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Rating:
Having recently attended a concert by Uli Jon Roth and being impressed by the tracklist that the now fifty-two-year-old guitarist put together, I can't help but review an album that, as they say in these cases, I have worn out.
Before embarking on his solo career, the Düsseldorf guitarist became famous for being part of a young and wild band called Scorpions comprised of only German members.
In the Scorpions, Uli was part of the songwriting for four albums: the excellent "Fly To The Rainbow" (1974), the two hard-rocking "In Trance" (1975) and "Virgin Killer" (1976) which are also excellent works, and finally the aforementioned "Taken By Force" (1977).
According to many, the pinnacle is reached in the previous album, "Virgin Killer”. I, on the other hand, have the opposite opinion.
Even though the album is marked by internal contrasts between the inseparable duo Klaus Meine/Rudolf Schenker and Uli Roth, here we find excellent tracks that will be part of the subsequent live "Tokyo Tapes," a true masterpiece.
Soon after the release of the live, Roth decided to leave the Scorpions because he found himself in contrast with the direction the band should take.
The following "Lovedriver" (1979) speaks clearly and witnesses what Uli did not want to face: a commercial turn of the band, which then with the passing years would become more pronounced.
But let's take a step back and return to the album in question.
"Taken By Force" starts pounding in every way. "Steamrock Fever" is a hard, solid track in which Meine introduces the band.
The following "We'll Burn In The Sky” " is introduced with mild and melodic rhythms, almost heralding a ballad, but it turns into something else entirely.
After a verse, the electric guitars powerfully introduce a masterful riff by Schenker.
The song continues for a good 6 minutes, captivating and involving during the solo.
"I've Got To Be Free" is a piece composed solely by Uli, well-crafted and with an excellent refrain.
"The Riot Of Your Time," penned by Meine/Schenker, is very enjoyable to listen to and doesn't change the overall judgment much.
The next two songs are again solely penned by Roth.
It is noticeable how the songwriting contrasts are more than evident.
Aside from this, the band interprets tracks like "Sails Of Charon" and "Your Light" at best.
The first characterized by a riff (I've run out of adjectives)... rock-solid.
The second is much more melodic, but not easily forgotten after a few listens.
Then comes the gut-breaking track of the CD: "He's A Woman, She's A Man". The title is quite self-explanatory. Meine describes the vision of an "hypothetical" transvestite. But the best part comes during the solo. Roth gives us a memorable one. No speed, but if I had an electric guitar with me, it would be the first solo I'd learn after that of "Highway Star".
"Born To Touch Your Feelings" closes the album. A ballad of good value with an excellent final idea: making a collage of voices in various languages that accompany the track until the end, starting slowly, one overlapping the other.
In the remastered version, two tracks are added: "Suspender Love" in a studio version and "Polar Nights" from "Tokyo Tapes," which, following the CD renewal, was excluded for space reasons.
I highly recommend this version as Uli's performance in the last described track is masterful.
Tracklist Lyrics Samples and Videos
01 Steamrock Fever (03:40)
We'd like to introduce tonight
The kings of a brand new style
They're hungry to play
We'd like to introduce tonight
The new heavy steamrock style
Quite different and strange
All right, how do you feel tonight
Get up to see and cry
The name of the band
- Steamrock band, steamrock band -
Steam right with hands and feet tonight
Get up to see and cry and they will begin
Here they are
Steamrock fever, screaming rock believers
Steamrock fever in L.A.
Steamrock fever, screaming rock believers
Steamrock fever in L.A.
All right, how do you feel tonight
Get up to see and cry
The name of the band
- Steamrock band, steamrock band -
Steam right with hands and feet tonight
Get up to see and cry and they will begin
Here they are
Steamrock fever, screaming rock believers
Steamrock fever in L.A.
Steamrock fever, screaming rock believers
Steamrock fever in L.A.
02 We'll Burn the Sky (06:30)
I'm in love with the sunshine
I'm in love with the fallin' rain
Everything seems to call your name
Yesterday you were leavin'
Leavin' life and all your pain
Everything wants you back again
Wants you back again
Wants you back again
I found myself through you
And there was love in my life
I felt there was nothing to hide
And my love had a home
But now my mind has started to roam
You're my life giving fire
And you carry all my love
Through you I was so inspired
You're engraved deep in my heart
Heart, heart, heart
My dreams recall us being warm
I've searched for you to be free
The force of life you have always been
I feel blue since you're gone
You're breath of life surrounded me
When can I join you to be free?
