andy Warhol
Never Knew
All Cut Up On You
Lavender Hill
Weren't Born A Man
Stardom Road Part I And II
What Memories We Make
Dizzy Heights
Andy Warhol
Backed A Loser
Mother Don't Be Frightened
All Cut Up On You
Eternal Showman
All Gone
Alternate Versions
Lavender Hill
Never Knew
Libido Singles
Hold On To Your Fire
Weren't Born A Man
Disc Two:
Ain't Gonna Play
No Second Fiddle
Ain't Gonna Play
No Second Fiddle
Really Love The Man
Hold Me Gently
Don't Mind Me
Pack Your Bags
No Tail To Wag
Get My Rocks Off
Wanderlust
Getting Through To Me
Never Knew
Outtake
Man Size Job
October 1974 Demos
Stoke The Engine
Goin' Crazy With The Blues
Say Goodnight To The Night
Do The Spin
Gone At The Game
Original Demo
Andy Warhol
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Dana Gillespie is an English actress, singer and songwriter. Originally performing and recording in her teens, over the years Gillespie has been involved in the
recording of over 70 albums, and appeared in stage productions, such as Jesus Christ Superstar, and several films. Her musical output has progressed from teen
pop and folk in the early part of her career, to rock in the 1970s and, more latterly, the blues. Rick Wakeman appeared on her album Weren't Born A Man,
reeased in 1973, on the MainMan label. Her 2-disc complete MainMan recordings is this week's review - What Memories We Make: The Complete MainMan Recordings
1971-1974. Her albums Weren't Born A Man and Ain't Gonna Play No Second Fiddle (1974) are in this 2-disc set, along with a 1971 Promo album,
Alternate Versions, one Outtake, and October 1974 demos.
Disc One:
1971 Promo Album
"Mother, Don't Be Frightened" (which appeared on Weren't Born A Man starts out having a folk-type sound, yet kicks into a common 1970s Rock style.
The piano is heard and unique, and Rick Wakeman I'm sure provides the piano input. Quite impressive, throughout the entire song. "Andy Warhol" (another
song from "Weren't Born A Man") also has the common 1970s Rock sound. And this song was written by David Bowie. More piano is heard on "Never Heard"
(also from "Weren't Born A Man." It's another folk-sounding tune. "Never Knew" is another great song, pleasant sound, impressive. (It would appear
on the Ain't Gonna Play No Second Fiddle album. Rockin' sets the style for the next demo, "All Cut Up On You." (Yes, another song from Weren't Born
A Man. The last demo, "Lavender Hill" is in demo form, and later on Disc 1, as an Alternate Version. This song was NOT on Weren't Born A Man,"
Wakeman's piano is also heard. Why this song was not included on Weren't Born A Man is a good question. It's a nice-sounding song, and
Wakeman's piano makes it even better.
Weren't Born A Man
The original album Weren't Born A Man and it's 15 tracks are next. Starting the album is a very pleasant tune, "Stardom Road Part I And II." It's
quite impressive, and has a mysterious atmosphere about it. (Kind of like the Moody Blues.) "What Memories We Make" definitely puts the song in the Rock
groove. "Dizzy Heights" returns the folk style, "Andy Warhol" appears in its original 1970s Rock form, with Wakeman's piano, and it's almost
psychedelic. "Backed A Loser" is another impressive track, with Wakeman's piano, yet it kicks into a great Rock sound, and almost psycedelic also.
"Weren't Born A Man" (title track) is next, as it has a late 1960s/early 1970s Rock style, possibly as heard from Crosby, Stills Nash & Young, or slight Blues,
maybe even Country. "Mother, Don't Be Frightened" (in original form) is basically the same as it's demo; another great song. "All Cut Up On You" rocks
once again, in it's original form. Wakeman's piano shines on "Eternal Showman, "All Gone" also has Wakeman's piano, as this song has a soulful approach, and
also has a comparison to the early year songs by Elton John.
Alternate Versions
Two songs are in alternate form here: "Lavender Hill," and "Never Knew." "Lavender Hill" could have been a song that The Beatles could have
recorded for Abbey Road. "Never Knew" is just as pleasant as it's 1971 Demo.
Libido Singles
Two Libido singles appear: "Hold On To Your Fire" (which didn't appear on either albums in this 2-disc set, and "Weren't Born A Man." Again,
how "Hold On To Your Fire" didn't appear. It's another good track, having a late 1960s style/early 1970s sound. "Weren't Born A Man" rocks harder
than as it's original, maybe this version could have been on the original album?
Disc Two:Ain't Gonna Play No Second Fiddle
The original album Ain't Gonna Play No Second Fiddle and it's 10 tracks are next. The title track starts out the album, and it has a great Rock and Blues
style. "Really Love The Man" could easily be heard on a Blues/Rock album. Maybe even Southern Rock. Or on a 1970s Eric Clapton album. "Hold Me Gently"
is defintely Country Rock, as it reminds me of that musical style, by Little Feat, or The Band. "Don't Mind Me' has the common 1970s Rock style; another good
track. "Pack Your Bags" has the sound that Eric Clapton had during his 1970s decade albums. Likewise, the same can be said on the next track, "No Tail To
Wag" - it combines both Blues and Rock, as such a song by Bonnie Raitt. "Get My Rocks Off" is a great Rock and Blues track; it has a great groove to it.
Groovin' Rock/Blues again, on "Wanderlust' and "Getting Through To Me." The "Never Knew" appears here, as it was an alternative version
previously. It's Blues/Rock style easily matches the other tracks on this album.
Outtake
Only one outtake here: "Man Size Job" has a sound compared to that of The Staple Singers' "Respect Yourself." It could have easily been included on
the Ain't Gonna Play No Second Fiddle album.
October 1974 Demos
All five demos here were not included on the Ain't Gonna Play No Second Fiddle album: "Stoke The Engine" with it's bass driven beat, it's another
good Blues/Rock track, maybe even sounding like Jazz. "Goin' Crazy With The Blues" has a great sound to it, obviouisly with the word "Blues" in it, another
great Blues/Rock (even Dixieland) tune. Dixieland also gets "Say Goodnight To The Night." It's a bit more laid back, yet it's a great song, having a
nice nostalgia touch. "Do The Spin" is another Blues/Rock track, and it can be compared to the 1970s Rolling Stones. "Gone At The Game" - great
guitars, great piano, great instrumentation all around. It's even funky.
Original Demo
Only one: "Andy Warhol." It's a bit more fast-paced, and acoustic guitar. Just as the other demo, and the original album track, it was written by David
Bowie. Enough said.
Dana Gillespie's albums Weren't Born A Man and Ain't Gonna Play No Second Fiddle are great albums. The demos, etc. are an added plus. It's hard
to say with of the two albums are better - Musically, they were different styled genres. Some may enjoy the latter album better, with it's Rock and Blues, Claptonish
sound. Weren't Born A Man is more of a Rock album. Ain't Gonna Play No Second Fiddle is definitely Blues and Rock. Either way, this 2-disc set is
shows how talented she was. She was recorded as many as 70 albums, and has appeared in films throughout her career. She is still alive, at 74 years old.
If it's the late 1960s/early 1970s Rock or the Blues and Rock combines, Dana Gillespies' work from the MainMan recordings will be enjoyed by all. Having Rick
Wakeman record with her obviously makes it worth to listen to.
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