Hurricane Express ~ USA ~ Milwaukee, Wisconsin

Early Warning (1978)

Hurricane Express were a hard rock band from Milwaukee who released one private LP (1978 R.C.K. Records) and off into the annals of history they went. Clearly the major label talent scouts blew the call on this band, as Hurricane Express definitely were tapped into the lean and mean late 70s sound, and as the other reviewer's suggest, this is a band that should have "made it".

The album opens up inauspiciously with the dreadful cliched boogie rock of 'Rock & Roll Man'. But things pick up quickly with the fine riffs and hook lines of 'Don't Let Me Go', and it's where we begin to hear the fantastic guitar work. Other tracks of note are 'Let's Do It Up' and 'When You See Me', the latter featuring some fine extended guitar work. 'Rock Me Like a Hurricane' is the only other skip over track, but there's a title to think about, eh? Perhaps we could have a word... Scorpions? 'Frenzy' recalls the Nuge on 'Motor City Madhouse'. And speaking of the Motor City Madman himself, that gets us to the closer - and best track - 'Death Watch'. The song itself won't win any awards, but the mid section guitar solo is quite inspired. It's trance-like similar to 'Stranglehold', arguably Nugent's best moment in the sun as well.

Overall a mixed bag, but a solid entry for the genre. And with one killer lengthy cut.

No reissues as of 3/4/24

12/6/18 (review)