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Including a 20 page booklet with all the lyrics, interesting photography and a personal message from John!
Reviews:
The Folly (Garden of Idan)
In the late 80, “Detroit John”, as he was known then, moved from his native Michigan to London and got a gig as singer and second guitarist in the Topham-McCarty Blues Band – led by Yardbirds drummer Jim McCarty and the groups original (pre–Clapton) lead guitarist, Top Topham. That eventually led to his current gig as bassist and singer in the reformed Yardbirds. He can be heard pulling double duty (spelling original bassist Paul Samwell-Smith and the late vocalist Keith Relf) on the band’s star-studded Birdland (2003).
On his self-produced solo debut, Idan supplies all instruments (except for a string quartet) – recorded, he stresses, in analogue in real time and on real instruments – though, to his credit, the overdubbed one-man-band aspect would be impossible to detect if he hadn’t divulged details.
The biographical opener “The Ballad of Myself” has a distinctly Cat Stevens feel – not coincidently, no doubt, as the CD was mixed by Robin Black (known for his work with Stevens, Jethro Tull, Gerry Rafferty, and others). For the most part, Idan eschews the often hard edge of the Yardbirds in favour of a folkie feel, with layered acoustic rhythms – ironically sounding more English than the blues-rock Brits he fronts. When he does step up to play lead, though, he displays a style that’s both melodic and muscular. The Beatles-esque “That’s You and Me” reveals an uncanny ability to mimic George Harrison’s slide style.
If all the above-mentioned genres have you second-guessing from pigeonhole to pigeonhole, that’s the nature of this eclectic showcase. But Idan’s voice (vocally, instrumentally, and compositionally) ensures cohesion on this very auspicious outing.
Dan Forte, Vintage Guitar Magazine, March 2009
The Folly (Garden Of Idan)
As well as serving the present-day Yardbirds as singing bass player, Idan, a natural-born heart-throb, is the outfit's principal source of sex appeal. Commensurate with this, it's feasible that this first solo album, if exhaling from a late-night music-centre, might facilitate the winning of maidenly favours by smitten young executives in penthouses the world over.
It's almost the music at any given moment that matters more than individual items. Yet every one of them would stand tall if reduced to the acid test of just voice and piano or guitar. Indeed, if some soppy boy-band or singing Britain's Got Talent finalist was looking for material far above and beyond the usual drivel, they might find it in, say, 'That's You And Me', 'I Began To Realise' or 'No Other' - though the raunchier and more lyrically erudite 'The Kali Yoga's Gettin' Hot' occupies an area between these and compositions that are too autobiographical and peculiar to Idan alone for any attempted syndication.
Finally, John parades his exceptional talents both vocally and in an instinctive command of virtually every instrument heard on a confident and extensive breadth of artistic expression that doesn't need association with a famous group to enhance its intrinsic worth.
Alan Clayson, Rock'n'Reel Magazine no 11 September/October
From my debut solo album 'The Folly' first video
'Set Out Before the Sadness Comes'
'You Know What I Mean' by Realfire, my band in the '90s between working with The McCarty Band and The Yardbirds
There's more to this than we know... I'm listening to whispers from the Garden of Idan, -it's pretty transportative, somehow I get echoes of temple Krishna and columns of 10 mile willows that no longer sway in the orthodox neighborhood but serenely stand in the shadows of our shared dreams where we all belong. And then there's definitely Anthony Kaedis or maybe it's closer to the source, could be George Clinton himself sneaking through the Kali Yuga. Man, there's a strong strain of the Isleys running thru this too along with the other George in the temple. And as for the long time we've been on this road, don't hold your breath, we've only just begun...
Steve Goodale about 'The Folly'
John Idan
John was born in Royal Oak, Michigan just a few miles from the edge of Detroit. Being interested in music from a very young age, he soon discovered the guitar as his favourite instrument and started having lessons at the age of 7.
Throughout the next years, he developed his musical craft and played in several bands in Detroit. When John’s band “The Natural Blues Band” broke up, he went on a holiday to England where he met former Yardbirds Top Topham and Jim McCarty and became the singer and guitarist in their blues band. Playing four to five times a week all around London, John soon became known as “Detroit” John Idan. .
In 1994 John left the McCarty Band and formed “Realfire” and started writing songs. When the Yardbirds reformed John was asked to be their lead vocalist and bass player, so he left Realfire, laid down his lead guitar and joined the Yardbirds. Since then, he has recorded two albums, Birdland and Live at BB King’s, with them and toured the world several times..
“Graduating from pop to blues” when he was about 15 years old, John, over the years developed a great interest in other kinds of music such as soul, folk and country..
He finally started recording his own songs some years ago and is now able to show off his great musical talent in his new, completely self-produced and played debut solo album “The Folly”, in which he combines all the music he is “into”..
Yes the Cotillion is alive and well - Concerts are there all the time! Here is a link to their website http://www.thecotillion.com/ and here is their myspace link http://www.myspace.com/cotillionballroom I have been there several times, it is still rockin! Merry Christmas to you and yours!!! Hope to see you sometime. Here is a picture of the Cotillion.
*2 Disk package *25 tribute bands *3 unreleased historic tracks from The Dogs!
*The 28 page booklet! *Never before seen photos by Jenny Lens!! *Liner notes by John Sinclair (MC5)!!!
*CD Jacket covered w/t very special paper on oversized hard cardboard, as it is Environmentally Friendly! * Future Now Records pledges to never use plastic jewel cases!! *CD Artwork by the great Rockin' Jellybean!!
**********Look for The Dogs Europe Tour April 2011**********
hey love, sorry i wont be able to make your gig on the 14th :( would of loved to of but its too far and ill be at college that day! wishing you the best of luck though, im sure it'll be fab :)
Thanks for the invite, but I live in Australia, as much as I would love to be there bro. I saw The Yardbirds in Sydney @ Penrith Panthers in Feb of 96, [I'm sure you were fronting the band then? ] and was honoured to go back stage and meet Jim McCarty and Chris Dreja. I had with me the original LP "Roger the Engineer" as well as other rareties, posters etc. which they signed for me - I was/am thrilled, The Yardbirds are still and will always be THE ultimate band - they have influenced my harmonica playing and drumming immensely...and as Jim said to me "I am part of Yardbirds family now", and I'll never forget that![ My band at that time was called 'Sideways Down' ] So thanks again John for dropping me a note to say hi...hey when are you coming to Australia I'd love to support you guys with GMB :-) Kepp in touch Gene M.
Here is a picture of the Cotillion.
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