Customer Reviews

Electric Jewels

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The name describes this disc better than I ever could...Electric Jewels. It's a shame April Wine couldn't release this in the U.S., but I was lucky enough to hear Joe Anthony play it and I searched it out in Imports to snag my copy. I believe that this was their third album and up to that time their best effort. They have managed to put good songs on all of their releases, but this was one of those rare moments for any group where everything clicked on every track.

My favorite is "Weeping Widow", but other great tracks include "Just Like That", "You Opened Up My Eyes", "Lady Run", "Cat's Claws" and the title track. This is vintage April Wine at their best. Not until Live AT the El Mocambo, where they opened for the Rolling Stones would they put together as strong a package for release. This is almost 30 years old, but don't let that scare you off this is one of the best rock offerings out there. Go for it!

01. Weeping Widow
02. Just Like That
03. Electric Jewels
04. You Opened Up My Eyes
05. Come On Along
06. Lady Run, Lady Hide
07. I Can Hear You Callin'
08. Cat's Claw
09. The Band Has Just Begun

"The recording of Electric Jewels was marked by significant changes within the band. As a result of creative differences, the Henman brothers left April Wine and were replaced by guitarist Gary Moffet and drummer Jerry Mercer.

The high-energy sound of this album reflected the band's increasing emphasis on live performance.

Weeping Widow was something of an FM Radio favorite at the time of it's release."

Definitely a major change of style. That's not surprising since there were major changes in the band - check out the history at AMG or at the band's web site /www.aprilwine.ca/. Anyway, the album has next to none of that unfortunate filler stuff which is present in oh so many hard rock albums of the classic era and which leaves you wondering why the hell this album was ever written ... well some of the songs in the middle might be not very interesting melodically but the guys were trying various directions and experimenting with the style and lyrics so that's understandable. For me the highlights are "Lady Run Lady Hide", "I Can Hear You Callin'" and "Band Has Just Begun" (kinda prophetic title).

With Electric Jewels, I definitely get the impression that April Wine was going for a commercial direction, despite the fact the album has pretty much been flying under the radar ever since it was released.

Perhaps it was popular up in Canada back in the mid 70's, but at least here in America, I'm not so sure this album made so much as a dent in either the charts or in peoples record collections. It seems nobody even *heard* of this wonderful band back in the 70's.

Of course this is *extremely* unfortunate, because once again April Wine delivers with an album completely full of memorable songs.

I'm actually really fascinated by April Wine's desire to implement diversity into their music. So far the first three albums offer something extra that most rock bands wouldn't bother with.

In this case, well to name an example there's a mandolin solo in "You Opened Up My Eyes" which I appreciate a LOT because most bands wouldn't have bothered adding any additional instruments to an already quality vocal melody, but there's also some really good harmonica playing in this particular track as well. It *is* kind of strange hearing a harmonica playing along to a vocal melody that leans towards a love song/ballad, but I suppose that's what makes April Wine so unique. Experimenting is something they weren't afraid to try, and for that, they deserve a ton of credit whether the majority of rock listeners were paying attention to it back then or not.

The title song rocks REALLY hard and backs up all that aggression and furious guitar playing with a wonderful vocal melody. It's sort of the same reason I love the song "Rock Bottom" by the British band UFO- that band used to do the same thing in the 70's by adding electric guitar and emotional vocal performances and combining the two for a complete effort. Really good bluesy guitar work at the end of the track too. I was NOT expecting to hear that. April Wine surprises me again!

"Cat's Claw" excels in having a great vocal melody. I can't really say I've ever heard a vocal melody like this before. You have a vocal melody that's extremely melodic but created in a way that almost seems 20 years ahead of its time since I can totally picture an alternative rock band using such a melody. It's just very different in a way I really like.

Is it just me or does "Come On Along" sound a lot like Cheap Trick? Once AGAIN April Wine's diverse songwriting blows me away! What CAN'T this band do, seriously? Talk about an extremely catchy vocal melody. "I don't want to lie to you, don't wanna bring you down". And do I hear Geddy Lee doing backup vocals? If that's not him it's one heck of a perfect imitation! It goes without saying I love this song quite a bit.

I really love the heavy aggression that is "The Band Has Just Begun". The guitar solo at the 2-minute mark is definitely out of this world. "Weeping Widow" is another aggressive display of guitar riffs and melodic vocals.

