Tom Newman - Fine Old Tom (Expanded Edition) (1975/2020)

Longtime producer/engineer for Mike Oldfield and many others, Tom Newman displays his creative chops on this, his first solo effort. A real sleeper, Fine Old Tom is a relatively obscure yet refreshing original pop/prog-rock project constructed by Newman and his pals, with Jon Field, Mike Oldfield, Ned Callan, Chris Cutler and Fred Frith in the starring roles. Everything on this eclectic album is done with original style and vigor to spare, convention being left by the wayside. Even Newman's cover of Lennon/McCartney's "She Said She Said" is inventive. Beatles influences are obvious in several of the pop-oriented compositions. Album highlights include the energetic "Nursery Rhyme," a prog piece with cynical lyrics and blistering guitar, and the excellent "Superman," a reggae-meets-punk experiment.