THE GROOVEMAN'S COLLECTION

REVIEWS FROM MY VINYL COLLECTION

Month: January 2022 (Page 8 of 12)

WISHBONE ASH – Wishbone Four

January 14, 2022 /

It’s quite hard to believe now, but back in the day, Wishbone Ash were on par with Black Sabbath, Deep Purple, and Uriah Heep, as they used to sell out tours with regularity. The twin guitars of Ted Turner and Andy Powell were a major pull for me. They have this very southern US vibe to their music, mixed with a healthy dose of rock, and even a bit of folk thrown in for good measure. Pilgrimage and Argus are my two favourite albums by the band, and this doesn’t quite reach the heights of those two, but it still has its high points.

Ballad Of The Beacon is a very folk style piece, but has beautiful vocal melodies and the guitar interplay is fantastic. Doctor is almost a fast boogie, but the guitars are what make this track. My favourite track is the last track, Rock N Roll Widow, which has a very Allman’s vibe to it – they were big fans of the band.

Not a bad album but not their best.

7.5/10 from The Grooveman.

PINK CREAM 69 – Headstrong

January 14, 2022 /

This is the 12th studio by the German melodic hard rockers, and would be the last to feature original member and main songwriter and producer, Dennis Ward. The band have been through their fair share of personal changes, including original singer, Andi Deris, leaving to join Helloween. His replacement was a relative unknown powerhouse from Burnley, Dave Readman, who has been there ever since.

I have quite a few of there albums, but this is the first I have on vinyl. Glad to report that the quality of songs is as high as ever. Dennis has gone out on a high as the songwriting and production are really high and is up there with their best albums. Opening track, We Bow To None, is a beast of an opening tune with double kicks pounding away. Walls Come Down is a more commercial sounding tune with a great chorus and melody. Unite And Divide is my favourite so far as it has a superb melody and hook with some killer guitar from Uwe Reitenauer – who would also leave the band after this album. No More Fear, if possible, is even better! A really awesome melody, hook, and groove with a killer riff. Man Of Sorrow is a big build up track that starts real slow and kicks in with a great riff and melody. Path Of Destiny starts with a really heavy opening and is the heaviest track so far.

If this album came out in ’84, these guys would be kings of the world. Vagrant Of The Night is the big centrepiece of the record with Readman showing what a great singer he is, and also some killer guitar from Reitenaur. Bloodsucker is the most simple track on the record, with a very easy riff and melody but works really well. Whistleblower has a nice chugga riff and a great choppy groove – it picks up the pace nicely.

We close out the record with The Other Man, and the focus here is on the vocal and the harmonies which are just fantastic. It will be interesting to see where the band go from here as Ward and Koffler have been the main songwriters, and with no Dennis, who knows? But this is one hell of a record to go out on.

10/10 from The Grooveman.

LYNCH MOB – Wicked Sensation

January 13, 2022 /

When the arguing and falling out all became too much between Don Dokken and George Lynch, George packed his bags and formed his own band – taking drummer Mad Mick Brown with him. This is the first album that they recorded with the addition of vocalist Oni Logan and bassist Anthony Esposito.

There are three guitar players that define this generation of rock for me, Eddie Van Halen, Randy Rhodes, and George Lynch. They all came out of the same back yard party circuit around Pasadena and LA. I’m a big big George fan, and this album is a bonafide classic in my opinion, and I’m pleased to finally see this reissued on vinyl.

The opening and title track is killer, and the funky breakdown in the middle section is just sublime. The following track, River Of Love, is one of the best hard rock tracks recorded. A great groove and riff with a superb chorus and melody. All I Want is a killer slower groove, a great chorus and melody, plus lots of George. The very Zeppelin, Dance Of The Dogs, has a great riff and hook. The bluesy slowed down opening to Rain is very good, and has lots more George to tickle your delight. I love the choppy riff to No Bed Of Roses and the track just bounces along. The album closes with the superb Street Fightin’ Man which has a great riff with an awesome vocal.

If you’re a hard rock fan you know how good this album is, but if you’re not, why not give it a try?

10/10 from The Grooveman.

THE SENSATIONAL ALEX HARVEY BAND – Next

January 13, 2022 /

This is the second album released by Glasgow’s favourite sons way back in ’73. This was also my introduction to the band whilst at school, by a kid named Barry Leaf. If you’re still around Barry, thanks a plenty, as I never tire of hearing this band. They were vaudeville and burlesque all mixed up with rock and roll – a truly superb live experience.

As usual with any SAHB album, the music varies greatly. From the pure obscurity of Jacques Brel’s Next, to the pure 50’s rock and roll of Giddy Up A Ding Dong, and to the heavy rock of Faith Healer and Vambo Marble Eye. Faith Healer has been covered by a wide variety of bands, but you will never beat the original with that pulsating bass throb opening. This album is chock full of SAHB classics that would always lift the live set like Swampsnake, which is a great up-tempo opening track that really sends the album on its way. The comic book story hero, Vambo, first makes its appearance on this album and it’s the stuff of legend amongst SAHB fans (will Zal ever release his Vibrania book?). The album closes out with Last Of The Teenage Idols, one of my favourite SAHB tracks, it really rocks along.

This album has been a part of a huge chunk of my life, and it still gives me goosebumps listening to it today.

10/10 from The Grooveman.

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