THE GROOVEMAN'S COLLECTION

REVIEWS FROM MY VINYL COLLECTION

Tag: frank marino

FRANK MARINO – Juggernaut

April 27, 2022 /

I have been a fan of Frank Marino since I heard a track on the radio in the UK, from his Live album released in ’78. My jaw instantly hit the floor and I went out and bought a copy ASAP. He is an amazing guitar player of (what I would say) the old school.

The album before this, The Power Of Rock n Roll, is one of my favourites, but I could never understand how all the critics never raved about – he was amazing. It’s a bit like saying today that on their records, Vai and Satriani play too much guitar. HELLO…he’s a guitar player! So, imagine my surprise when reading the early reviews of this album that the critics loved it. What could be so different I thought? They were raving about two tracks in particular, namely Strange Dreams and Story Of A Hero. Both tracks are a lot more commercial sounding and would appeal to a wider audience they said. Well, Frank has always written tracks like this, it’s just now they seemed to be paying attention.

You would be forgiven for thinking that the guitar would not be featuring as much maybe…nope! This is still a killer guitar record. It’s slightly more restrained in places like on Story Of A Hero, but it packs one hell of a punch. Maybe It’s Time, Ditch Queen, and Juggernaut are all seriously impressive as Frank rips the fretboard within an inch if it’s life. Definitely one of rocks most underrated players, and it’s a big shame that due to his health he can no longer play.

10/10 from The Grooveman.

FRANK MARINO & MAHOGANY RUSH – Real Live Vol. 1

August 28, 2021 /

Frank’s career can be split into eras. His first was the very psychedelic trippy phase. Then he moved into the loud and brash guitar hero phase, and then finally, we came to an almost mix of the two with huge nods to the blues. This album was recorded in his latter phase, in his home town of Montreal in 2001. Don’t get me wrong, it’s chock full of the most killer guitar playing you will ever hear. This record (and Part 2) were part of RSD as limited editions.

To make the tracks fit onto two records, He’s Calling and Poppy have been split into two parts and put on two differing sides. You may also not be familiar with the versions that you hear on this record. For example, Like Voodoo Chile is way slower here and has a heavy blues groove – but jeez does Frank let it go here. Incredible playing! Plus you get an excerpt from Something’s Coming Our Way from What’s Next. His love of Hendrix is here for all to see. As well as Voodoo Chile, you get ripping versions of Red House and Crossroads.

Frank is definitely one of Rock’s greatest and most overlooked guitar players. I’m not too sure we will get to see him play live again as he has a debilitating disease that stops him playing. Other than these two RSD releases, Frank released a six hour DVD last year of a show recorded in Cleveland. I urge any of you who love guitar music to track it down. It’s a final fitting performance of one of Rock’s great guitarists.

10/10 from The Grooveman.

FRANK MARINO – The Power Of Rock And Roll

March 5, 2021 /

There are four Frank Marino albums that are off the charts awesome. This one, Juggernaut, What’s Next, and the Live album. Forget about the fact that two of them were titled Frank Marino and Mahogany Rush – basically it’s the same thing, “Mahogany Rush” was dropped after the What’s Next recordings. No mention of the Hendrix nonsense as I touched on that in the review of the Live album. What I will say is I’m surprised and amazed that more guitarists don’t cite Frank as an inspiration. The only person that does is Zac Wilde. As I have mentioned before, Frank is an absolute monster of a player and he is up there with the very best for me.

We start things off with a couple of Frank-standard rockers. Some healthy solos are thrown in for extra points in the title track and Play My Music. Then track three, Stay With Me, rockets into the stratosphere with some killer playing, the first of the 5 all killer no filler tracks on the album. The close out track to Side 1 is Running Wild, and you just have to hear the playing – it’s other worldly. I’m sure there is a kitchen sink in there somewhere.

Time to take a breather before Side 2 kicks in with Crazy Miss Daisy. Another patent Marino rocker with another killer middle section. Go Strange is next, and is one my favourite Frank tracks. There are lots of textures and grooves happening on this track. Just freakin’ awesome! You run out of superlatives to describe his playing. Young Man is next and the pace drops slightly with a straight up rocker. Last track, Ain’t Dead Yet is my favourite Frank tune. This one has everything times ten. The ending is epic, you feel as though you’re in a war zone.

Big shout out to the band, Frank’s bother Vinnie on rhythm guitar, Paul Harwood on bass, and Jim Ayoub on drums for holding it all together. Another definite buy album. It loses half a point for Play My Music.

9.5/10 from The Grooveman.

FRANK MARINO & MAHOGANY RUSH – Live

February 20, 2021 /

One of the greatest guitarists of his generation! Unfortunately, his name rarely gets mentioned in top guitar polls. Up until the early eighties, Frank was acknowledged as one of the best around, but then as the music scene changed, Frank disappeared off the radar completely only to reappear in the early 2000’s.

I was lucky to catch Frank live a couple of times in his prime, and it was a sight to see. He played the Port Vale Heavy Metal Holocaust, and the crowd were just mesmerized at his virtuosity. This live album from ’77 was my introduction to Marino’s amazing skills. This album is wall-to-wall guitar from beginning to end, with no let up. If like me, you love all things guitar, then you should locate and acquire a copy immediately.

The album starts with a cool instrumental introduction, and then it’s straight into guitar heaven with The Answer. We won’t talk about how much Frank sounds like Hendrix vocally, as that has been well documented, but his playing is off the charts. Next song in is Dragonfly – with its cool funky riff with a touch of echo and chorus for a great effect. And of course there’s a killer solo! Two old blues standards are next with I’m A King Bee Baby, and Back Door Man, which Frank just annihilates with some incredible playing. A New Rock & Roll closes Side 1 in style with more incredible playing, it just doesn’t let up, killer tune.

I remember seeing a picture of Frank’s peddle board around this time, and it was so huge it looked as though every peddle from a music store was on there. Over to Side 2 we go, and the Chuck Berry classic Johnny B Goode is turned inside out, ripped apart, and put back together again with the obligatory killer guitar. Then it’s onto the absolute showpiece of Frank’s set at this time: Talkin Bout A Feelin, Who Do Ya Love, and Electric Reflections Of War. They were all played together as one big piece culminating in the dive bomb piece at the end. You will not hear guitar played better for the period anywhere. This is different level playing. The funky playing at the beginning of Who Do You Love is just awesome and then it just explodes. The album closes out with Purple Haze, a great rendition, with again, killer guitar.

So that’s it, a truly freaking awesome guitar album that, if you have a remote interest in guitar playing or players, then you should own this.

10/10 from The Grooveman.

Archives

© 2024 THE GROOVEMAN'S COLLECTION

Theme by Anders Noren — Up ↑