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Versione 2
Rating:
The post-1971 history of the formidable Hard Rock power trio from Flint, Michigan, is well known to all: with the release of Phoenix in 1972 and the official entry of keyboardist Craig Frost, the historical producer/manager Terry Knight was officially dismissed (mainly due to legal disputes over the royalties owed to the group, which, in reality, with "exploitative contracts," they never saw much of at all) and was replaced by the legendary producer Todd Rundgren, the director of albums like the excellent We're An American Band in 1973 and Shinin' On in 1974, which for Mark Farner's trio marked a shift towards a more "mainstream" music (by the standards of the time, of course), but at the same time progressively stripped of the ferocity and aggressiveness of the band's very first works.
Subsequently, Rundgren's place was taken by Jimmy Ienner, which led to the release of All The Girls Of The World Beware!!! in 1974, where they continued along the previously embarked "commercial" path, so to speak.
However, the true "elbow grease" on a strictly artistic level of the band came the following year with the release of their second official Live album, recorded between February 7 and 9, 1975, which officially bears the name Caught in the Act.
The first thing that comes to mind upon first listening to it is, above all, the return to an aggressive, visceral approach, yet elegant just right of their genuine and effective Hard Rock, all of which is evidenced by the fiery duo "Footstompin' Music" and "Rock 'N' Roll Soul", which indeed represent the perfect opening of their setlist.
The captivating "Closer To Home/I'm Your Captain" follows immediately with Frost's excellent keyboards complementing a track whose charm remains intact, despite nearly 50 years since its release. Equally excellent is the remake of the always majestic "Heartbreaker", which in terms of quality competes on par with the grittier and "nastier" version from the historic Live Album.
"Some Kind Of Beautiful" and, more importantly, the cover of Carole King's "The Loco-Motion" represent, however, the most "raucous" moments of the setlist, where the group enjoys playing to the rhythms that wink at early R'n'B and Rockabilly. On the other hand, in "Shinin' On" the sounds become quite "à la Deep Purple" with Farner's ever well-played guitar competing in solos with Frost's Hammond, which on this occasion, being in full carnival season, literally disguises itself as John Lord and delivers yet another excellent performance. But this excellent performance is replicated in the remarkable "Black Licorice", where the whirling Funk/Rock rhythms (with Mel Schacher's bass lines particularly impressive in this case) definitely take center stage.
The enveloping and engaging ballad "The Railroad" is another excellent stroke of genius by Farner, especially for the final guitar crescendo that makes it even more beautiful than the well-known studio version. "We're An American Band" and "T.N.U.C." are two other excellent tracks, but they sound slightly watered down, especially the second, compared to the respective studio and live versions (try listening to the two versions of "T.N.U.C." present both in Live Album and in The 1971 Tour). "Inside Lookin' Out" is the excellent cover of the Animals, always reproduced masterfully by Farner and company, with an additional touch of Hammond towards the end to further embellish it.
The setlist (or "platter", if you will) closes with the overwhelming "Gimme Shelter" by the Rolling Stones, which essentially seals an excellent work by the trio that, despite the 45 years since its release, still unmistakably smells of that vibrant and pulsating Hard Rock we should never be without.
Tracklist Lyrics Samples and Videos
02 Rock & Roll Soul (04:02)
We're having a party, yeah, yeah, everybody's invited,
The new generation along with the old.
If you could get with it just a little more, it don't take much tryin',
You'll find out if you've got some rock & roll soul, baby.
Ain't everybody in the world. So when you know what you got, let everybody know,
You got some rock & roll soul.
So when you know what you got, let everybody know,
You got some rock & roll soul.
I know it when I'm feelin' groovy,
It's kind of funky like an old-time movie.
I can feel it and it's really something,
It's really something when my heart starts pumpin', yeah.
Tell everybody you know, you got some rock 'n roll soul.
Tell everybody you know, you got some rock 'n roll soul.
Tell everybody you know, you got some rock 'n roll soul.
Tell everybody you know, you got some rock 'n roll soul.
Tell everybody you know, you got some rock 'n roll soul.
Tell everybody you know, you got some rock 'n roll soul.
Tell everybody you know, you got some rock 'n roll soul.
03 Closer to Home (07:26)
Everybody, listen to me,
And return me, my ship.
