A record collection is fun for a multitude of reasons. My favorite is fact that I have acquired records from others collections, I have 5 albums of Nazareth from 1976-1982. I hope this review gives me a glimpse into the past of the person who kept coming back for more of their music.
If I find a couple more I remember seeing a others, I'll update this list. I will also try to provide a review of this discography.
Edit: I have listened to the first three albums, and I was instantly reminded of Foreigner and Journey but the lead vocals voice is more Motorhead sounding. There were times when I was attracted to the keyboard, and others where I felt the mix was not there. Telegram on the 1976 Album Close Enough for Rock and Roll is the premiered single with lyrics on the inside cover.
Edit'Expect No Mercy is a great album, you can really hear how the band has come together to create a new sound to their music. The keys are on point and the vocalist have learned to harmonize and play much softer than previously recorded albums. We also see a lot more art than previous albums, we see now that the band isn't establishing their look at this point but instead they are focused on selling music. Their fan base was developed, they didn't need pretty faces to keep selling the music.
Absolutely recommend checking out Nazareth perform Expect No Mercy live at the Rockpalast in Germany 1984.
As I am working on this edit I am listening to the next album, Malice in Wonderland, I have noticed a complete change in the style of music. There is much more jazz, they included a vibraphone in the track Fast Cars.
Sadly one thing that I do not enjoy seeing are the members of the band growing older and trying to perform like they once did before. I'll include this eye rotting material here. They can still perform very well together, there are recent performances by the lead Singer Dan McCafferty and he still has a huge following in Europe, performing as recently as 2017 Love Hurts and I cringe linking this for you to watch.
I have just flipped the 2XS album, approximately 20 minutes per side for the Long Play 45s. This record is okay, side two includes Dream On, you wont mistake it for Steven Tyler's Aerosmith Dream On .
I will leave you with Nazareth in their prime at Woodstock in 1977. If was alive then I would have loved to go, so many wonderful performances and concerts alike.
I would love to see more of these posts!
If you haven't heard the iconic song of Air Supply check out this one hit wonder -> All Outta Love
I can see why my aunt enjoyed this music when she was a 20 year old about to graduate the Police Academy. These guys are total advocates for powerful women and it really shows in Just Another Woman.
"As we sat by the fire
The flame just grewTalking about just the things we knew
Watching a new day arise outside my room
The more I listened the more she told
And in fascination my heart was sold
Weaving in and out of my mind
With a skidder off now"
As this album progresses I can hear the story unfold of two people meeting and falling in deep love. A separation occurs and when the lovers meet up Old Habits Die Hard lives up to its name.
"You know and I know
that you can't live on memories aloneThere's just one memory that I'm thinking of
Just one habit that I can't shake off
It's you Old habits die hard, old habits die hard"
I enjoy thinking about what that memory was, I might as well reminisce over a high school sweetheart too. We had some very deviant ways to get our time together, out from under the bible and watchful eyes of our guardians.
As the album nears an end I anticipate a climatic finale, "I'm still not in love with you, I can't get excited, I don't feel the way I use to".
Wow that hits hard, it makes me wonder which party decided that they were not there for a relationship anymore. By the sounds of the final song on this album, it sounds like the author took the relationship for granted. The relationship that arose from no-one, a random drifter in the night, looking for a man to hold.
My Best Friend really proves the musician ship of this band, I feel as though this album was planned intentionally, the acoustic guitar picked ever lightly. Such a nice find, I'll be adding this band to the top shelf.
I'm listening to this album right now on google play music :)