Scorpions
Taken By Force

THE REVIEW

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.