Album Liner Notes
Road Games
Road Games is a short record, but not a small one. It captures Jeff Berlin working with Allan Holdsworth after their Bruford overlap and puts him inside an ensemble that also includes Chad Wackerman and Jack Bruce.
Overview
The cool part of Road Games is how concentrated it feels. There is no filler space. The personnel are heavy, the writing is condensed, and Berlin's role comes through fast.
Wikipedia cites an AllMusic review that called it fusion-rock bliss and specifically praised Jeff's bass work. That matches the record's feel: technical, sharp, and still energetic enough to move like rock rather than a lab experiment.
It also adds a useful angle to Jeff Berlin's profile because it shows his name attached to a release that crossed into a more broadly visible awards conversation.
Quick Snapshot
- Released in September 1983 through Warner Bros.
- Jeff Berlin plays bass alongside Allan Holdsworth and Chad Wackerman, with Jack Bruce singing on two tracks.
- The EP was nominated for Best Rock Instrumental Performance at the 1984 Grammy Awards.
Bruford-era overlap
Holdsworth and Berlin reconnect here after their earlier work in Bruford's orbit.
Grammy-nominated
The EP earned a nomination for Best Rock Instrumental Performance at the 1984 Grammys.
An elite rhythm section
Berlin and Chad Wackerman give the record a fast, exact engine under Holdsworth's guitar work.
Listen For
Road Games
The title track gives the record its most immediate vocal-forward statement.
Three Sheets to the Wind
A tight instrumental entry point into the EP's balance of complexity and motion.
Material Real
Jack Bruce's vocal appearance adds another layer of weight to the closing stretch.