Thunderhead - Thunderhead (1975-77) [2009]

This 1975 ABC Records release can't decide if it is hard rock or blues rock with a hard edge, but one thing is for certain: no matter how competent the band is, the disc suffers from having no personality whatsoever. One minute they travel into Sweathog territory, the next moment they are an up-tempo Duke & the Drivers with none of the humor. Mike Dagger, certainly no relation to Mick Jagger, is on lead vocals and flute. Imagine, if you will, a growling Ian Anderson fronting Savoy Brown doing a tribute to Black Oak Arkansas with none of Anderson's clever writing skills. That's not a joke, but this record is the purest example of a band working diligently to say absolutely nothing. Lead guitarist Pat Rush and drummer Bobby Torello worked with Johnny Winter while producer/engineer John Haeny has Bob Segarini's Roxy album to his credit in that double capacity as well, though better known as engineer on albums by Linda Ronstadt, Jackson Browne, and other musicians somewhat removed from this genre. "Lay It on the Line" is one of the better songs, a harder Atlanta Rhythm Section with flute. "Got to Get Away" has a driving chorus, and the guitar lines cook, but the song suffers from underproduction -- it sounds like an engineer did the production work, drums and cymbals fight with the guitars on this particular tune. They would have been perfect on a bill with the latter-day Bachman Turner Overdrive after Randy Bachman made his exodus. "Showdown" has some Marshall Tucker influence, the vocals are all on key, and the band plays with heart, but without a Johnny Winter guest appearance on vocals (he is thanked on the album, so maybe he slipped some guitar work in) there's no star power and the album sounds like back-up musicians cutting their own record. Nice cover photo of lightning in the clouds, the musicians all taking their best Pat Travers band poses in the dark photos on the back, and there's a competent cover of Lowell George's "Juliette" from the Dixie Chicken album that fans of Little Feat may want for their collection.