Album review: TESLA – Five Man London Jam

Universal [Release date 27.03.20]

Tesla are a band who write songs so good that they can be played in any style and still sound great. The world of rock music discovered this way back in 1990 when the band released the live and acoustic album “Five Man Acoustical Jam”, the album was a great success and produced the massive single “Signs”, a song originally recorded by the Five Man Electrical Band (see what they did here?).

So, here we are thirty years down the road and the band have revisited the format, this time recording in front of an invited audience at London’s iconic Abbey Road Studios, and produced by the band themselves. The album comprises thirteen tracks, only five of which featured on the afore mentioned “Acoustical Jam” album, and again opens with an awesome version of “Comin’ Atcha Live/Truckin’”.

There is a cover of The Beatles’ “We Can Work It Out”, recorded in the very same room as the original, and a trio of new songs from the recent “Shock “album, “Tied To The Tracks”, “Forever Loving You” and “California Summer Song”. Unfortunately, the latter two didn’t really hit home with me on the album and again here I found them a bit safe and a little middle of the road, but that is just my own opinion

Then we get to my personal highlights on the album. “Signs”, “Miles Away” (with some stunning guitar work from Dave Rude and Frank Hannon), “Into The Now” and an excellent “Call It What You Want”(seriously, how f@cking good does this sound?!!!). First single “What You Give”, “Paradise”, “Stir It Up” and “Love Song” round out the album.

Admittedly, I would describe myself as a long serving fan of Tesla, and there are a number of other songs that I would have liked to have seen here but this is a well-balanced and highly enjoyable set.

The album is released in digital, vinyl and CD formats, with the additional option of DVD and Blu-ray, do yourself a favour and give it a listen. ****

Review by Nikk Gunns

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