Overall, as fate would unfairly have it, April Wine would not make a splash on the music scene at the time of this albums release, but you know what? YOU can change that by simply checking out Electric Jewels and just jamming to some really spectacular rock and roll music. I absolutely love sitting in the dark and just blasting music like this- it feels so good and elevates every single note to a higher level. What a great feeling.

What can i say about this album,other than it was and is the best "wine album".The first album featuring new members to the band.Jerry Mercer and Gary Moffat.It picked up where On Record left off. The opening track Weeping Widow starts off a little soft until the first power chord of what would represent the the tone of the album.With Jimmy Clench singing the lead off track the energy leaps from the speakers,a small drum solo to introduce jim mercer to the listner shows that April Wine was to be around for awhile "Just Like That" keeps the energy flowing with A song about life on the road and what it's like.The title track doesn't show any sign of slowing down.first recorded by the mk 2 line up The band recorded the ending with the new line up.With the last verse being sung in a slow tempoed break Myles vocals shows a gentle side to his style which he would go on to use more of later on for ever for now.The second vocal by Jim clench shows his softer side with "You Opened My Eyes"The harmonies are superb at the end while the mandelin adds depth to this mid tempoed ballad.Why April Wine never tried this later I'll never know and Possibly my favorite Track on the album 'Come on Along" gets back into groove with Jim And Myles trading off vocals.It is the strongest track on the album.The lead single Lady Run,Lady Hide hints at what would become a standard in ballads for the band.Taking a page from the On Record sessions it features strings through out.I Can Hear You Callin'The second track to feature Jim and Myles trading off vocals shows the bands rawness like they just came out of the garage.Cat's Claw does just that,It claws at you as it moves along at slow but roaring pace.This one definiftly showcases Myles'guitar playing as it picks up near the end the best solo on a AprilWine album.The Band Has Just Began"Is definitly about the lifestle of a rock n roller that accompanies Just Like That.They would later play these two songs together back to back on the Electric Ladyland tour.Electric Jewels was their hardest album until Harder Faster in '80.This line up would become the most well known line up after recording electric jewels and stand back.A definite must for any one who is just starting to listen to them.It's all here the rawness,the energy.and the ballads that would go on to become a staple in their future years.Too bad they didn't make videos back then.

From the depths of obscurity came this one. April wine's third effort which received little airplay, even in the homeland. This stuff is ancient, and sounds like it, but it always has been my favorite of theirs since a few years after its 1972 release ( I was all of 6 at the time, thank God for older brothers). It contains no real hits (at least outside of CANADA) but many of the songs are included in subsequent ('90's) compilations.

Seek out "Weeping Widow" at least.

April Wine hits its stride with the release of `Electric Jewels', an auditory treat that would served notice that they were to become one of the premier guitar-rock groups of the 70's and early 80's. Changes in personnel during the recording threatened to end the band permanently as the Henman cousins decided to leave in mid-recording. The remaining members, Myles Goodwyn and Jim Clench, decided to perservere and brought in Steve Lang and Gary Moffat to complete the recording. The harder, yet more musically commercial result is a reflection of changes in the lineup and direction of the group, and the Goodwyn/Clench songwriting partnership immediately began producing dividends. The album starts with "Weeping Widow", belted out admirably by Clench, followed by the rousing "Just Like That", an anthemic song that remains a live favorite amongst April Wine fans. The title track is a tapestry that showcases Goodwyn's ability to take musically disparate passages and tempos and combine them into a single, memorable track, something he would later do on songs such as `Child's Garden' and `Like A Lover, Like A Song'. `Lady Run, Lady Hide' is another gem, and is an early pro-environmentalism song.

The new direction and energy of the band, and the immediate success of the album sparked the "Electric Adventure" tour, supported by a huge (for the time, anyway) light show and pyrotechnics, which would serve to define their touring show for years following. Maybe this albun isn't quite as polished as `Stand Back', but's it's absolutely a worthwhile addition to your collection.

If you enjoy classic Rock n' Roll with solid guitars this is it. Of all April Wine's albums this is my pick and my favorite song is "Weeping Widow". If you enjoy bands like Van Halen and The Guess Who you will enjoy this.