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.
