James Gang - Newborn `75 & Jesse Come Home `76 (2004)

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James Gang - Newborn `75 & Jesse Come Home `76 (2004)

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y 1974, the James Gang, featuring vocalist Roy Kenner and guitarist Tommy Bolin, had run out of steam, and founding member Jimmy Fox decided to disband the group. One short year later, the Gang was back with a new line-up (featuring Bubba Keith and Frank Zappa-lookalike Richard Shack) and a new LP, 'Newborn'. The album went nowhere, and Keith and Shack split. A year after the release of Newborn, the Gang emerged again, this time with keyboardist Phil Giallombardo and guitarist Bob Webb. This line-up's album, 'Jesse Come Home,' hit stores in '76. Five years after Joe Walsh left the band, the new Gang just couldn't stir up any interest, so they broke up for good later in the year.

Wounded Bird, a great label for reissues, brings us these 2 infamous albums on one disc. As always with Wounded Bird, the sound is fantastic and the packaging is just OK. The booklet features a photo of the Giallombardo/Webb Gang with Phil doing his famous "'Thing' from the Addams Family" trick. Ironically, Phil was in the James Gang before Joe Walsh joined and the band began recording. By 1974-1976, the James Gang was such a revolving door of musicians that it was hard to keep up them. All group members had their own talents, and none of the musicians tried to sound like Joe Walsh (save for Bob Webb) or the previous James Gang line-up. Although their popularity declined real quick and the Gang's musical focus was non-existent by this era, they still cranked out some good tunes. 'Newborn' isn't quite the sonic revelation the title promises, but the Shack/Keith line-up does some pretty cool Mountain imitations (see "Earthshaker") and offers lots of crunchy power chords and great rock vocals. I think the best cuts here are "Shoulda Seen Your Face," "Merry Go Round," and "Gonna Get By," all solid rockers. Far from essential listening, but still a good rockin' time. I tend to favor 'Jesse Come Home' a bit more than Newborn because the sounds are a little more varied. Plus, it's interesting to hear Bobby Webb cop Joe Walsh here and there (check out the guitar solo on "Feeling Alright"…."Stealin' the Show" is a poor man's "Falling Down"). Besides a few nods to the Gang's most famous member, this album has nothing to do with the loud, power-trio rock that the Gang cranked out with Joe as its leader. Phil croons on "Love Hurts," a mellow Andrew Gold song, and plays one of the hokiest piano lines ever on the mini-epic "When I Was a Sailor." "Peasant Song" is a melodramatic Giallombardo tune complete with full orchestral arrangements. Although it's actually very pretty, "The Bomber" it ain't.

It's great to finally have these albums on CD. This release will be essential for completists and interesting to James Gang fans who thought the band was over when Walsh left. Or you could just buy it to look at the booklet and see Phil Giallombardo's hand trick.

by berkshire_cowboy, amazon

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James Gang - Newborn `75 & Jesse Come Home `76 (2004)

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James Gang - Newborn `75 & Jesse Come Home `76 (2004)

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