A$# 030 Lawrence Gowan | ... But You Can Call Me Larry

Since Gowan has gone, at various times in his career, by Larry Gowan, Lawrence Gowan, or just Gowan, the title for his 1993 album ... But You Can Call Me Larry may seem somewhat tongue in cheek. The album is no joke, though. It marked a change in approach for Gowan.

Always a huge fan of the Beatles, as well as prog rock acts like early Genesis, Gowan got his start in a prog group he formed called Rhinegold. When he hit in big in Canada in 1985 with his second solo album, the hugely successful Strange Animal, he'd developed a highly theatrical style for presenting his music. His masterful keyboard playing (early on he earned an ARCT diploma from the Royal Conservatory of Music) was front and centre.

Fast forward a few years and two more successful albums (though not as stellar as his career watermark Strange Animal), Great Dirty World and Lost Brotherhood, it was time to retool his presentation for album no. 5.

As the Gowan entry at the Canoe - Jam! Canadian Pop Music Encyclopedia states: "With a guitar as his new muse, Gowan was able to take a fresh approach to songwriting and brought in many songwriters to co-write with including Annette Duscharme, Eddie Schwartz and Eagles helper J.D. Souther. The results were spectacular."

Though Gowan does play keyboards on many of the album's tracks, he also plays a lot of acoustic guitar. Guitars take a more prominent place. The lyrics are as literate as ever, but the songs seem to be more the in mode of a confessional singer/songwriter.

Helping out are many long-time collaborators, such as drummer Jerry Marotta, bassist Tony Levin, guitarist Kenny Greer and Gowan's brother Terry on bass. Other guests on some tracks include co-writer Schwartz on acoustic guitar and bass, Jann Arden on backing vocals, Robert Fripp on guitar and John Sebastian on percussion.

All 11 songs are top notch. My faves are (In The) Wild Summer Night, Soul's Road, Dancing On My Own Ground and the superb When There's Time (For Love):

The timing's wrong
You're out there eager to fly
I'll say so long
But I'll sure be watching the sky
When your wheels finally touch the groud
Look me up, I'll be around

When there's time for love
I want to be there
When you've got all night for love
I see you and me there
Well maybe our time isn't now
But it will come around

Gowan's only put out one more studio album since BYCCML. These days he keeps busy performing with Styx, a role he's had since 1999. Check out his site at www.gowan.org.

Track listing:
1. Soul's Road
2. When There's Time (For Love)
3. Innocent
4. Your Stone Walls
5. Dancing on My Own Ground
6. Cry on My Shoulder
7. Moonchild's Psychedelic Holiday
8. You Never Let Go
9. (In The) Wild Summer Night
10. Last Laugh
11. Little Face