Growl

Growl - Growl - 1974 - DiscReet

Released on Frank Zappa and Herb Cohen's DiscReet label in 1974, Growl were a good hard rock band from the U.S.A. All the band members except guitarist, Mick Small were former members of the great Todd Rundgren's Utopia band. This s/t album remains largely unknown. The album is a great mix of rock 'n' roll, hard rock, and blues rock. There are shades of Johnny Winter, and early CCR on some tracks. The disc opens with the Paul Butterfield "Shake Your Money Maker", one of the great classic blues rock numbers. It sounds great, especially the heavy guitar work. "Young and Crazy" has good vocals, and some good Johnny Winter style guitar. "I Wonder" is more of the same type of rock 'n' roll. "Working Man" and "Sadie" keep up the trend. Leiber and Stoller's all time classic rock 'n' roller, "Hound Dog" really rocks. "Take My Life", "Things Ain't Better" and "Who's This Man" are no classics, but are played really well, and fit in perfectly with the great rockin' style of the album. The band's version of Willie Dixon's "I Just Want to Make Love To You" is brilliant, and very reminiscent of Foghat's early work. All in all, a very good, if very short album that deserved more attention, but like so many bands of the early to mid seventies, Growl faded back into obscurity. If you like good straightforward, no messin' rock/blues/hard rock, you may like this album which is HR by A.O.O.F.C

TRACKS:

Side One:

SHAKE YOUR MONE MAKER - Paul Butterfield
YOUNG AND CRAZY - Dennis Rodriguez
I WONDER - Dennis Rodriguez
WORKING MAN - Richard Manuputi
SADIE - Dennis Rodriguez

Side Two:

HOUND DOG - J.Leiber, & M.Stoller
TAKE MY LIFE - Dennis Rodriguez
THINGS AIN’T BETTER - Dennis Rodriguez
WHO’S THIS MAN - Dennis Rodriguez
I JUST WANT TO MAKE LOVE TO YOU - W.Dixon



BAND

Harry Brender Brandis - Guitar, Vocals
Mick Small - Guitar
Geno Lucero - Bass
Danny McBride - Drums
Dennis Rodriguez, Richard Manuputi - Vocals