Back Talk/Rocket Roll

The Rockets | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (February 15, 2005)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Wounded Bird Records
• ASIN: B0007IO6RI
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #71,431 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Editorial Reviews

2005 reissue on Wounded Bird Records combining the albums Back Talk (1981) and Rocket Roll (1982). Originally issued on Elektra Records.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

38 of 40 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars The Hollywood Record and the Last Gasp, March 1, 2005

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Comet Zipper (Texas) - See all my reviews

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This review is from: Back Talk/Rocket Roll (Audio CD)

What we have here is a (partial) testament to a band that came close to making it big, but never did. Unfortunately, the bands two best records, "The Rockets" (A.K.A. Turn Up The Radio), and "No Ballads", have never been issued on CD, perhaps because of the record label (RSO) failing. These two albums (Back Talk and Rocket Roll) were made for Elektra. (Update: The Rockets and No Ballads are now availble as a combo CD)

The band was on that second rung of the ladder, opening for top-name acts, and trying to push through to nation wide headliner status themselves. While they didn't succeed, it wasn't for lack of effort or reputation. They had top-drawer production, and were offered songs by Bruce Springsteen and the like.

When No Ballads failed to match the band's potential, radio hitmaker Jack Douglas was hired (to produce Back Talk). Douglas had produced the biggest Aerosmith and Cheap Trick albums up to that time. He was producing John Lennon's Double Fantasy when the ex-Beatle was murdered.

(Gutarist) Jimmy McCarty summed up the sessions and resulting record: "Back Talk was our Hollywood record. That was us trying to find a hit record. Douglas was a mess after the Lennon thing. When the record came out, we alienated all the old fans and didn't make any new ones."

"When we went into Back Talk, we were trying, by Rocket Roll (Their final studio album), the thing was over."

Thier final album was a live show recorded on New Years Eve, 1982. It has been issued on CD.

Hopefully, the rest of their catalog will be released on CD soon.

The MetroTimes (Detroit weekly newspaper) recently had a story on the late Dave Gilbert, who sang lead vocals. Amazon discourages website references, but you should be able to find the article with the info above.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Super fast Shipping & Great Item too !!!, August 19, 2010

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P. crane "Paul" (Detroit, Michigan) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Back Talk/Rocket Roll (Audio CD)

Great Rock & Roll from Motown/Motor City !!! From a Detroit Band that tried there Best. I saw their last Concert at Pine Knob in the early Eighties and Loved it.

5.0 out of 5 stars The Rockets are THE BEST!!, August 19, 2011

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Christine M. Key "Chris 'Lybbert' Key" (Aabama) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Back Talk/Rocket Roll (Audio CD)

I love this band!! This is a great CD. I wish they would release their other albums on CD. I would definitely buy them! These guys didn't get the recognition they should have but it's nice to know you can still find their music.