Gasoline Alley
This was originally going to be two separate posts, one for Rod Stewart’s Gasoline Alley, the second for Deep Purple’s In Rock, the latter being released 3 June 1970. I found I couldn’t really justify two posts, though, because I had so little to say about the Deep Purple album.
It’s hard to express just how little In Rock does for me. I’ll concede it doesn’t rise to Atomic Rooster levels of shiteness, but then few things do. The album opens with Ritchie Blackmore wanking all over his fretboard and goes downhill from there. Fairness compels me to say that Roger glover’s bass is good throughout, as is Ian Paice’s drumming. Jon Lord is always value for money. The rest is just hystrionics and bombast interrupted by screeching.
By contrast, I really liked Gasoline Alley just as I liked An Old Raincoat Won’t Ever Let You Down back in February. The selection of songs is varied, and Rod tackles each one with appropriate sensitivity or gusto. I particularly liked his treatment of Dylan’s Only A Hobo which I don’t think His Bobness had officially released under his own name at that time, but I like every track on the album.
I’m not entirely convinced by the mixing and production, but the musicianship is excellent, of course, mostly provided by the Faces. Unlike the pounding monotony of Deep Purple, the arrangements on Gasoline Alley leave enough space for the songs to breath. Everything is very musical and the better for it.
It comes down to this: Gasoline Alley is superior to In Rock in every respect, and if you must choose one to listen to this evening, Rod the Mod’s your man.
If you want to listen to In Rock, it’s available all over the place, and good luck to you. If you’re sensible, though, you’ll find Gasoline Alley on Spotify and also as a YouTube Playlist
Recent Comments