I'm your captain, I'm your captain,
Although I'm feeling mighty sick.
I've been lost now, days uncounted,
And it's months since I've seen home.
Can you hear me, can you hear me,
Or am I all alone.
If you return me, to my home port,
I will kiss you mother earth.
Take me back now, take me back now,
To the port of my birth.
Am I in my cabin dreaming, or are you really scheming,
To take my ship away from me?
You'd better think about it, I just can't live without it.
So, please don't take my ship from me.
Yeah, yeah, yeah ...
I can feel the hand, of a stranger,
And it's tightening, around my throat.
Heaven help me, Heaven help me,
Take this stranger from my boat.
I'm your captain, I'm your captain,
Although I'm feeling mighty sick.
Everybody, listen to me,
And return me, my ship.
I'm your captain, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah.
I'm your captain, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah.
I'm your captain, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah.
I'm your captain, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah.
I'm getting closer to my home ...
I'm getting closer to my home ...
I'm getting closer to my home ...
I'm getting closer to my home ...
Ohhhh ...
I'm getting closer to my home ...
I'm getting closer to my home ...
I'm getting closer to my home ...
I'm getting closer to my home ...
04 Heartbreaker (07:26)
Once I had a little girl,
Sometimes I think about her,
But, buddy, you know
She's not really there.
When memories do call,
I just, I just can't live without her
But tryin' all the time
Is so hard to bear.
Heartbreaker, can't take her,
Heartbreaker, bringing me down.
Heartbreaker, can't take her,
Heartbreaker, bringing me down.
I don't cry no more,
I live while I'm flying,
But I'll think back,
And you can hear me say:
Heartbreaker, can't take her,
Heartbreaker, bringing me down.
Heartbreaker, can't take her,
Heartbreaker, bringing me down.
Heartbreaker, can't take her,
Heartbreaker, bringing me down.
Heartbreaker, can't take her,
Heartbreaker, bringing me down.
Heartbreaker, can't take her,
Heartbreaker, bringing me down.
Heartbreaker, can't take her,
Heartbreaker, bringing me down.
Heartbreaker, can't take her,
Heartbreaker, bringing me down.
05 Some Kind of Wonderful (04:30)
I don't need a whole lot's of money
I don't need a big fine car
I got everything that a man could want
I got more than I could ask for
And I don't have to run around
I don't have to stay out all night
'Cause I got me a sweet, a sweet loving woman
And she know just how to treat me right
CHORUS:
Oh, my baby, she's alright
Oh, my baby, clean out of sight
Don't you know that she's
She's some kind of wonderful
She's some kind of wonderful
Yes, she is, she is
She's some kind of wonderful
Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah
When I hold her in my arms
You know she sets my soul on fire
Oh, when my baby kisses me
My heart becomes filled with desire
When she wraps her loving arms around me
It 'bout drives me out of my mind
Yeah, when my baby kisses me
Chills run up and down my spine
CHORUS
Now is there anybody
Got a sweet little woman like mine
There's got to be somebody
Got a, got a sweet little woman like mine
Yeah, well can I get a witness
Can I get a witness
Can I get a witness
Can I get a witness
Can I get a witness
I'm talking, talking about my baby
(She's some kind of wonderful)
I'm talking about my baby
(She's some kind of wonderful)........repeat until fade
06 Shinin' On (05:32)
We are winners and losers, bedfellow choosers
Put here to pass by the time
We are space-age sailors, all had our failures
Now everybody gonna' shine
Keep it shinin' on
Keep it shinin' on
See the fire within them burnin'
Touch the fire, make me feel so fine
Keep the fire within you livin'
Everybody gonna' shine, shine, shine
Keep it shinin' on
Keep it shinin', shinin' on
Keep it shinin' on
Shinin' on
Shinin' on
What?