Join you to be free
Join you to be free
Wait, can this be a dream?
There is a voice in my head
It belongs to you, it says
Don't cry, no need to be sad
There's a way to stay with you again
It's more than you ever had
And though death brings us apart
Our timeless love always grows
Because you are my other part
I know we've never been apart
Your love sets fire to my heart
We'll burn the sky
When it's time for me to die
We'll burn the sky, oh yeah
We'll burn the sky, oh yeah
When it's time, time, time
We'll burn the sky
We'll burn the sky, oh yeah
03 I've Got to Be Free (04:03)
Music: Ulrich Roth
Lyrics: Ulrich Roth
You're burning my heart
you're burning my mind
you're spoiling my art
you're wasting my time
No taste in your actions
no taste in your line
no truth or direction
no true love of mine
You say you wanna be a superstar
don't give a damn how to get that far
you say you wanna ride a diamond car
but I don't like your fat cigar.
Hey, hey, hey don't you wanna see
I'm not your stepping stone
hey, hey, hey I've got to be free
so leave my life alone
You're in love with success
you're spilling my wine
don't follow my tracks, babe
you ways are not mine
Your main god is money
you're wasting my life
I'm not your Bugs Bunny
and you're not my wife
You say you only do it for our best
but you don't wanna see what I detest
you think me crack-brained
that I'm gonna leave your show
but you can't see what I see
so let me go.
04 The Riot of Your Time (04:12)
The only king of rock has gone
Gone to heaven
A star on the way to the stars
Another king of rock is born, '77
Just born to be there when it starts
'94, '95, if the world is still alive
Will be the start for the riot of your time
Here's a ticket for the burning train
To set the world in flames
To play the hero's game
The riot of your time
Here's a ticket for the future days
You'll be the x-rock king
The new electric face
The riot of your time
A new generation's mind
The riot of your time
He's got the message to be more,
A new desire,
A storm full of life wild and young
"The X-Rock 1994 electric fire"
Will burn out the time like the sun
'94, '95, if the world is still alive
Will be the start for the riot of your time
Here's a ticket for the burning train
To set the world in flames
To play the hero's game
The riot of your time
Here's a ticket for the future days
You'll be the x-rock king
The new electric face
The riot of your time
A new generation's mind
The riot of your time
05 The Sails of Charon (04:23)
Dark night, there is no light
In the realm of the black magic man
Souls flight into the cold blight
Of the destroyer's magic land
Poor man! Those spirits are stronger
They're the ones who will reign
You're struggles are in vain
Blind man, you're suckin' your own blood
Soon black magic's dying
You'd better start crying
Blind man, you're suckin' your own blood
Soon black magic's dying
You'd better start crying
Burn out your evil desire
The dark Angel's kingdom is
Made out of mire
Burn out your evil desire
The dark Angel's kingdom is
Made out of mire
Keep on for the kingdom of light
There is no darkness
And there is no night
06 Your Light (04:33)
When you're feeling lost and blue
When there is no love for you
You'll find him and it's all right
It's all right, it's all right
When you're feeling down and low
When you've got no place to go
And when no one smiles hello
He's by your side, you know
When you're getting deaf and blind
When you drag one leg behind
And when you're finally gonna
Lose your mind
It's all right, it's all right
It's all right
'Cause he is by your side
'Cause he will be your guide
'Cause he will be your light
And you're not alone, you're not alone
You're not alone, you're not alone
08 Born to Touch Your Feelings (07:41)
I was born from the sound of the strings
For someone to give everything
To be a song just for your feeling
Close your eyes and I'll try to get in
To waken your heart like the sping
'Cause I was born to touch your feelings
Steal the time, take a song and be glad
Be free as the birds, don't be sad
Your time will come, I'll make you feel it
You're still young like the sun after rain
Follow the light it's not in vain
And you will see I'll touch your feelings
You've got your songs
They are everyday for awhile
Just the only way to feel all right
You've got your songs
They are everyday for awhile
Just the only way to feel all right
You were born just to lose or to win
To be someone's chime in the wind
To live between your mind and feelings
Find your way, check it out
Learn each day
Follow the light, it's not in vain
And you will see I'll touch your feelings
You've got your songs
They are everyday for awhile
Just the only way to feel all right
You've got your songs
They are everyday for awhile
Just the only way to feel all right
I was born from the sound of the strings
For someone to give everything
To be a song just for your feeling
I was born from the sound of the strings
For someone to give everything
To be a song just for your feeling
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