Glenn Hughes: Eight Years in a Box

Title: Justified Man, The Studio Albums 1995-2003

Label: Purple Records

You might know Glenn Hughes for his time with the rock outfit, Deep Purple (from 1973 to 1976), Black Sabbath, Trapeze (for which he began musical life as bassist and vocalist) and slightly bizarre appearances with the likes of the KLF (the 1991 single, America – What Time Is Love?) but Hughes also made a host of solo albums.

This collection of six CD albums, available in a clamshell box plus fold-out mini-poster plus notes packs each album in a card sleeve with a generic style and unique cover image.

Feel (1995), the first album here, was actually Glenn Hughes’ fourth solo release in total. Including slices of pop, soul and funk, it included Guns N’ Roses and Velvet Revolver drummer Matt Sorum and a collaboration with his Hughes-Thrall partner, Pat Thrall.

The funk might put hard rockers off but it’s a worthy outing from the man himself.

Addiction (1996) returns to hard rock. Guest guitarist, Marc Bonilla performed, co-produced and co-wrote nine of the 10 original songs. An excellent collection of hard hitters.

The Way It Is (1999) includes two versions of the Hendrix track, Freedom.

Mixing rock with funk, it tones down the Addiction vibe.

As does Return Of The Crystal Karma (2000). Featuring a guest cameo from The Cure’s Lol Tolhurst.

He’s there on Building The Machine (2001) too, includes a version of the Deep Purple classic, Highball Shooter, features Pat Travers, who duets with Hughes on the Rare Earth cover I Just Want To Celebrate, plus Toto’s Bobby Kimball.

Songs in the Key of Rock (2003) keeps the funk in the rock, includes bassist Billy Sheehan and Red Hot Chili Peppers’ Chad Smith.

Oddly, the rock outings are arguably the weakest parts of the album. Nevertheless, it’s one of the best releases of the entire box set.

Thumbs for the mastering too.

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