Terrible

The NRBQ founder’s first solo album returns with four bonus tracks. Available on CD and for the first time, on 2-LP. Musicians include Johnny and Joey Spaminato and Tom Ardolino (NRBQ), Roswell Rudd (Archie Shepp, Carla Bley), and Marshall Allen, Tyrone Hill, and Dave Gordon (Sun Ra Arkestra). 

Terry Adams' first solo album Terrible is exactly the opposite - it is a thing of beauty!  Released in 1995, the NRBQ founder invited fellow New Rhythm and Blues Quartet bandmates Johnny Spaminato (guitar), Joey Spaminato (bass) and Tom Ardolino (drums) to the Terrible party alongside other guest musicians, notably Marshall Allen (alto sax), Tyrone Hill (trombone) and Dave Gordon (trumpet) from the Sun Ra Arkestra. Roswell Rudd (Archie Shepp, Carla Bley) also checked in on trombone to add his talents to  Adams’ instrumental compositions. 

The 12 originals, now augmented by four bonus tracks, run the range from beautiful ballads to swinging romps, tangos and calypsos, some delivered with a wink, some with a knowing nod, all expertly and brilliantly played. By enlisting friends overflowing with musical talent, Adams was free to explore his compositions’ whims, ideas and notions, and express them utilizing a unique palette of instrumentation.  

Thankfully this solo outing wasn’t a one-time happening. Terrible set the table for wonderful solo projects to follow, but it took nearly 30 years for Terrible to return. Now, sporting new cover art, new liner notes, remastered audio and 4 previously unissued bonus tracks on CD, and for the first time a double-LP set, Terrible has neither looked nor sounded better.