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Scorpions - Lonesome Crow Audio CD

A fair review of the Scorpions "Lonesome Crow" 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.

Scorpions Band: Scorpions
Title: Lonesome Crow
Rating:
Release Date: 2002-10-29
Media: Audio CD

Tracks: 1: I'm Goin' Mad 2: It All Depends 3: Leave Me 4: In Search of the Peace of Mind 5: Inheritance 6: Action 7: Lonesome Crow

Not your average Scorpions
At all. I'll make this short and sweet:

This does not sound like any other Scorpions album. At ALL. . . really. In some ways, this is one of my favorites, as it shows how bands can change and grow and not be better or worse, just different.

Having lived in Germany for a while, this feels familiar in that some aspects of German culture are always a few years behind what the rest of the world considers "popular culture". It could be said that there are some "dated" parts to this album (insofar as style is concerned) as compared to the US and British music scene at the time this was released, but those "dated" parts (a hint of psychedelia, some post-50's poppiness, etc. ) get reworked with an energy and desire for change that only seems to come from young people living and working outside of a mainstream scene. If you've ever experienced young street performers in another country trying to capture US Country music from the 60's, you'll have seen and felt EXACTLY what I'm trying to describe.

This is a great album, and a beautiful snapshot of an age and a culture in the middle of an identity crisis.

Buy this.


I'm never lonesome when this album's playing
Considering the year was 1972, and heavy metal was more like "heavy hard rock" back then, this album holds up surprisingly well. I originally didn't think the Scorpions Lonesome Crow was that great of an album, but giving it a second chance 5 years later I've now realized the error of my ways.

Let's talk about the final song on the album, the title song. What I originally thought was just a Black Sabbath rip-off (copying what is now widely referred to as the "Black Sabbath medley" from the debut) I found out I was completely wrong. The song is actually better than the Sabbath medley, and some of the guitar soloing is so extraordinary that it seriously borders what the Mahavishnu Orchestra was doing at the time.

I can't believe I actually thought the majority of the guitar soloing was just copying what Black Sabbath did on their debut album! Nope, far from it. The only connection to Black Sabbath is in the way both songs start off with eerie vocal melodies before a loud, complex guitar jam builds and builds. That's it.

The Scorpions have a certain atmosphere from the Lonesome Crow album that I've honestly never experienced before. Much of the album doesn't really sound dated to me.

This album is also brilliant for having the prettiest vocal melody from a hard rock band I've ever heard. "In Search of the Peace of Mind" is the song I'm referring to. The very beginning of the song has a guitar riff that sounds extremely similar to something Judas Priest would go on to do, and I wouldn't be surprised if the members of Judas Priest were fans of this album. That's not a typical guitar riff, that's for sure. It sounds much different from anything Sabbath, Zeppelin or Deep Purple were doing.

Anyway, the rest of that song is just as brilliant, because the Simon and Garfunkel-like vocal melody that slowly builds into a screamer is amazing to me on so many levels. It's truly a magnificent song.

I love this album a lot and highly recommend it. You will also hear some Moody Blues influences, which is just extraordinary to me. Sometimes the beginning stages of a band capture their very best moments, and this is a perfect example of that. .


germany in the 70s
I spent three years in Germany 1976 1977 1978 as a GI. I was surprised too to see so many writing about this album. I bought this LP and Virgin Killer in the x rated cover at German stores. I love these records and the memories they bring. Germany was kind of surreal for me at this time. Remember it was split in two, Warsaw Pact and NATO facing off over the GRENZE (border). And there were left wing terrorists groups bombing and kidnapping as well. I remember the young people i hung out with still seemed like hippies of the sixties. Heck, I saw Bob Marley live in Berlin (the only time i smelled pot in Germany). Contrasted with the disco fever which also swept the country at the same time it was a very exciting, diverse and vibrant country.
When I came home to Cali I turned friends onto the scorps especially Virgin Killer was well liked. I used to listen to Lonesome Crow late at night don't forget In Trance! We were pretty much the only people who heard of the band before "Breakout" knocked American kids out of their socks.


The best jazz I ever heard
I have only one thing to say: I'm a lifelong Scorpions fan, I own pretty much all their albums, and I think that in many ways, this one was their best. I don't have to add anything to some of the brilliant reviews below. I can understand why they never did a second one in the same style. If you hit 10 out of 10 at the first try, there is nothing more to do. You have to turn to something different.


A lonesome crow worth buying
this version is remastered and Finally!!! contains the full original album art, as well as a booklet containing rare photos of the original lineup,and a summery from Klaus Meine himself. This album has always been one of my all time favorites, and finally a release the way it should have been released in the first place. I hope that the same will be done with the rest of the early releases, especially "Fly To The Rainbow" , the follow up album to LC. If you want a copy of Lonesome Crow , this is the version to buy.


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.

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