TUCKY BUZZARD "ALLRIGHT ON THE NIGHT"

Artist: Tucky Buzzard
Album: Allright In the Night
Company: Passport
Catalog: PPS 97001
Year: 1973
Genre: rock
Grade: *** (3 stars)
Condition: VG+ cover / VG+ LP
Comments: --
Quantity available: 1
Price: $15,00

So what if Tucky Buzzard and their management company couldn't spell to save their lives  ...  Seriously, did they really mean to spell it "Allright"  ?  Back to school guys ...   

 

Produced by longtime mentor/supporter Bill Wyman, 1973's "Allright On the Night" stood as their fourth studio album.  Curiously, it seems to be considered one of  their weakest releases.   Where that reputation comes from is a mystery to me since I love about two thirds of the collection - imagine having that kind of batting average.   Anyhow, if you're buying a Tucky Buzzard album, or reading a Tucky Buzzard related review, chances are you already knew what to expect.    Beautiful melodies, sophisticated lyrics, delicate arrangements ...   NOT.   Musically it wasn't a major departure from their earlier work.  Sure, this time out there were a couple of adjustments to the sound.  The horns that populated some of the earlier releases were largely gone (good thing).  This time around the material was less blues based (also good).  In fact, those rockers provided the album highlights.  'Rainbow Rider' was simply one of the best rockers they ever recorded and a missed opportunity for radio dominance.  Almost as good were the opener 'Can't Live without It' and the breezy Faces-like 'Rudie the Movie Star'.   Terry Taylor may not have been the world's most original guitarist, but his playing was always tasteful and economical - the man never wasted space with needless solos.   Similarly Jimmy Henderson wasn't the best singer you've ever encountered, but when he focused and avoided his over-singing urges, the man was impressive; check out the pretty ballad 'Gold Medallions'.  And then there was the band's overlooked catalyst - drummer Chris Johnson.   With the exception of a needless solo at the end of 'Last War' his playing was simply impeccable.  

 

I'll readily admit it took me a couple of spins to discover this set's charms, but if you were willing to devote the time, there were more than a couple of gems here.    

 

"Allright On the Night" track listing:
(side 1)

1.) Can't Live without It   (Taylor - Jimmy Henderson - Dave Brown) - 3:59

'Can't Live without It' started the album with a full bore, no-frills rock tune.  Powered by Henderson's powerhouse of a voice, the song's slightly boozy edge has always reminded me of a cross between The-Stones meet The Faces.  Having listened to this tune dozens of times, let me tell you that the secret sauce came in the form of Johnson's cataclysmic drums.   Awesome performance.   rating: ***** stars

2.) Fast Bluesy Woman   (Taylor - Jimmy Henderson - Dave Brown - Chris Johnson) - 3:30

The acoustic opening was kind of interesting, but the song abruptly switched over to pedestrian English-guys-trying-to-sound-bluesy.  There was actually a decent riff buried in the song, but it never managed to escape the pedestrian melody and plodding lyrics didn't do much to help the situation.  Terry Taylor's slide solo provided the highpoint.   YouTube has a clip of the band performing the song for a 1972 appearance on German television's Beat Club: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jt94UOT_odw   rating: *** stars

3.) Gold Medallions  (Taylor - Jimmy Henderson) - 3:26

One of the most commercial tunes they ever crafted - glorious melody with Henderson handling the vocals in a rather restrained fashion (well for Tucky Buzzard).  Curiously the US version was edited down by nearly a minute.   The track was tapped as a promo single in the States:

 

- 1973's 'Gold Medallions' (mono) b/w 'Gold Medallions' (stereo) (Passport catalog PPA 7901)    rating: **** stars

4.) All I Want Is Your Love  (Taylor - Jimmy Henderson) - 3:41

Slinky, almost Latin-rock sounding tune that was marred by one thing - Henderson's bizarre and highly irritating vocal.  He was clearly trying to get that effect, but you had to wonder why.   rating: *** stars

         

(side 2)
1.) Rainbow Rider  (Taylor - Jimmy Henderson) - 4:24

Hum, some tasty Johnson tribal drumming that opened up into a great little rocker that was built on one of those insidiously catchy little riffs Terry Taylor seemingly tossed out at will. Imagine a really strong Free tune.   One of the album highlights and you have to wonder why it wasn't tapped as the single.  I still occasionally find myself huming the refrain ...  rating: **** stars

2) Rudie Movie Star  (Jimmy Henderson) - 4:01 

Taylor's slashing chords have always reminded me a bit of Keith Richards playing  style and this breezy rocker had the same kind of grit the best Stones tunes exhibited.  The title was dumb, but try sitting still through this one.  Another great tune with kudos to Johnson's rock steady percussion.   rating: **** stars

3.) Pictures  (Taylor - Jimmy Henderson) - 3:31

Darn, another nifty Taylor riff that crawls into your memory and overstays its welcome.   'Pictures' was a surprisingly subtle and appealing mid-tempo ballad with Henderson sounding fine, except when he hit overdrive on the refrain.  Taylor's wonderful solo was enough to make you overlook whatever other shortcomings there were.  rating:*** stars

4.) Last War  (Taylor - Jimmy Henderson) - 5:13

'Last War' started out sounding like it was going down a plodding blues-rock alley and while it was a blues-rocker, the emphasis shifted to the rock side ...  always liked the double tracked lead guitar and the apocalyptic lyrics.  On this song Johnson overplayed his hand - the end-of-song drum solo was simply unnecessary and the acid-tinged fade out sound effects were simply dumb.    rating: *** stars