*The Outlaws - Bring It Back Alive. Arista (CD) (1978). For whatever reason my review of their debut dropped out of the UMR. Fortunately I added it to RYM, so I'll include it at the bottom of this posting. I did sell that copy telling myself if I ever find their signature live album on CD in the wilds, that will suffice as my Outlaws collection. And here we are. All the tracks come from their first three albums excepting 7). Oh, and the opener which came straight from a Synergy album (how incongruous is that?). Even though I've never heard this album, I feel like I have anyway. Even the country tinged songs here break into some intense electric guitar jams. They can't help it. Or so appears. Of course the crowning achievement is the 20 minute version of 'Green Grass & High Tides'. Everyone says that. And so will I. The intensity is unreal. It's too bad they didn't incorporate this kind of jamming into more creative songs over their career. (6/20)
Pat Travers - Putting It Straight. 1977 Polydor (LP). Like many folks, I first became familiar with Pat Travers real time through his live 1979 album and subsequent studio release. Even though I was a hard rock guy back then, Travers never really crossed the threshold of obtaining much interest from me. I'd never heard any of his first four albums, so for a quarter, why not give this 3rd one a shot? Canada certainly had their share of hard guitar rockers in the late 70s with Moxy, Rush, and Frank Marino leading the charge. Travers seems to hedge his bet a little too much here. He doesn't really "go for it". The sound is fine, solid late 70s hard rock fare. But there's no extended jamming, or anything I'd consider high energy. It's kind of hard to discern who the target audience might be. There's some funk, boogie, jazz fusion, and classic rock interspersed throughout. Robin Trower might be the closest blueprint, but doesn't have his soul. Of course having James Dewar helps Trower with that. Interesting to note that future Iron Maiden legend Nicko McBrain is the drummer here. I'll check out any of his albums for a quarter, just not sure anything is going to stick. (4/28)
Blue Max - Limited Edition. 1977. Looks like this is my second go round with this title, though I recall nothing about my initial listen. From Nova Scotia, Blue Max has gained a reputation (via reissues no doubt) as a solid hard rock band in recent times. They are definitely of the no frills power trio variety, with an interesting speed picking style on the electric guitar. Early Rush and Moxy are good guideposts here, though not quite as audacious. The exception to this is the 8:42 epic 'March Of The Trolls' and, to a lesser extent, 'The New One'. They were just teenagers when they released this album, quite an accomplishment concerning time and place. Worth checking out for certain. (3/8)
Outlaws. 1975 Arista (LP). The ultimate get-wasted-bar-fight album, The Outlaws are the epitome of get-yer-guns out... and then we'll talk. As with many southern bands, they have a three guitar attack - that is mostly not utilized. But when they do jam, they jam. The album opens up very strong with three great tracks, including their signature hit 'There Goes Another Love Song'. From there, it's mostly country rock, until it concludes with their ten minute guitar hero statement of 'Green Grass & High Tides', which saves the album from the resell bin. The Outlaws are one of those bands where the songwriters are very different from each other, and there's not much cohesion between them. For my tastes, guitarist Hughie Thomasson is the thought-leader of The Outlaws. The other guys seem content to write simpler country music. In hearing this debut in full, it becomes clear that The Outlaws really are best enjoyed as a live act, where they can really let loose. (4/30/21)
* - Keeping for the collection
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