| | Jan Hammer Black Sheep/Hammer CD Jan Hammer Discography of CDs
 (3 Customer Reviews)
Wounded Bird reissued Jan Hammer's often beautiful Melodies, from 1977, during the tail-end of the '90s. Six years later, the label combined the two releases that followed it -- 1978's Black Sheep and 1979's Hammer -- into one double-disc package. These two albums belong together as much as any other pair, since they are the two credited to "Hammer" -- essentially a heavy jazz-rock group. On Black Sheep, keyboardist Hammer is assisted by Melodies holdovers Fernando Saunders (bass) and Tony Smith (drums), along with future Whitesnake associate Colin Hodgkinson (bass, vocals) and Bob Christianson (vocals). Here, there are traces of the soft rock and R&B of Melodies, offset with blitzing fusion and some scrunched-face blues moves better left to the Steve Miller Band. "Jet Stream" sets the tone, resembling a warp-speed version of Ted Nugent's "Stranglehold" with a streak of fusion running through it. For Hammer, Saunders and Smith departed, while drummer Gregg Geya Carter and vocalist/guitarist Glen Burtnick moved in. It's more streamlined than Black Sheep, and less rooted in jazz, falling roughly near the Foreigner/Toto axis. The two albums, both of which are fair at best, indicate Hammer's continued embrace of rock and technology. He went on to collaborate with Neal Schon, and then to his work for Miami Vice. ~ Andy Kellman
Includes one previously unreleased bonus track.
2 LP's on 1 CD: BLACK SHEEP (1978)/HAMMER (1979).
Personnel: Jan Hammer (vocals, piano, electric piano, keyboards, synthesizer, drums, congas, background vocals); Glen Burtnik (vocals, acoustic guitar, tambourine, background vocals); Colin Hodgkinson (vocals, 12-string guitar, background vocals); Bob Christianson (vocals, background vocals); Tony Smith, Gregg Geya Carter (drums).
Recording information: Red Gate Studio, Kent, NY. Jan Hammer Black Sheep/Hammer Songs | | Black Sheep/Hammer CD DISC 1: BLACK SHEEP: |
| 1. | Jetstream |
| 2. | Heavy Love |
| 3. | Black Sheep |
| 4. | Light of Dawn |
| 5. | Hey Girl |
| 6. | Waiting No More |
| 7. | Between the Sheets of Music |
| 8. | Manic Depression |
| 9. | Silent One |
| | Black Sheep/Hammer Songs DISC 2: HAMMER: |
| 1. | Goodbye |
| 2. | I Got You |
| 3. | Oh, Pretty Woman |
| 4. | One Day |
| 5. | Vaporize Me |
| 6. | Nowhere to Go |
| 7. | Forever Tonight |
| 8. | Highway Made of Glass |
| 9. | Rainbow Day |
| 10. | Sister Louisiana |
| 11. | Oh, Pretty Woman - (previously unreleased, reggae version, bonus track) |
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Black Sheep/Hammer Music Review Average Rating: (4.7 out of 5 stars)   Any Resemblance To Electric Guitars Is Purely Coincidental
Post-Mahavishnu, and Jan Hammer must have gotten a taste of the Rock 'n Roll life from the mostly rock fans who flocked to see John McLaughlin playing through a Marshall stack (including a young, "Wow!", Pat Metheney). And so it was, that Jan Hammer set out on his quest for Rock Stardom, armed with nothing but a Mini-Moog, a ring modulator, big amps, and a new LA wardrobe and booking agent. He damn near pulled it off.
There's good moments here, as well as embarasssing ones. "Pretty Woman", from "Hammer", is a bit of both. "Rainbow Day" features Hammer's uncanny replication of a distorted Stratocaster, complete with whammy-bar solos, with vocals (Glenn Burtnick) from the John Waite Los Angeles Institute of Whiteboy Frontmen. By this time, Fernando Saunders had left, and took any trace of funkiness with him.
All this cheese is redeemed by brilliant arrangements and solos from Jan Hammer.
The earlier "Black Sheep" benefits greatly from the presence of Fernando Saunders on bass and vocals. The opener "Jet Stream", features Hammer's extended "guitar-morph" Mini-Moog soloing, resonating through the sound-field like a Strat from Jupiter. "Manic Depression" is a kick, taken at a breakneck tempo, with uncanny Hendrix-style keyboards from "Our Man Jan". Amazing stuff, amidst all the late 70s rock ambience.
Jan Hammer (and all fans of fusion) must get this 2-CD set to complete the post-Mahavishnu, pre-"Miami Vice" Jan Hammer Group run of albums, finally on CD, which include the solo "The First Seven Days", "Melodies", and "Oh, Yeah?", to be purchased in that sequence (if you want to start from brilliant and add the cheese at the end).
From there on, it's "Miami Vice".
Did anyone really like that stuff apart from its use on theTV show (which I dug, BTW)?
Submitted by millionrainbows (Austin, Tx - USA) 
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 Hammered
Great music on the underrated Black Sheep cd(aside from a few forgettable tunes)! More rock oriented than what Jan is usually know for! His synth work is in full force here especially on "Between The Sheets of Music"!!! The Black Sheep part of the cd is great but I can't say that for the "Hammer" cd!!! Worth getting is spite of the second disc!
Submitted by pgs64 (Baltimore, MD)
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Jan on fire
Jet Stream contains some of the best keyboard lead playing by anyone,ever.This album (Black Sheep)demonstrates why Jan is still,for many,the greatest exponent of electronic keyboard soloing. While not as strong,Hammer also has some nice moments from Jan,and this double-disc set is definitely worth having.
Submitted by Pete (Okayama,Japan)
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