Glenn Phillips

9-25-08 Glenn Phillips

I first became aware of Glenn Phillips in the late 70’s – at the time he was signed to Virgin Records. I think “Swim In The Wind” was the first LP from him I ever found. He is an amazing guitarist from Georgia, USA (I believe). Here’s a somewhat chronological list of what I have been able to find from him:

LP LOST AT SEA CAROLINE UK C 1519 1975 11 TRKS

LP SWIM IN THE WIND VIRGIN UK V 2087 1977 11 TRKS UK original issue

LP DARK LIGHTS SNOW STAR US SS 3 1980 10 TRKS

LP RAZOR POCKET SNOW STAR US SS 4 1982 10 TRKS

LP ST. VALENTINE'S DAY SNOW STAR US SS 5 1984 8 TRKS

LP LIVE SHANACHIE 82006 1985 9 TRKS Live

LP ELEVATOR SST US SST 136 1987 11 TRKS

CD SCRATCHED BY THE RABBIT DEMON UK FIENDCD 180 1990 9 TRKS

CDx2 ECHOES (Collection) EAST SIDE DI ESD 80612/622 1992 43 TRK Collection

CD WALKING THROUGH WALLS SHOTPUT WK 37000 1996 10 TRKS CD-only release?

CD ANGEL SPARKS GAFF US GM 456 2003 11 TRKS CD-only release?

With any luck, he has more releases than I have listed here!

He was also a member of the Hampton Grease Band – not to be confused with the British / Irish band, “The Grease Band” who worked with Joe Cocker. Anxious fans will seek out the sole Hampton Grease band 2LP / 2CD set “Music To Eat” (Columbia / Shotput) which was released approx. 1971.

His albums always have interesting liner notes, detailing some very personal stuff that Mr. Phillips was going through at the time. For a long while, the band remained the same, but I believe there have now been some personnel changes.

This is instrumental music of a very high order. It’s not jazz and not exactly ‘rock’ music. It is an understatement to say that Mr. Phillips is an individualistic guitarist. I can think of no-one else (alive) who even comes close to his inventiveness on the instrument of electric guitar.

I decided to write this blog after watching a video from the late 70’s, from a TV show in Atlanta, GA called “Playback” – for 27 minutes, you get to see The Glenn Phillips Band perform live on this stellar (obviously low-budget) show.

The odd man out in this discography is his LP on the (otherwise punk rock) SST label, “Elevator” – I know there was a guy who worked for SST who really liked instrumental music, who presumably solicited the release of this LP. And how did Mr. Phillips get signed to Demon Records in the UK? Presumably the same A*R team who brought him to Virgin Records (UK)?

Thanks for the music, Mr. Glenn Phillips! I can hear it!