Alright
Keep it shinin' on
Keep it shinin', shinin' on
Keep it shinin' on
Keep it shinin' on, shinin' on, shinin' on
Keep it shinin', keep it shinin', keep it shinin' on
Keep it shinin', keep it shinin', keep it shinin' on
Keep it shinin', keep it shinin', keep it shinin' on
Keep it shinin', keep it shinin', keep it shinin' on
Keep it shinin', keep it shinin', keep it shinin' on
Keep it shinin', keep it shinin', keep it shinin' on
Keep it shinin', keep it shinin', keep it shinin' on
07 The Loco-Motion (03:20)
Everybody's doin' a brand new dance now
(Come on baby, do the Loco-Motion)
I know you'll get to like it if you give it a chance now
(Come on baby, do the Loco-Motion)
My little baby sister can do it with ease
It's easier than learnin' your ABCs
So, come on, come on, and do the Loco-Motion with me
You've got to swing your hips now
Come on
Jump up
Jump back
Oh well, I think you've got the knack
Woah, woah
Now that you can do it, well let's make a chain now
(Come on baby, do the Loco-Motion)
A chuga-chuga motion like a railroad train, now
(Come on baby, do the Loco-Motion)
Do it nice and easy now, and don't lose control
A little bit of rhythm and a lot of soul
So, come on, come on, and do the Loco-Motion with me
Woah, woah
Move around the floor in a loco-motion
(Come on baby, do the Loco-Motion)
Do it holdin' hands if'n you get the notion
(Come on baby, do the Loco-Motion)
There's never been a dance that's so easy to do
It even makes you happy when you're feelin' blue
So, come on, come on, and do the Loco-Motion with me
(Come on baby, do the Loco-Motion)
So, come on, come on, and do the Loco-Motion with me
(Come on baby, do the Loco-Motion)
So, come on, come on, and do the Loco-Motion with me
(Come on baby, do the Loco-Motion)
(Come on baby, do the Loco-Motion)
(Come on baby, do the Loco-Motion)
(Come on baby, do the Loco-Motion)
(Come on baby, do the Loco-Motion)
08 Black Licorice (04:52)
Whooo ... wheee!
You there, comin' up the stair, the feelin' is ice-blue cold.
Shake, it's more than I can take, I'm startin' to lose control.
Watch out, what's that noise, there's somebody at the door.
It must be Black Licorice, she come back to make me cry some more.
Time, ain't on my side, I'm losin' it more each day.
Licorice, licorice.
She's got evil in her eyes, and catnip is her taste.
Licorice, licorice.
She wraps me up in her slender legs, her hot black skin to mine.
Licorice, licorice.
Ple ... ple ...please, don't touch me, oh, I know I'm dead this time.
Oh, oh, yeah ... Licorice, yeah, Black Licorice.
Licorice, licorice.
Licorice, yeah, Black Licorice.
Licorice, licorice.
Licorice, Black Licorice.
Licorice, licorice.
Licorice, yeah, Black Licorice.
Licorice.
Licorice.
Licorice.
Licorice.
Licorice, yeah, Black Licorice.
Licorice, licorice.
Licorice, yeah, Black Licorice.
Licorice, licorice.
Licorice, licorice, Black Licorice.
Licorice, licorice.
Licorice, woah, Black Licorice.
09 The Railroad (06:18)
Up each morning at five o'clock,
Seem like the noon-day sun ain't never gonna' stop.
The work is hard in a railroad yard,
Hey, hey, gotta' make it today to punch a time card.
Workin' on the railroad.
CHORUS
Oh, you know, the railroad is a mighty good line,
Come on and ride the railroad, one more time.
Oh, you know, the railroad is a mighty good line,
Come on and ride the railroad, one more time.
Dirt and sweat, runnin' down my back,
Workin' on the railroad.
Work all day long up and down the railroad tracks.
Workin' on the railroad.
I'm a God fearing man, and with many I stand,
Workin' on the railroad.
And with God we've been working, all hand in hand.
Workin' on the railroad.
CHORUS
Oh, you know, the railroad is a mighty good line,
Workin' on the railroad.
Come on and ride the railroad, one more time.
Workin' on the railroad.
Oh, you know, the railroad is a mighty good line,
Come on and ride the railroad, one more time.
