Cover design & illustration by Bob Lockhart. Produced by Bill Szymczyk engineered by Bill Szymczyk with Llyllianne Duma, Mike Stone, Stan Agol. Jim Fox (drums & percussion), Dale “Bugsly” Peters (bass, 6-string guitar on B5), Joe Walsh (guitars, keyboards, vocals) with Jack Nitzsche (string arrangement on B5), Rusty Young (pedal steel guitar on B3). Ashes The Rain And I (Joe Walsh/Dale Peters) (4:56) Cast Your Fate To The Wind (Vince Guaraldi) (7:04)ī5. Closet Queen (Jim Fox/Dale Peters/Joe Walsh) / B. Woman (Jim Fox/Dale Peters/Joe Walsh) (4:37)Ī4. Asshton Park (Jim Fox/Dale Peters/Joe Walsh) (2:04)Ī3. Funk #49 (Jim Fox/Dale Peters/Joe Walsh) (3:54)Ī2. Read more James Gang reviews Original elpee versionĪ1. There’s none of that “lovable anti-establishment pranksters” stuff happening on here, except maybe the mock Santana excursion in “Funk #49.” The band’s brand of gritty, guitar-driven, funk/blues-inspired rock and roll (shoot, that’s a lot of labels) may appeal to connoisseurs of gritty, guitar-driven, funk/blues-inspired rock and roll, but it’s harder to ride uphill than downhill, and things definitely go downhill after the first track. On a more serious note, Rides Again benefits by focusing on the band’s music rather than the silly studio gimmicks found on their first album. I don’t actually have a list like that, and never plan on making one, but if I were forced to do it (e.g., “We only have 60 seconds to make a list of the top 100 albums from 1970 before this bomb explodes!”), then I would probably write this on the bottom and then scribble it out and replace it with Poco or something. James Gang Rides Again, however, probably wouldn’t make my list of top 100 albums from 1970. Second Winter, They Only Come Out At Night, I’m totally with you there. I have to believe that, without “Funk #49,” this never would have occurred. Proving that I know nothing, Mobile Fidelity released an original master recording of Rides Again, a distinction normally reserved for classic albums. It’s just that an album is an opportunity to make a statement and, when you have a producer of Bill Szymczyk’s abilities on your side, shouldn’t you (as the outlaws are fond of saying) reach for the sky? I know, I’m a progressive rock weenie, and we love to have complexity where simplicity will do. It’s tantalizing songs like this that make me wish James Gang would add an extra player or two and really write an important studio rock album. The album closes on the acoustic “Ashes The Rain And I,” an epic number featuring orchestration from Jack Nitzsche. I mean, it’s cute to hear the band play with Poco’s Rusty Young, but if you can’t outrock Poco (and they don’t on “There I Go Again”), you should have your power-trio privileges revoked. The second side of the album is essentially a Joe Walsh solo album unfortunately, it’s not their best side. Joe Walsh is again the centerpiece, although he plays fewer keyboards this time. Drummer Jim Fox does seem to be higher in the mix and he sounds terrific on this album. I mention that because you probably wouldn’t notice the change on record. The trio swapped bass players before this was recorded. You’ll find a few more heavy numbers to sink your teeth into-“Woman,” “Tend My Garden,” “The Bomber”-but nothing you’d want to burn a candle to (and then again…). No, the band doesn’t reach those heights again on this album. In the Johnny Winter of my discontent, I’m liable to point out that Rides Again is a smoother ride than their first elpee, but not the American classic that some would make it out to be. Kronomyth 2.0: Suitable for miners, forty-niners. This kicks off with the tight “Funk #49,” then unravels (except for “The Bomber,” which totally Ravels).
0 kommentar(er)
