THE GROOVEMAN'S COLLECTION

REVIEWS FROM MY VINYL COLLECTION

Tag: music review (Page 114 of 483)

DR. FEELGOOD – Private Practice

November 27, 2023 /

When you think of Dr. Feelgood, you automatically think of Wilko Johnson with that crazed expression on his face moving manically all over the stage, and Lee Brilleaux with the stained white suit giving you the evil stare. This band oozed menace, but they were so good live. It’s ironic then that the biggest hit they ever had didn’t feature Wilko, because he left the band in ’77.

Milk And Alcohol was a ripping single with a killer riff, and it actually made the top ten in the UK, you can’t go wrong with a shuffle. If only real bands had a chance to do that today. There is another track here that I wished they had released as a single, that’s Take A Tip. It has a much busier riff and groove but it’s so cool. I think it would have done better than Down At The Doctors, which is a also great tune but it doesn’t make you want to move like Take A Tip.

There are no original members left alive which is sad, but they left behind some great old school rockin’ R’n’B.

8/10 from The Grooveman.

CINDERELLA – Still Climbing

November 27, 2023 /

I have to say, I was amazed that this album actually came out on a major label. Every other “Hair” band at the time were being released from contracts, as the musical landscape had changed so much in such a short space of time. Tom Keifer was certainly ahead of the curve with steering the band down a more bluesier approach, as nearly every new rock band today have done the same. The album had some rough reviews upon its release, which were totally unfounded as a lot of journalists just wanted to be hip to what was now relevant, but me… I love it!

Cinderella are still one hell of a rock and roll band, and there are some smokin’ tracks for you to savour. Bad Attitude Shuffle opens the album with some old school blues swagger before that very familiar Cinderella groove kicks in. All Comes Down has that kind of Aerosmith swing, it’s one of my favourite tunes. Freewheelin’ is my favourite tune however, this is the one song that would be at home on any of their albums. It’s got a kickass uptempo groove with some great slide playing, and Keifer just firing off those lyrics.

Other than a live album, that was it from Cinderella. It’s a shame because you feel like they had more than four albums in them.

9/10 from The Grooveman.

GRAND PRIX – There For None To See

November 27, 2023 /

Grand Prix are probably more famous for who has been in the band than for the albums they put out. Bernie Shaw was the original vocalist who went on to join Uriah Heep, keyboard player Phil Lanzon would also join Uriah Heep, and this album’s vocalist Robin McAuley would later join up with Michael Schenker. While most of Britains rock bands were all getting caught up with NWOBHM and getting heavier, Grand Prix were still in that late 70’s rock groove swimming against the tide.

Every song feels like they are trying to do the big show stopper centrepiece number. Check out Paradise and Keep On Believing. These are songs that bands like Kansas and Styx were coming out with at the time. My favourite on the album is the close out track Relay. A more concise and straight to the point type of song, but still with buckets of melody and more of an uptempo groove.

I haven’t heard this in ages, and I was pleasantly surprised how good it was.

8/10 from The Grooveman.

GRANICUS – S/T

November 27, 2023 /

A classic one and they’re gone band. Formed way back in ’69 in Cleveland after slogging around on the club circuit they were signed by RCA, and this their only album that was released in ’73. I am aware that there was a bits and pieces left over album, and an attempt at another album in the toonie,s but this was the band’s only shot at the big time.

It’s very of it’s time and reminds me a lot of Captain Beyond. I think psychedelic Prog would fit the band perfectly, although they do tend to veer into jam band country at times. I’m going for the song Cleveland Ohio as my favourite tune. I really like the busy uptempo groove and the wild guitar. If they had maybe stuck more with this vibe, then who knows.

I know there are collectors for the whole Cleveland scene, and this is a cool part of that.

6/10 from The Grooveman.

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