Published on Jan 5, 1998
LET’S BOOGIE…
That’s pretty much how to describe The Edgar Winter Group’s 1972
album
They Only Come Out At Night. Featuring the number one hit
“Frankenstein” and the classic-rock standard “Free Ride,” this
album is rockin’ and boogie’in blues.
Somewhat sounding like the very early ZZ Top, the following
tunes combine boogie rock with just a touch of blues: “Hangin’
Around,” “When It Comes” (the drums starting out this song really
get your attention), “Undercover Man” and “Rock ‘N’ Roll Boogie
Woogie Blues.” (With a title like that one, rest assured this album
lives up to the name.)
Two surprises that make this album great as it already is: “Alta
Mira.” This one is similar to Paul Simon’s “Me And Julio Down By
The Schoolyard”; that unique sound is there, if you’re familiar
with the “Schoolyard” tune. “Round And Round” can easily pass as a
country song that would fit today’s country and/or southern rock
standards. “Autumn” is the only slow ballad tune on the album. And
“We All Had A Real Good Time” is another rocker, in the style of
the early Rod Stewart and Faces.
Two members of The Edgar Winter Group would leave on their own
and become popular musicians in their own right: guitarist Ronnie
Montrose, who would form his own group called Montrose, featuring
the vocals of a then-unknown singer at the time, Sammy Hagar. And
Dan Hartman, who not only is best remembered for the hit song “I
Can Dream About You,” featured in the movie
Streets of Fire, but would also become a succesful producer
for well-known acts, as well as writing material for various movie
soundtracks until his death in 1994. And lastly, a major role in
the success of The Edgar Winter Group was former “Hang On Sloopy”
McCoy’s guitarist/vocalist Rick Derringer. He would produce the
group’s albums and also become a member when Montrose’s replacement
had left.
You will have a real good time with
They Only Come Out At Night. This album is for those who
truly enjoy classic-rock and/or just basic rock ‘n’ roll in
general. There’s never a dull moment in this one.