Hermann Szobel - Szobel. 1976 USA-New York

An album that is complex as all get out by 18 year old prodigy pianist. Szobel has a distinct avant progressive flavor to it, though I suspect there's no intention of going for that sound per se. Instrumental Frank Zappa is an obvious influence here, with some tight wind charts, and I'm betting that Hermann Szobel may have heard a Henry Cow album or two.

So I first wrote the above sketch in 2006. I've since been told that Szobel was largely ignorant of contemporary music, which seems to be consistent with his very eccentric personality. Even today, no one knows exactly where he is. He's pretty much disappeared into the ether.

Ownership: LP: 1976 Arista. Single sleeve. Label as shown here (but without any markings). Recent antique mall acquisition (2024).

CD: 2012 Laser's Edge. Jewel case. Features great sound, unseen photos, and excellent historical liner notes.

The Flatiron building is still my favorite skyscraper, and quite an engineering marvel for 1902. So any album cover that features it, I'm likely to appreciate. Szobel is certainly one of Arista's most obscure releases. Arista started as a "progressive" label, much like Virgin did, but by 1978 they were already hopelessly signing commercial slop.

2006; 11/3/12 (new entry)