The lyrics “I’d love to change the world, but I don’t know what to do, so I leave it up to you,” were perfect for suburban post-sixties Boomers. They so encapsulated the zeitgeist in fact that the song “I’d Love To Change The World” by Ten Years After was immediately enshrined in the Classic Rock Hall of Fame. The album that boasted the tune, A Space In Time was a huge hit in 1971, and continues to be the band’s best-selling work.
The Audio Fidelity company was just reissued A Space In Time as a limited edition 24 karat gold CD, and it is an audiophile’s wet dream. The process behind these releases is a meticulous one, and quite intriguing for those of us who appreciate the ultimate in sound quality.
The first step is the remastering phase, which is done from the original tapes. Once this task is complete, the digital master is etched onto the glass disc surface in real time by laser. From this, the CD is made out of real gold, rather than the standard and often imperfect aluminum. The end result is a remarkably clean and “warm” sounding product, with the original analog depth intact, as well as the convenience and precision of digital technology.
Audio Fidelity focuses on classic rock releases, so it is likely that their audience is already familiar with the music. For those who may not be familiar with Ten Years After’s A Space In Time however, it is a great record. The haunting ballad “I’d Love To Change The World” is a bit of an anomaly, but fits perfectly. The real deal with the band has always been the incredible blues guitar of leader Alvin Lee.
Like a number of artists, Lee made his name on the Woodstock stage. TYA’s version of “I’m Going Home” is deservedly legendary, and Lee’s guitar work smokes. There are a number of cuts on A Space In Time that reflect his and the band’s love of the blues form. Opening track “One Of These Days” certainly qualifies as a leader in the British white-boy blues brigade. Over a heavy-duty 4/4 beat, Lee pulls out his slide and harmonica to emphasize this point.
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