John Miles - Rebel

Mid-70s pop extravaganza

Let’s restate it right away: the lead-off track, Music, is what John Miles is best known for, and it stands up very well as a landmark example of richly orchestrated pop alongside MacArthur Park and Bohemian Rhapsody. Looking beyond this one, the rest of the album shows that he was far from a one-trick pony, with Highfly and Rebel maintaining the brasher end of his writing, When You Lose Someone So Young revealing a poignant ballad side, and the lovely Lady Of My Life working within a cool, summery groove.

Production and arrangements are strong throughout, and two bonus tracks are added, of which, Putting My New Song Together makes a strong end point to this album. With the man still actively working on rearrangements of Music in different arenas, this is worthy of attention alongside Lemon’s other reissues of John’s output.

Lemon | CD LEM 105

Reviewed by Kingsley Abbott
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