Album
Rock Of The Westies
1975 · Rock
47 collectors on Gatefold own this
Rock Of The Westies is a Rock album by Elton John, originally released in 1975. On Gatefold: 145 pressings tracked, owned by 47 collectors.
About
Less than four months after issuing the landmark and autobiographical Captain Fantastic and the Brown Dirt Cowboy (1975), Elton John re-emerged with a new band and a slightly modified sound. However, the departure of Dee Murray (bass) and Nigel Olsson (drums) would ultimately begin a deceleration in terms of John's success, which rivalled only the Beatles' and Elvis Presley's in terms of global acclaim. The revamped band grew to include new associates James Newton Howard (keyboards) and Kenny Passarelli (bass) as well as Roger Pope (drums) and Caleb Quaye (guitar), who had both performed with John as far back as his first long-player, Empty Sky (1968). He also retained the services of Davey Johnstone (guitar) and Ray Cooper (percussion) from the most recent lineup. Musically, Rock of the Westies (1975) maintains the balance of harder-edged material and effective ballads. In fact, one of the album's strongest suits is the wide spectrum of strong material. The ballsy no-nonsense "Street Kids" and the aggressive gringo rock of the ZZ Top sound-alike "Grown Some Funk of Your Own" contrast the poignant power balladry of "I Feel Like a Bullet (In the Gun of Robert Ford)" or the dark and brooding tale of addiction on "Feed Me." Perhaps inspired by the crossover R&B appeal of "Philadelphia Freedom," the up-tempo "Island Girl" bears a distinct and danceable groove that lies somewhere between a slightly Jamaican vibe and disco. Perhaps more soulful in the traditional sense are the boogie-based "Hard Luck Story" or propulsive Bo Diddley beat that drives "Billy Bones and the White Bird." While the increasingly fickle public as well as lack of a strong follow-up to the chart-topping single "Island Girl" may have prevented Rock of the Westies from becoming the heir apparent to Captain Fantastic and the Brown Dirt Cowboy, in the wake of John's flawless predecessors it remains a strong and worthwhile entry that also sets the stage for its follow-up, Blue Moves (1976). ~ Lindsay Planer, Rovi.
via Last.fm
The Clerk says
The Clerk knows this whole record — the pressing quirks, the credits, the take.
Tracklist
Side A
- A1Medley (Yell Help / Wednesday Night / Ugly)6:30
- A2Dan Dare (Pilot Of The Future)3:25
- A3Island Girl3:45
- A4Grow Some Funk Of Your Own4:45
- A5I Feel Like A Bullet (In The Gun Of Robert Ford)5:30
Side B
- B1Street Kids6:30
- B2Hard Luck Story5:05
- B3Feed Me4:00
- B4Billy Bones And The White Bird4:25
Sound DNA
- Rock
- Classic Rock
- polished
- rowdy
- festive
Credits
The people behind it.
Performers
- Ann OrsonBACKING VOCALS
- Caleb QuayeACOUSTIC GUITAR, ELECTRIC GUITAR, RHYTHM GUITAR BACKING VOCALS GUITAR
- Clive FranksBACKING VOCALS PERCUSSION
- Davey JohnstoneACOUSTIC GUITAR, BANJO, MANDOLIN, ELECTRIC GUITAR, SLIDE GUITAR BACKING VOCALS GUITAR , MANDOLIN
- Elton JohnPIANO, VOCALS VOCALS VOCALS, PIANO
- James Newton HowardELECTRIC PIANO, SYNTHESIZER, CLAVINET, MELLOTRON SYNTHESIZER, HARPSICHORD, ELECTRIC PIANO, CLAVINET, MELLOTRON CLAVINET , SYNTHESIZER , HARPSICHORD
- Kenny PassarelliBACKING VOCALS BASS BASS GUITAR
- Kiki DeeBACKING VOCALS FEATURING VOCALS
- LaBelleBACKING VOCALS
- Ray CooperPERCUSSION PERCUSSION, DRUMS, MARIMBA, BELLS, GONG PERCUSSION, DRUMS, MARIMBA, BELLS, VIBRAPHONE , GONG
- Roger PopeDRUMS
47 collectors on Gatefold own this · 145 pressings tracked on Gatefold
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