How could I pass this up? This was one of the original pressings BR 6959, but it's not like it made this any more valuable. It was still a dollar, but dang boy howdy a dollar well spent. I sure would have liked to have had the inset, but never having seen the original who knows if it actually had anything on the inside. The album cover was in decent shape, and the vinyl, especially on the first killer side cleaned up so well I was surprised. Mint, baby. The second side had a little rash, a pretty good nick on "Terraplane Blues" that lasts a few spins around but nothing to spoil things.
I wasn't even in my teens when this came out, and I can't remember when I first heard songs by the band. Over the years of course "Slow Ride" would take on a life of it's own when my kids started playing it on Guitar Hero - a game that frankly brought classic rock into the mainstream, even if only for a moment. The title track was also a great song. It's too bad the album is so short, I mean with only seven songs, the whole thing is just over half an hour long. I suppose cranking out an album a year will take a toll, so you go with what you got. I know it sounds like I'm whinging, it's just that I would have liked more. I feel like I'm holding up an empty bowl and pleading, "Please sir, I want some more."
Fool for the City, was the the band's fifth release, and the one where it all came together. I cannot lay claim to being a super fan, but over the years I have managed to accumulate a lot of their releases, and this is one I return to most often.
The band is great, and I love Rod "The Bottle" Price's guitar playing, in particular his slide work is an integral part of the band's sound. Lonesome Dave Peverett wrote or co-wrote five of the seven tracks and sang the songs and played rhythm guitar. Drummer Roger Earl is the guy on the cover fishing. You gotta love drummers. Nick Jameson in addition to playing bass guitar, keyboards, and some guitar was also the producer and engineer.
The one thing about getting back into vinyl versus my digital library or CDs is that I can get stuck with a favourite side. The first side is stellar, and is the one I will repeat over and over. I mean seriously, "Fool for the City", "My Babe" and the eight minutes of pure riff heaven on "Slow Ride" make for a spectacular first half. It's no wonder the second side doesn't have the same oomph but it was still solid boogie-woogie rock and roll. Except for the album's closer, Take It or Leave It" that seemed like a song from a different band. It's not bad, in fact it's a pretty decent song - it's just a more polished pop song that plays like a
harder soft rock song you'd hear by ACE or The Doobie Brothers.
Regardless, this was a great find, and a lot of fun to listen to. This was Yeah, I did spend more time repeating side one but that's only because it's awesome. Don't worry, I've not abandoned the second side, I play it too, and it's growing on me.
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