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	BACK DOOR "Askin' the Way"
	RANDOM COMMENTS
	I think the Back Door album is excellent; takes me back 35 years although I can't remember most of those years. I enjoyed the mix of familiar and new. The recording quality is first rate allowing the virtuosity of the band to shine. Their abilities certainly have not diminished over the years. Dave MacRae (...some history) was a surprise but not a disappointment. I saw him a few times with Ian Carr's Nucleus and my memories were of a madman with his hand stuck down the back of a Fender piano producingthe most amazing sounds. Checkout 'Summer Rain' on the Belladonna recording. Who knew he also had incredible lightness of touch? As I write this, a neighbour's son has his bedroom window wide open and is 'entertaining' the road with his 120 bpm Eurotrash (dance music?) sounds. He doesn't realise what an amazing world of music there is out there. Regards Brian Cass
	Upon receiving my copy of Ask the Way, the latest record by Back Door, I was invited to respond with some feedback. I want to give the highest possible regards to the band members and highest recommendation to any potential customers considering purchasing this CD. I would encourage the release of the remaining two Back Door CD's from the mid-to late 1970's that are still unreleased. I know that I would certainly invest in copies. Sincerely, John Keene, Cincinnati, Ohio, USA (August 2006)
	Hi, Your Christmas e-mail to me jolted my conscience. When I ordered a Back Door CD you wrote a note asking whether I was the person who wrote the notes for the very first LP, with a grainy sepia type photo of the Lion Inn on the cover. Yes, I am/was. I met Ron, Colin & Tony when Brian Jones was sort of managing them, when I was a youthful, long haired feature writer on the North eastern Evening Gazette. I drove up with them, wrote a piece they liked, and we became good friends. I often went along on gigs after that, and wrote those sleeve notes. I was upset to hear about Ronny's death. He wasn't exactly your model physical specimen, but he was a real life force who seemed unstoppable. I moved from Middlesbrough to Port Moresby in Papua New Guinea for 10 years, and then 20 years ago down here to Oz. I'm heading off this week to become China correspondent for The Australian, based in Beijing. My email there will be rcallick@gmail.com Keep up the great work. The CD is terrific. All the best Rowan Callick (January 2006)
	As an ex. Lancastrian Bass Player now living in Peterborough, home of Colin Hodgkinson, one of the most innovative and original Bass Players in the World. (I do not have a "best in the world" because my heroes all play differently but Colin is in the top 3 I most admire) I asked my daughter, Louise Dixon to buy me the latest album by the fabulous 'Back Door' THE ALBUM IS MAGNIFICENT, from the virtuosity of all three musicians to the variation and originality of the music. No track stands out for me, they are all brilliant. The interplay between Ron and Colin is best described as phenomenal, they are so tight you could not see daylight between them. This playing, driven along by the subtlety and timing of Tony makes for one of the best albums I HAVE EVER HERD. That is saying a lot as I'm now nearly 60 and love all styles of music from classical to rock. A word about Colin. About 10 years ago I used to play in a blues band in Peterborough, the drummer used to teach at the same school that Colin's wife Shirley taught at, I had previously lent the original 3 Back Door albums that I possessed to various people and lost them all as you do, I asked my Drummer mate to ask Shirley to ask Colin if he could copy his originals for me. Imagine my delight when one Saturday evening Colin rang me at home to tell me had copied all the albums, he also lent me an original video tape of him and Alexis Korner, which I had copied and even autographed an album of Jan Hammer that he played on. The reason for this rambling tale though is to confirm what all the people in the know say about Colin, he is a real gent, with no edge, who always encourages other musicians young and old and who will even play with nonentities like me if his busy schedule allows. Thanks very much for Cultural Foundation and it's contribution to music. It is organisations like yours that keeps the real music alive. God Bless Brian E Ogden (December 2005)
	Thank you for your prompt response in sending the Back Door album. This is a great album which I enjoyed immensely. It is a unique statement of musical ideas. It absorbs many influences yet remains totally original. There is a blend of highly skilled and sensitive playing, deep emotion and driving energy. Colin’s monster bass figures weave on equal footing with the exquisite saxophone lines and all is enhanced by carefully chosen drum work throughout. These are ‘listening musicians’ with tremendous rapport. The ballads are superb, almost haunting. The faster numbers surge with controlled power. Can there really be only three musicians here? Coming from a background more familiar with extended jazz pieces, I found the shortness of each track a little frustrating. However, this meant that in each case I wanted to hear more, so that has to be a good thing. Perhaps that was the idea! Trevor Robson (February 2005)
