Cry Tough

Nils Lofgren | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (October 26, 2009)
• Original Release Date: 2009
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Hip-O Select
• ASIN: B002PC4QYC
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  Vinyl  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #90,415 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Editorial Reviews

Long before he had to learn the Bruce Springsteen songbook--prime criteria for joining the E Street band--Nils Lofgren had a lucrative solo career of some note. Granted, his history as a sideman beginning with Neil Young and Crazy Horse and for more than two decades with Bruce's band may have overshadowed some of his individual musical offerings.

Early in his career post Grin, the critically acclaimed group he fronted and formed in a Maryland suburb north of Washington, D.C., Lofgren as a soloist sensed his true calling. In a bit of irony, it was Springsteen's manager, Jon Landau, formerly a renowned rock critic who wrote for Rolling Stone among others, who provided the rave review of that first album that stoked the fire for the next phase of the former classical music student's rock endeavors. (From a historical viewpoint, Landau ironically inked something similar for Springsteen--with a rather notable quote--well in advance of becoming his cohort.)

Being a great proponent of teen angst in his songwriting--maybe because it was peer-group pressure or plain thinking--Lofgren switched to A&M Records for one Grin album and then released Nils Lofgren produced by the late David Briggs (also available from Hip-O Select) before this gem, Cry Tough. With the production work of seasoned keyboardist/arranger Al Kooper (the Blues Project; Blood, Sweat and Tears; Lynyrd Skynyrd) and Briggs on a select number of songs, the shared duties reaped wondrous rewards.

It has to be mentioned that Briggs had a history with Lofgren before that first solo effort--as producer of Grin, and then some. For it was also Briggs who offered Neil Young a ride while he was hitchhiking and that serendipitous encounter cemented a lifelong artistic working relationship for him, primarily as Young's record producer. As intimated above, Lofgren via Briggs spent some time with Crazy Horse, Young's recording and backing group on tour. And Lofgren learning to play the piano is one of those legendary anecdotes.

With Cry Tough you get the anthems, the edginess and the biting guitar licks for which Lofgren became known. From the first note of the title song through the smarminess of the closer, "Jailbait" (a gutbucket, Southern rock-flavored funky grind), it's better than a rollercoaster ride. There's even a unique arrangement and cover of the Yardbirds' classic "For Your Love" (written by future 10cc co-founder Graham Gouldman). But the tough and more sensitive stuff is truly Lofgren. Both "Mud In Your Eye" and "Incidentally...It's Over" are astute commentaries on personal relationships. "Can't Get Closer (WCGC)" is sheer youthful frustration in rock song--with some great slide guitar work courtesy of Nils.

And with the authority and prescription that crazy Dr. Feelgood wrote for our multi-instrumentalist, we offer the same antidote: "Cry tough, go down your soul, you just need another shot of rock 'n' roll..." That necessary dose can all be found on Cry Tough, now available from Hip-Oselect.com.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars "...You Just Need Another Shot Of Rock 'N' Roll...", December 14, 2010

By 

Mark Barry, Reckless Records, London (UK) - See all my reviews
(TOP 500 REVIEWER)   

This review is from: Cry Tough (Audio CD)

Nils Lofgren's self-titled 1975 debut album on A&M Records made all the right noises for the ex Crazy Horse and Grin lead guitar player - but its 1976 follow up "Cry Tough" really made everyone sit up and take notice (especially for his astonishing fretwork on the title track). But what makes this release so exciting for fans who've waited decades for a decent version of the whole album on CD - is the massively improved sound. It's a new ERICK LABSON REMASTER and is sparkling in its sound quality (has over 900 mastering and audio restoration credits to his name and is one of Universal's top engineers).

"Cry Tough" was Lofgren's 2nd album released April 1976 on A&M SP-4573 in the USA and A&M AMLH 64573 in the UK - and this CD is a straightforward 37:02 minute reissue of that LP (Hip-O Select B0013205-02). Released on their own site in September, it received a late October 2009 release date in the States (no UK release date as yet).

The original album had the musician and recording details on the back sleeve - here it's wisely been taken off that unreadable 5" space and put into a 4-way fold out inlay where you can clearly work out who played what on where. Produced by AL KOOPER, the band featured Nils and his brother Tom Lofgren on Lead and Rhythm Guitar, Wornell Jones on Bass with the Drums shared by Jim Gordon and Aynsley Dunbar. "It's Not A Crime" also featured some great backing singers - Immediate label soul singer P.P. ARNOLD, BUDDY MILES (of the Electric Flag) and CLAUDIA LENNEAR (who inspired "Brown Sugar" by The Rolling Stones).

The album opens on an absolute high - the speaker spanning keyboards of Al Kooper on the title track "Cry Tough" - a slinky, funky guitar-layered rock gem. To this day the guitar solo in the later part of the song is a truly awesome thing - building, building all the time - it hits you with these fabulous licks and pinging harmonics that literally make you double take. And best of all - it's five minute duration now sounds just HUGE. Other highlights include the mean sounding acoustics of "Share A Little", the opener of Side 2 and the drums and upright bass of Scott Ball on "Mud In Your Eye" - so clear. The warmest sounding track is the lovely "Can't Get Closer (WCGC)" and the only moment of weakness is the crass lyrics of "Jailbait" which don't sit well with anything. The remaster has also brought out the piano and drums on "Incidentally... It's Over" and the only cover on the album - Ed Townsend's "For Your Love" - now has that floating organ bit to the fore, the blistering guitars and galloping bass parts towards the end of the track all sound lucid too - but in a subtle way.

Downsides - it's shame there isn't more in the foldout inlay - which settles for what it can get away with - and there could have been some outtakes or even demos. But alas...

To sum up - it's not all genius of course, but the good tracks have lasted and still thrill to this day. And although Hip-O Select's version of "Cry Tough" isn't anything other than a straightforward reproduction of the original album - it's a big thumb's up because of the top new sound quality.

Recommended.

PS: I've also reviewed the 2007 Hip-O Select remaster of his solo debut "Nils Lofgren" (1975) and his 3rd album for the label "I Came To Dance". There's also a TAG above for both Erick Labson and Hip-O Select to see more of his work and their titles.

PPS: check out his sublime guitar-playing on "Shot At You" from 1992's "Crooked Line" and "Driftin' Man" on the double 2003 live set "Nils Lofgren Band Live" - blissful stuff

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars his best album., May 30, 2011

By 

Steven P. Troy (seattle.wa.) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Cry Tough (Audio CD)

I bought the LP when it came out and just wore it out,for years I could not find a copy on compact disc.now that I have it,it's even better than i remember.most of the songs are foot tappin' air guitar playin' fun.this edition has remastered sound and i give it a ten!!!

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars About Time!, July 27, 2010

By 

David E. Keller "eddyc75" (South Florida) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Cry Tough (Audio CD)

It's great to have this music available on cd! I am a big fan of Nils and have been since his early work with Grin, Crazy Horse, and Neil Young back around the "After The Gold Rush" album days. Nils released this music after his first solo album, "Nils Lofgren", which has a fantastic ode to Keith Richards called "Keith Don't Go", and another great album shortly after this called "I Came To Dance" that was released around 1976. The songs are great, his guitar playing on that Strat is off the charts, and his singing is so joyful it's contagious. This cd, along with the albums Nils released right before it and right after it, are classics, and among the most solid rock'n'roll albums anybody's released back to back to back. I love them, so it has to be five stars. If you like rock'n'roll you can't go wrong with any of these three albums. There's a reason Neil Young and Bruce Springsteen both picked this guy to play with! Listen to these and find out why.