THE GROOVEMAN'S COLLECTION

REVIEWS FROM MY VINYL COLLECTION

Day: July 29, 2021

GOLDEN EARRING – Live

July 29, 2021 /

Welcome to the world of Golden Earring – Holland’s greatest export to the world of rock. Believe it or not, they released their first album in 1965 – that’s before Zeppelin were even a twinkle in Jimmy Page’s eye.

This live album was recorded in ’73, and is a warts and all representation of the band at that time. Everyone knows Radar Love, and you get the ultimate 12 minute blow out version here. There is no denying what a classic song it is, but there is so much more to them as a band. Tracks like She Flies On Strange Wings are a left over from the late sixties, but here it’s mixed with a hard rock blueprint and it sounds great. There is a great version of The Byrd’s Eight Mile High that is beefed up – I think it gives the original a run for its money.

Guitarist George Kooymans announced he was suffering with SLS and would be retiring. Shortly after, the band announced they were calling it a day. It’s sad when things like this happen, but they have left a great legacy of music for us all to check out.

8/10 from The Grooveman.

THE RUTS – The Crack

July 29, 2021 /

So here it is, my favourite album from the whole punk side step. The release came in ’79, right at the very end of the first wave, but oh what a statement it made. To me this was what punk was all about, being angry and having something to say – and The Ruts had plenty to say. They were very politically tinged, and that reflected the time. S.U.S was written about the Southall riots and the laws that were introduced around them, and how the SPG that enforced them. A lot of the tracks have a reggae feel to them, and this mixed with the punk angst, works great.

The album opens with the best 2.30 of the whole punk movement. Babylon’s Burning is angry and to the point – with a riff and groove to die for. Even when I play this today I get goosebumps. It Was Cold is the big epic track on the album, and shows that punk was more than just two chords strummed fast. The dynamics of the guitar, the reggae funk undertone, and Owen’s vocal are sublime.

Unfortunately, just over a year later Malcolm Owen would die due to a heroin overdose, and the band would fold in ’83. It’s such a shame. To me, they were way better than The Clash as they were real. Grab yourself a slice of the best punk band – you won’t regret it.

10/10 from The Grooveman.

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