	Many thanks for the prompt delivery of 'Askin' The Way' by Back Door. Love the band, have all the Warners stuff and the Human Bed CD and this one completes the set. Very sad about Ron Aspery, so underrated and an amazing player. Only saw them once, on tour with PFM at Folkestone Leas Cliffe Hall, with Adrian Tilbrook on drums when he had replaced Tony Hicks. Still great. Saw Colin Hodgkinson again with Jan Hammer at the Venue in London, another magic night. Congratulations to you and your organization for believing in people and music....wish more did.... All the best Tosh Marshall (Feb 2005)
	Hello and wow, I have been a Back Door fan since a friend played me the 1st album in 1973. Most recently I have been playing them a lot and turning new people on to their incredible music. Just now on your website, which I found and visited for the 1st time, I heard about the passing of Ron Aspery. I am very saddened by this to say the least. Back Door music is very very personal to me and I consider it to be a part of me. Thank you so much for making the music available to me and the world, and for giving the band a place to play. Back Door forever................. Peace,..........Larry
	"It came as quite a surprise to me to discover such a wealth of musical activity, virtually in my back yard. I discovered you quite by accident. My wife works as a teacher and for several years worked with the brother of Ron Aspery. Dick often talked about his talented brother. Just recently following the news of Ron's death , Dick mentioned that there were pictures of his brother on the internet. On searching for them we found your site. The two CD's are super. "Askin the Way" is superb, thoroughly enjoyable, and really showcases the talents of the three musicians. You can tell how much they are enjoying performing just by listening! Its convinced me to try and scout some of their early recordings if I can find any. Branded is like turning the clock back, in many ways reminiscent of bands like Yes (minus the keyboards!). Fantastic! I'll look forward to the newsletters, and will make time to come and see some of the performances too if I can". Cheers (Bob Sievert, 19th December 2003)
	"I received the CD yesterday in the post as promised. I have had two listening sessions so far (just bought a brand new hi-fi set up which is still being burned in!). So, I have been listening to all my music, which is very varied in terms of styles - early music / classical / rock / blues / jazz / vocal / pop / etc .... When I put "Askin' the Way" on - well, it was as though I had been in the 'fug' of an overly heated room when a window was broken and the crisp reality of an autumn day blew in! This is such wonderful stuff - three people who obviously love their instruments and their music - which is intricate, sometimes overwhelming, passionate, moody, and never less than exhilerating. It's been so long since I heard Back Door, but it all came flooding back - I love to hear real musicians play and this stuff is SO original, a real breath of fresh air! After my first session yesterday I stopped halfway through so that I had the other half to savour today! Really excellent! I am so thrilled with the CD - I hope that the laser doesn't burn out the disc! I shall be forwarding the details of this CD on to my friends and recommending its immediate purchase! (David Wellings, 7th September 2003)
	" I just got the new Back Door CD and its absolutely great! Its so nice to have the guys back together again. I've been a huge Back Door fan since the first Lp back in 72. In fact I'm fairly new to the computor world and was I amazed to find out that there was a 4th Back Door lp! I stumbled across your site by accident as I was merely sitting around one day in my stereo room and thought Hey, Im in the mood to hear some Back Door. So I pulled the two Lps I have and played them off and on for a couple of days and then I thought that when I go to the library tomorrow I"ll pull up a search on Back Door to see if I can get any info on what they might be doing currently. Was I ever surprised to read they were back together, and then there is your wonderful interviews that are indeed humerous as well as insiteful and full of so many colorful stories and a complete history of the band and every thing they've been involved with before during and after Back Door. I copied them and hurried home to read them and I actually didn't put them away until I'd read every page. Absolutely the finest interviews on any band period I've ever read. Super job Pete! Having played bass (barely) back in the seventies, its always been my favorite instrument and when I first heard Colin I was simply blown away. My all time fav bass players are Chas Chandler, Jack Bruce, Tim Bogart and Leo Lyons and all are great and unique in their own style but for me Colin is Tops. That bass run in 34-20 blues on the 8th street nites lp still sends chills down my spine. If I was to critique the new Lp I would say I would have liked to hear Colin sing on a couple of tracks as his vocals in my opionion are great! I knew there was a third Lp back in the 70's but I could never track it down. I"m going to try netsounds.com as they have a great selection of dealers and old lps and I"m sure I"ll find a copy there. Keep up the great work. Any chance the lads will do any shows here in the U.S.? Thanks again, Pete, and take care." (Jim Fry, 16th August, 2003)
