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Rating: In 1972, the Scorpions released the not-so-great "Lonesome Crow," their first album. The revered Michael Schenker appeared on guitar, in one of his worst performances. In the same year, the alcohol-inclined guitarist left the Scorpions to join a respectable band, UFO. The German group disbanded until Rudolf Schenker, the real driving force of the band, asked a certain Ulrich Roth to join them as lead guitarist. Roth accepted, but the original lineup of the Scorpions changed: besides the renowned guitarist, they added Francis Bucholz on bass and Jurgen Rosenthal from Dawn Road, the band Roth came from, on drums. Of course, the remarkable Klaus Meine remained on vocals. With this excellent lineup, the real first masterpiece of the old-style Scorpions came to light: "Fly To The Rainbow."
The album differs from the previous one not only due to the better guitar performances by Uli Jon Roth but also due to a definite change in direction, from the psychedelic rock of the debut to a hard rock — always contaminated — that is decidedly more visceral. The opening track is proof of this, starting with its name: "Speedy's Coming." It's the shortest track on the album but encapsulates what the Scorpions would be all about: plenty of good hard rock and intense solos. "Drifting Sun," sung by Roth himself, allows the guitarist to present himself as a great admirer of Jimi Hendrix, drawing on the heavy use of the vibrato bar and effected sounds. The long instrumental outro exemplifies the band's technical prowess. The obligatory ballad, "Fly People Fly", is also very interesting, with simple and repetitive lyrics and many guitar solos. This structure is something our beloved group would revisit in their future works. In "This Is My Song," we find one of the first examples of cross-guitar (later picked up by Thin Lizzy and Judas Priest, just to name the most famous) by Schenker and Roth. The lyrics resemble a nursery rhyme, with two single phrases repeated throughout the track, sung flawlessly by Klaus Meine with truly exceptional melody. Closing the album is the best track: "Fly To The Rainbow." After an acoustic guitar intro where Roth's neoclassical character is already evident, it continues alternating the sound of a ballad with razor-sharp dual guitars and a psychedelic five-to-six-minute outro which is a tribute to Hendrix's acid improvisations.
Even though this album may still seem rather raw compared to the later masterpieces ("In Trance," "Virgin Killer," and "Taken By Force"), it contains all the potential of the great German band. The sounds are already defined, as are the roles of the individual members within the group. It's also true that Roth would take more space in the future, Schenker would execute more engaging rhythms, and Meine would thrill us even more with his delicate and expressive vocal timbre; however, in 1974, the Scorpions had already understood everything. And it was just the beginning.
Ps: As they aged, they managed to produce better covers... this one is truly hideous.
Tracklist Lyrics and Videos
01 Speedy's Coming (03:37)
Do you look at a poster
Do you at the wall
The wall in the room where you live
Where you live with your stars
Just listen to his records
Now hear what he says
For he says, "I love you little girl
Come to see me today"
Speedy's Coming
You live in his heart
Speedy's Coming
You live in his heart
Do you like Alice Cooper
Do you like Ringo Starr
You like David Bowie
And friends in the Royal Albert Hall
Stick up the pictures, movies, TV
And I'll bring you the show little girl
Come to see me today
Speedy's Coming
You live in his heart
Speedy's Coming
You live in his heart
Do you like Alice Cooper
Do you like Ringo Starr
You like David Bowie
And friends in the Royal Albert Hall
Stick up the pictures, movies, TV
And I'll bring you the show little girl
Come to see me today
Speedy's Coming
You live in his heart
Speedy's Coming
You live in his heart
Speedy's Coming
You live in his heart
Speedy's Coming
You live in his heart
05 This Is My Song (04:17)
I can't believe what the people say
There's only hate everywhere
So many people go different ways
So many things don't you care
They see nobody, they see themselves
But a stage like in a show
They see the hell, and they need your help
They need your help, they need love, love
This is my song
I tell you about the story of love
This is my song
I tell you about the story of love
This is my song
I tell you about the story of love
This is my song
I tell you about the story of love
I think I need you, you need me too
The place where we live is here
The world is griping what can I do
For you and you everywhere
I sing this song 'bout the world of love
And hope you hear what I say
Forever freedom, forever love
Forever love everyday
06 Far Away (05:41)
Take your hand and you take my hand
Let's try to learn to fly
Here what I say, here what I say
Dream and close your eyes
Too much hate
Too much hate
So many things are wrong
So many ways, so many ways
Flying through the sky forever
into another time
Yesterday so far away
Many miles together
Were looking for a way
Day by day
So far away
All the world
To do the same
So we go together
Will you show me the way
Time has gone
It has gone
Far away, far away
And today
I'll see a way
Follow me we love you
Just listen, what I say
Forget your name and yesterday
Put out your hand
I'll do the same
Now were going to another land
Will you show me the way
Time has gone
It has gone far away
Far away
07 Fly to the Rainbow (09:31)
Life is empty, can't remember anytime before,
On a plain lit cold December, see it evermore,
Gliding through this life, and another is a child,
and we're doing games, and losing things,
Always playing gigs.
Somewhere in the sky, where the moon the stars shine bright,
Where the sun is shining, in the night.
I am in disgrace, yet i see a smiling face,
and i hope you let me, share your place.
I don't live today.
Rain in the sky , make the world fly,
Into time, beg me your time.
Sun in the sky, make the world fly,
Into time, beg me your time.
Rain in the sky , make the world fly,
Into time, beg me your time.
Sun in the sky, make the world fly,
Into time, beg me your time.
Rain in the sky , make the world fly,
Into time, beg me your time.
Sun in the sky, make the world fly,
Into time, beg me your time.
I lived in magic solitude,
With cloudy looking mountains,
The lake made out of crystal raindrops.
Run through space, 2000 years ago,
I've seen the giant city of Atlantis,
sinking into an eternal wave of darkness.
Shhh.
Somewhere in the blue distance,
Are those long forgotten trees of gold
Broken lives hidden down in the sand
Darkness everywhere, nothing
Symbols, strange symbols on a cold leaf
Painting torrid colours all sky green.
Candle painted white like the moon,
Faraway children bleed, God save them.
Drifting garish ghosts like shadows.
Save break to catch and kill time.
Echoes one round endless meadow.
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