10 We're an American Band (03:26)
Out on the road for forty days
Last night in Little Rock put me in a haze
Sweet, sweet Connie, doin' her act
She had the whole show and that's a natural fact
Up all night with Freddie King
I got to tell you, poker's his thing
Booze and ladies, keep me right
As long as we can make it to the show tonight
We're an American band
We're an American band
We're comin' to your town
We'll help you party it down
We're an American band
Four young chiquitas in Omaha
Waitin' for the band to return from the show
Feelin' good, feelin' right and it's Saturday night
The hotel detective, he was outta sight
Now these fine ladies, they had a plan
They was out to meet the boys in the band
They said, "come on dudes, let's get it on"
And we proceeded to tear that hotel down
We're an American band
We're an American band
We're comin' to your town
We'll help you party it down
We're an American band
We're an American band
We're an American band
We're comin' to your town
We'll help you party it down
We're an American band
We're an American band
We're an American band
We're comin' to your town
We'll help you party it down
We're an American band
We're an American band
We're an American band
We're comin' to your town
We'll help you party it down
We're an American band
We're an American band, wooo
We're an American band, wooo
We're an American band, wooo
11 T.N.U.C. (04:40)
You won't find me, knockin' at your door.
I've known forever, you don't love me no more.
If you don't want to lay there, with your mouth shut tight,
I'm gettin' myself together, yes, I'm leavin' tonight
You ain't gonna' find nobody, to treat you like I do.
I been down on my knees, you treat me like a fool.
Now, I know what you're tryin' to do, awww, it ain't gonna' happen.
'Cause I just done got hip to you, I'm gonna' walk out laughin'.
12 Inside Looking Out (12:08)
I'm sitting here lonely like a broken man.
I serve my time doin' the best I can.
Walls and bars they surround me.
But, I don't want no sympathy.
No baby, no baby,
All I need is some tender lovin'.
To keep me sane in this burning oven.
And, when my time is up, you'll be my reefer.
Life gets worse on God's green earth.
Be my reefer, got to keep smokin' that thing.
No, no, no, no, no, no.
No, no, no, no, no, no, no.
I said now baby ... baby ..., let me smoke it ... smoke it ...
Makes me feel good ... feel good, yes, I feel good ... ahhhhh ...
Yes, I feel alright ... feel alright ..., yes, I feel alright ... feel alright ...
Yes, I feel alright ... Ahhhhh ...
Ohhhhh ...
Ice cold water is runnin' through my veins.
They try and drag me back to work again.
Pain and blisters on my mind and hands.
I work all day making up burlap bags.
The oats they're feeding me are driving me wild.
I feel unhappy like a new born child.
Now, when my time is up, you wait and see.
These walls and bars won't keep that stuff from me.
No, no, baby,
Won't keep that stuff from me.
No, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no.
No, no, no, no, no, no, no.
I need you right now mama.
I need you right now baby.
Right by my side, honey.
All night long.
Make me feel alright ...
Yes, all ..., yes, all ..., yes, all ... alright.
You better come on up and get down with me.
I'll make you feel real good, just you wait and see.
Make me feel alright ..., yes, I feel alright ...
Yes, all ..., yes, all ..., yes, alright.
13 Gimme Shelter (06:31)
Oooo, oooo, oooo.
Oooo, oooo, oooo.
Oooo, a storm is threatenin', my very life today.
If I don't get some shelter, oh, I'm gonna' fade away.
CHORUS
War children, it's just a shot away, it's just a shot away.
War children, it's just a shot away, it's just a shot away.
Oooo, see the fire sweeping, up every street today.
Burns like a red-coal carpet, mad bull lost it's way.
CHORUS
Rape, murder, it's just a shot away, it's just a shot away.
Rape, murder, it's just a shot away, it's just a shot away.
Rape, murder, it's just a shot away, it's just a shot away.
Oooo, a storm is threatenin', my very life today.
If I don't get some shelter, oh, I'm gonna' fade away.
War children, it's just a shot away, it's just a shot away.
It's just a shot away, it's just a shot away, it's just a shot away.
I said a love sister, it's just a kiss away, it's just a kiss away.
It's just a kiss away, it's just a kiss away, kiss away, kiss away.
CHORUS
CHORUS
Love sister, it's just a kiss away, it's just a kiss away.
Love sister, it's just a kiss away, it's just a kiss away.
War children, it's just a shot away, it's just a shot away.
Love sister, it's just a kiss away, it's just a kiss away.
War children, it's just a shot away, it's just a shot away.
Love sister, it's just a kiss away, it's just a kiss away.
(repeat alternation to fade)
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By fedezan76
"A raw, almost primitive sound, yet with a devastating impact."
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