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Lovedrive

Scorpions - Lovedrive Audio CD

A fair review of the Scorpions "Lovedrive" Audio CD. Please note that the below review is the views of the authors, and authors only. You can get a complete list of all Scorpions reviews here, or go back to the Scorpions tabs.

Band: Scorpions
Title: Lovedrive
Rating:

Release Date: 1997-08-19
Media: Audio CD

Tracks: 1: Loving You Sunday Morning 2: Another Piece of Meat 3: Always Somewhere 4: Coast to Coast 5: Can't Get Enough 6: Is There Anybody There? 7: Lovedrive 8: Holiday

A Metal Classic
They might not be the hardest but nevertheless, they rock! This album is a must-have for any serious metal or hard rock fan. The scorpions were never the hardest rocking metal band out there but they were certainly one of the best when it comes to melody and catchiness. Every song is a keeper. Several of them are Scorpions classics and are still played live to this day. This was the transitional album between the changing of the guard of founding lead guitarist Uli Roth and Matthias Jabs. Legendary guitarist Michael Schenker, of UFO and MSG fame helped rhythm guitarist and brother Rudy with lead guitar duties after Uli quit the band, for this album only. Jabs and Rudy did the rest of the lead guitar work.

Every track is a highlight. They even threw in a reggae song in Is There Anybody There? Loving You Sunday Morning, Another Piece Of Meat, Coast to Coast, Lovedrive and Holiday are all classic Scorpions. One of their finest.

Best Hard Rock Album Ever?
Hit Parader used to have a feature in which a then-contemporary rock star would rate his/her top ten albums of all time. I first learned of the "Lovedrive" album in 1982 through Hit Parader magazine. I was into Iron Maiden then and was intrigued when Dave Murray, Iron Maiden guitarist and the featured album ranker in one issue of Hit Parader, rated "Lovedrive" by Scorpions as one of his favorite albums. I had recently been turned onto Scorpions through the success of the "Blackout" album (another great recording)and was curious as to why Murray thought so highly of Scorpions "Lovedrive. " I was already a fan of Scorpions but only owned the "Blackout" album. I thus sought out the "Lovedrive" album based on Dave Murray's recommendation and my own love of "Blackout. " When I found "Lovedrive" in my local record store, I was blown away by the album cover (what high school freshman boy wouldn't have been?); in fact, I felt that I was getting away with something illegal even being able to purchase the album as a minor. Can you say, "breast?" I knew you could.

All kidding aside, Dave Murray was right about "Lovedrive. " This album has to rank as one of the best rock records ever made; perhaps THE best hard rock album ever. The mixture of heartfelt (not cheesy) ballads, pure rocking metal, mid-tempo AOR prototype "hits," immaculate production and arguably the best song writing ever produced by Scorpions, make this a must have recording.

Coming at the juncture of what I term "Early Scorpions" (with Ulrich Roth) and "Classic Scorpions" (the hit producing version of the band), this album reveals a group poised for the big time but not quite there yet in 1979; at least not in the U. S. market. Though the Ulrich Roth material from 1974-1978 is fantastic and foundational for any serious rock guitarist, 1979's "Lovedrive" marked the departure of Roth and the '70's vibe. In came a newer, more polished, more modern (at the time) sound that was ready-made for public consumption. Obviously, Scorpions would go on to greater fame after 1979, but never greater writing, production and musicianship all in one package. Like Dave Murray, I highly recommend "Lovedrive. "

I'll go one step further and recommend all Scorpions albums from 1972 - 1985 (I'm a fan of ALL their efforts but the average consumer should probably focus on the Scorpions music within these years). Keep in mind, if you purchase any Scorpions albums produced before 1979's "Lovedrive" album, you are getting a different experience. Roth era Scorpions is essentally a more progressive band; well worth checking out if you appreciate great musicianship, but not the slick, "pop" hard rock of the 80's. Pre-Lovedrive Scorpions were a band of great musicians, ultimately divided by divergent goals. Rudolph Schenker and Klaus Meine seemed to focus on the goal of hitting the proverbial "big-time (check out the song "Top of the Bill" from the "Intrance" album) whereas, Ulrich Roth was idealistically focused on producing music that appealed to his soul. This noticeable division in style and purpose made for great hard rock albums with a twist of diversity; however, the unified goal was lacking. Conversely, Scorpions from "Lovedrive" onward reflect musicians on a common mission to become superstars; a mission in which they succeeded.

By the way, I would like to offer a correction to a previous reviewer who said that the solo in the song,"Always Somewhere," was performed by Matthias Jabs. I'm quite certain that it was performed by Rudolph Schenker.

Stung for Life!
Killer stuff here & not a bad cut to be found! Melodic, but heavy, "Lovedrive," (album) is all over the board sonically. 5 stars = Masterpeice

Absolute top flight album!

"Lovedrive" ranks right up there with "In Trance" for a tie of my favorite Scrops album. "Another Piece of Meat," just rips & roars at full throttle! "Holiday," on the other end of the spectrum, may be the Scrops best ballad. It really takes you away! Everything else in between is just lean mean tasty meat for this sonic sub sandwich for your muse to devour!

Klaus Meine really is on top of his game here, adding his potent pipes for what may be his best vocal performance. Micheal Schenker reunites with his brother Rudolf, & Matthais Jabs proves he can take the reigns for lead guitar on latter albums. They make for a towering trio of shiny metallic leads, bent on a mission to pierce your brain through your ears!

If you could only have two Scorpion albums, "Lovedrive," & "In Trance" are the ones to have. Enough good music here to take you on a well deserved holiday!
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Just Another Great Hit By the Scorpions
Just great classics on this album as well with brilliant musicianship and great lead guitar work by Mathias Jabbs: simply one of the most underrated lead guitarists from that period. Yet another solid hit by the Scorpions, pretty much the leading hard rock band along with Def Leppard to come out of the 70s and 80s (as opposed to metal proper such as Priest and Maiden). Get out your lighters and raise your hands for another model hard rock band for more model power ballads with 'Always Somewhere', 'Is There Anybody There?', and 'Holiday. ' You can't go wrong with this album or any album by Scorpions except those following Love At First Sting which was their last good album. .

Classic scorps with bonus
A good extra guitar to replace Uli. a classic Scorpions album with the bonus addition of Rudalphs Fantabulous guitar brother Mike. This album is a must have for scorp fans. .

You can see a complete list of all Scorpions discography, or go back to the Scorpions tabs. There is also a good guide on how to read guitar tabs here.