REVIEWS FROM MY VINYL COLLECTION

Day: May 27, 2022

BAD ENGLISH – s/t

This project existed after Journey took an indefinite break. If you ever wanted to know what a full Journey/Baby’s collaboration sounded like, then this is for you. A very similar band to Journey but with a more gutsy sound.

The album opens up with an absolute monster of a tune with Best Of What I’ve Got. Killer riff and groove and a superb hook and chorus. Man what a great tune. As usual it’s the ballads that get all the attention as When I See You Smile was a huge hit for the band, and there are 5 more on the record. I don’t mind one or two, but 5?! It’s a shame, as this band can rock like on the opening track, Ready When You Are, and on Forget Me Not, Rockin’ Horse and Lay Down – they are all crowd pleasers.

As we all know, Neal Schon is a great player, and he lets loose all over this record. I would have bought this album just for Best Of What I’ve Got – even with ballad overload it’s still a great album.

9/10 from The Grooveman.

LED ZEPPELIN – Coda

This is basically a bits and pieces album of leftover tracks throughout their career, and was released two years after they disbanded. It consists of eight tracks and two covers, the first of which, We’re Gonna Groove by Ben E King, is superb and this is what they did best – taking an old standard and making it their own. Poor Tom is killer just to hear that floor tom groove by Bonham, and you realize what a great drummer he was. I Can’t Quit You Baby is a tad sloppy, but Plant’s vocals are on the money. Walter’s Walk is all about the groove and the backbeat. Ozone Baby is a very average tune, and I can see how it was a leftover. Darlene is a good tune with a great groove, and is the only full band composition on this release. Bongo’s Montreux is a drum solo?! I think another track would have been more worth it here than a drum solo. The album closes out with Wearing And Tearing, and it’s a fun little fast blues groove and riff. It’s an ok album but nothing special.

7/10 from The Grooveman.