For yesterday's Electronic Meditation review I wrote: "As noted here many times I became something of a fanatic for Tangerine Dream starting in 1982, and began to track down any album I could. One of the albums that had proven elusive was their debut, Electronic Meditation. Finally I secured a copy at the tail end of 1983. Got home, undid the shrink, and put the LP on the turntable.
I most certainly wasn't expecting this. I didn't even know where to turn. I had no reference points for what I was hearing. But I was completely captivated by it. It took me months to even hear it properly, parsed to where I could even understand it. Like trying to master a foreign language in that way. "
Exact same situation here, even the same record store! Replace Tangerine Dream with Scorpions - and go back in time three years earlier. Scorpions debut was an elusive title for me until I got my driver's license in 1980 - and you can read more about that whole scenario in the Electric Sun - Earthquake review (they were purchased together).
Clearly we are talking two entirely different expectations though. With Tangerine Dream I was expecting an electronic album. With the Scorpions, I was expecting hard rock going into metal. I did own Fly to the Rainbow, so there was some idea at least of what I was getting into.
I was careful on the Electronic Meditation review to not say that was my first Krautrock album, which would have otherwise fit the narrative perfectly. Nope - in fact Lonesome Crow was. I would not have known what the term Krautrock meant if you hit me over the head with it. And I did not have any idea that's what Lonesome Crow was either. Not for many years actually. It was, in fact, Electronic Meditation that introduced me to the idea of what the Krautrock music genre meant. It was then that I learned that Lonesome Crow was the first album on the legendary Brain label. And it all came together for me.
I had one likeminded friend in high school who I borrowed this album to. He said to me "I don't about you, but I'm really curious about the other albums on the back cover." Me too! This was the Rock On Brain issue, and per their protocol, they would advertise five other records from the series. Those monikers sure do sound intriguing: Embryo, Birth Control, Jane (is it a lady singer?), Guru Guru, Satin Whale. Of course it would be only a few short years later while in college I begin to find albums by these groups, with Satin Whale coming last (after college) in 1989 (fortunately it was the original Desert Places too).
As for the album Lonesome Crow, as noted in the opening, it really took me some time to get into this album. But I most certainly did enjoy it, just not at the level I eventually would. Today I consider it a masterpiece, a band clearly operating at another level than their peers even at this early stage. It has all the Krautrock elements of psych, jazz, hard rock, and general freakishness. The title track was my favorite upon first listen, and remains that way today. It's really a pity they couldn't keep going in this direction for longer, though Fly to the Rainbow introduced Uli Roth to the band, so at least they maintained a psychedelic disposition for much longer than they needed to (commercially speaking). From an economic perspective, Scorpions did absolutely the right thing and used their talent to rise to the top of the charts. But artistically they were never as good as their debut. Not even close.
Ownership: LP: 1972 Brain. Gatefold. Green label. As noted on a recent roundup, obtained from Dr. Boom here in town on a cash/trade deal (2023).
LP: 1980 Brain. Titled: Action. Single sleeve. Rock On Brain series. Orange/blue label. Purchased new at Metamorphosis Records in Dallas (Sep 1980). This is the copy that is referenced above.
LP: 1982 Heavy Metal Worldwide. Picture disc with Rodney Matthews design. Acquired using trade credit at Independent Records here in town (2020).
CD: 2005 Brain (Japan). Papersleeve edition that includes the Repertoire booklet with liner notes in English.
MC: 1989 Rampage. I had no idea this was on cassette until I acquired one (2024).
Might seem obsessive but each of the above have a different and unique purpose and I have no intention of selling any of them.
9//80; 6//05; 11/18/14; 1/9/24 (new entry)
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