"...I'm A Bad Bad Boy...And I'm Gonna Steal Your Love..."
Mark Barry at Reckless Records, Lon | UK | 01/12/2010
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Like most people I was introduced to Scotland's finest rock band by way of their kick-ass single "Bad Bad Boy" when it first hit the airwaves in July 1973. I quickly nipped out to Pat Egan's Sound Cellar in Dublin and nabbed the album too - the fabarooney "Razamanaz" - and I've loved them both ever since.
This is the 2nd title in Salvo's UK reissue of Nazareth's back catalogue - "Nazareth and Exercises" (their first and second albums on 1CD) was their first and it's reviewed separately.
Released in September 2009, SALVOCD031 breaks down as follows (59:22 minutes):
Tracks 1 to 9 are the album "Razamanaz" released in May 1973 in the UK on Mooncrest Records CREST 1 and on A&M Records SP-4396 in the USA. ROGER GLOVER of DEEP PURPLE produced the album to great effect.
Tracks 10 and 11 are "Hard Living" and "Spinning Top", the 2 non-album B-sides to "Bad Bad Boy", the UK 7" single issued on Mooncrest MOON 9 in July 1973
Tracks 12 to 15 are "Razamanaz", "Night Woman", "Broken Down Angel" and "Vigilante Man" - recorded live-in-the-studio in March 1973 for The Bob Harris Radio Show on the BBC
Each of these UK issues comes in a tri-gatefold card sleeve with the 'Loud, Proud & Remastered' logo on the front cover. When folded out, you get a repro of the gatefold artwork of the original UK LP and live shots from the period (the disc in the right flap, the booklet in the left). The 16-page colour booklet is superb, liner notes by band expert JOEL McIVER, pictures of rare UK 7" singles, Euro picture sleeves, US white-label promos, black and white snaps of the band in studio and on stage - all very nicely done.
But the really big news for the fans (as it is on the 1st Salvo CD) is the fantastic new SOUND. TIM TURAN at Turan Audio has remastered the original tapes and a truly fabulous job has been done - loud, clear, and ballsy - without ever being overbearing.
Highlights - the moment the sheer speed and riffage of Manny Charlton's guitar work on "Razamanaz" hits you, you know you're in for a head's down ride. It's followed by the first of 2 covers on the album - "Alcatraz" first turned up on Leon Russell's debut album for A&M in 1971 "Leon Russell & The Shelter People" and it's funky rock backdrop suited both the band and McCafferty's rasping vocals. Just as good is the second cover - their version of Woody Guthrie's "Vigilante Man" which owes more to Ry Cooder's take on his 1972 "Into The Purple Valley" album that they'd be listening to. Then comes the absolutely blistering "Woke Up This Morning" which they'd tried on their second album "Exercises" but didn't quite get there. Here they do - it ends Side One on a blast of great rock boogie.
Side 2 opens with the drums of another funky rocker "Night Woman" sounding not unlike Bad Company at their best. The breakthrough single "Bad Bad Boy" follows which to this day sounds brill, while "Sold My Soul" sounds like Robin Trower circa "Bridge Of Sighs". Then it's back to rocking basics with the wildly catchy "Too Bad To Sad" and then ends with the other huge hit single - and some say their best track - "Broken Down Angel". Downsides - there's an "Alternate Edit" of "Razamanaz" on the 2001 remaster that could easily have been fit on here, but no show?
The BBC stuff sounds suitably rough and rocking, but still as tight as a Nun's knickers in the Vatican. It's presented in really great sound quality - the bass work of Pete Agnew on "Night Woman" is superlative. Even the quiet slide intro to "Vigilante Man" is not too drenched in hiss - then the echoed vocals impress - then they let rip...fab stuff!
A great reissue of a great rock album then. And it's cheap too.
To use the vernacular - this rocks. Buy it with confidence."
Nazareth - RazAmaNaz
John | Dover, DE USA | 03/29/2010
(4 out of 5 stars)
"This is an excellent offering from the band, and somewhat hard to find. There are some great songs and guitar work on this album. While most Nazareth fans will have heard the title track, I especially recommend a careful listen to the other tracks - for example, the slide guitar work on Vigilante Man and Bad Bad Boy. But if you really want to turn the volume up, check out Too Bad Too Sad. A must-have for all Nazareth fans, and all 70's rock fans as well."