	"Just received and played this Back Door CD, it's a great CD and I enjoyed it very much!. I have been a fan since the early days, finding their music on CD and moreover concert dates is hard and it came as a pleasant shock to learn they have reformed. I discovered this by accident whilst surfing, having found your site. I am going to Brecon to see the band, its probably a 300 mile round trip for me by car but worth it. I hope they play in the South East of England soon!. I'm based on the southern outskirts of Basingstoke, in a village called East Oakley. If you have any promo material like flyers, posters etc I'd be interested. Any plans for a live cd?" (Mark Pearman, 2nd August, 2003)
	"Many thanks for prompt dispatch of the album... I really like it.....some good tunes tightly arranged.......Aspery blowing a storm and Colin being Colin. I can see this material being a starting point for some memorable live performances. When do they next play the North East?" (John Hedley, 1st August 2003)
	"Thanks very much for the Back Door CD - it's fabulous, just as I expected! Please keep me informed of any dates in London / South East and I'll be along! I've been a fan from (near!) the beginning and it's lovely that they're stiil playing such good stuff! Thanks for releasing it!" (Ollie Crooke, 24th July, 2003)
	"Thanks for sending me Askin' the Way ... the music is amazing. I have always liked Morphine but this takes sax/bass/drums a step further. I am a sax player myself and while I like contemporary British jazz I get off big time on sax with a deep groove and punchy rock/blues. I think the bass playing is also brilliant - shades of Stu Hamm? What else have you got like this? All the best In music ps the sound bites on your website were the trigger to ordering the cd" (Julian Roundhill, 18th July, 2003)
	"Lets face it, any Back Door album is welcome ,especially due to the shameful way that their music was unavailable for so many years. When the classic first album was re-released ,it didn`t even matter to me that the track listings were incorrect. It was out and that was good enough! But it was with slight trepidation that I played "Askin` The Way" for the first time. How could tracks such as "Human Bed ","Slivadiv ","Vienna Breakdown ", “Folksong” etc. etc. possibly be improved on? I needn`t have worried. All is safe in the hands of messrs. Asprey, Hodgkinson and Hicks. Why did I doubt it. "Askin The Way" is a wonderful c.d., with all of the usual Back Door signatures. All three musicians are in stunning form ,and it is delightful to hear them knit together on all of these tracks, new and old. As far as I am concerned, it is business as usual, and the liner notes from that first beautiful album still apply. "No freebies, T-shirts or giveaways", just bloody fine playing and a great c.d . I cannot wait to catch them live. Many thanks also to Cultural Foundation for helping this to happen". (Charles Douglas - 3rd June 2003) "Thanks for the CD. Brilliant. World class music. Unique sound". (Trevor Buck - 27th April 2003) "So many thanks for getting 'Askin' the Way' to me so quickly. It is difficult to put feelings like this into words, but the grin that's been on my face since the album first went onto the cd player yesterday morning says it all. You and that band have made me so happy. Don't they cook? Yes, I'm blown away again, just in the same way as it was back in 1975. Fabulous. As with all truly wonderful things there are more questions than answers ... (the album is playing now and it is so, so, so beautiful - wonderful) ... Askin' the Way. In my humble opinion: Back Door - Top Draw. My very best wishes to you all at Cultural Foundation and the band. With one Love" (Owen Clingan - 27th April 2003) "I'm really chuffed with the new B/D CD. It was all a bit of a shock, I found your site by chance on the Sunday morning & was listening to the CD on Tuesday morning. I did a pilgrimage to The Lion a few years ago, It doesn't appear to have changed, I'll have to go back! "Any more B/D dates coming up?" (Nick Ring - 19th April 2003) "I am listening to the disc (eternally repeating while I paint...) Some thoughts about it: First off, I am a bass player and Colin Hodgkinson is like a god to me. I am aware of no more masterful player on the instrument. I cherish all work by Back Door, and wouldn't have missed a new (NEW!) recording for anything. I am very envious of the people who were able to be present at the release party gig. I do not imagine that the reformed and working Back Door will ever perform anywhere where it would be possible for me to fulfill my dream of seeing them live (I am based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania). I hope that the band will do well enough by this new disc that they will continue to record additional new material for my consumption. I would certainly urge anyone familiar with the group to acquire this disc. Please relay that there's someone in Pittsburgh who's life has been transformed by Mr. Hodgkinson's playing. Send more Back Door" ('Zeke' Hubbard - 18th April 2003) "Superb Evening, good beer, great music, fine new album. If anything, even better than they were in the 70's". (Gavinda - 16th March 2003)
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