Customer Reviews

Face to Face/If I Weren't So Romantic

5 star:		(5)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

Derringer fans have been waiting for what seems forever for the release of the "Romantic" album on CD. Well, here it is! And as a sweet bonus, it's packaged with the almost as good "Face To Face" album on one CD! At the time it was released (1978) the "Romantic" album was dismissed by a lot of critics as too derivative of punk/new wave but it has stood the test of time and remains as one of my favorite albums of that year (along with Little Feat's "Waiting For Columbus" and Nils Lofgren's "Night After Night", both seminal 'live' albums). Crammed full of power pop licks and, yes, new wave attitude this is nothing but a GREAT Rock'n'Roll album. And check out the sizzling version of Zevon's 'Lawyers, Guns & Money'. "Face To Face" is more of a traditional 'Rock' album but has some GREAT tunes and licks as well. I'm just so glad to finally be able to put away my vinyl-to-CDR clone of the "Romantic" album. THANK YOU Wounded Bird Records for releasing this as well as your recent Randy Meisner releases.

I have alway thought Derringer's "Romantic"(released 1980)album was his best! I made a copy to CD of this from my album and even had the pleasure of hanging out and having some drinks with Derringer's bassist Kenny Aaronson who played on this album and I made him a copy of it too. He signed my album for doing it and I still have it. What makes this such a great CD is that it included another great long forgotten album by Derringer. From the opening track "It Ain't Funny" through "Midnight Road" and rockers like "EZ Action" this is one to buy while it is still available. The other album featured on this CD is Face to Face which has one of Derringer's best songs "Let The Music Play"! If your a fan, you have it and if you like 70's rock with an 80's twist check it out.

Here's something I want to know. If this is the Greatest Country on Earth, why is anything allowed to go out of print or become unavailable when all you have to do is make digital copies at a reasonable price On Demand? Why would anyone make this album disappear? And charging $100 a copy will make it disappear. NOTHING HAS TO GO OUT OF PRINT. Even if there are minimal requests for an old album it's still only a click away in the archives. In this case, it's a Premier American guitarist. I've been reconnecting with this record recently. There are lots of fun songs here. These two titles--though there are weak spots--keep me up and moving and smiling. Popping opening tunes including It Ain't Funny and EZ Action. Lawyers, Guns and Money (Zevon) has just the right bite. Then there's Power of Love, and a favorite of mine, Sleepless. This one has his trademark extra rockin' thing going on underneath with great harmonies on top. Aaronson (bass) and Grombacher (drums) have a couple of top-notch rockers and in general propel proceedings upward. Rocka Rolla is. Attitude is mirthful and man can they spell! Monomania is practically a Tubes song and, therefore, even more fun! Face to Face, the album, is the weaker of the two even with semi-hits Runaway and Let the Music Play. Big City Loneliness and Jump, Jump, Jump both appear in updated versions on Derringer's Free Ride album. You'll Get Yours, Burn the Midnight Oil, and I Want a Lover are all strong tracks. All Derringer all through. Great guitar. Great vocals. Great fun. Completely worthwhile.

I gave this 4 stars - Face to Face is the "weak sister" here, but still good. "Romantic" is an excellent recording - good musicianship and song-writing throughout the album. I find pomegranates to quite tedious (you know, the seed removal - thing), but this album is not tedious. Nor are melons. I like melons.

The CD was just what i wanted.if you are a Rick Derringer fan you'll love it

That's what this package could have been called.
To really get into this review one has to take the albums seperately:
If I Weren't So Romantic, I'd Shoot You has got to be one of the longest dumbest titles in rock! I'm not sure what Rick was thinking but he obviously wasn't.To make matter worse even the song is a downer.Fortunately the album has some real winners ;Tonight, Rocka Rolla and Atitude all bop along and our enjoyable.Midnight Road and Sleepless are ez to listen to and Power Of Love (written by Dan Hartman) is a great number,the best on the album by far.
The only thing lacking on this album is any real fire powered guitar work which Rick Derringer is known for.Rick sounds a lil too subdued on this album,probably the producer(s) mistake rather than his.
As for Face To Face,now we get to some real firepowered leads!
This is one of Rick Derringer's best albums by far.Unfortunately it was only 8 songs long,but almost every cut a winner! Runaway-beautiful mix of insturments,should have been a hit single
You'll Get Yours-dirty down rock
Big City Loneliness-One of Rick's best ballads
Burn the Midnight Oil-starts with quiet piano, builds into a rocked out guitar frenzy!
Let the Music Play-one of Rick's best songs ever
Jump, Jump, Jump-the best version of this classic bar none!
I Want a Lover-only throw away tune but great piano playing
My My, Hey Hey (Out of the Blue)-let's just say Neil Young wishes he could play it this good.
This was Rick's farewell album for his old label Bluesky and he pulled out all the stops.
Great stuff.

If I Weren't So Romantic,I'd Shoot You. EXCELLENT recording representing the era(1978).Every song is good! Highly recommended,but just forget the second CD included(Face To Face). Pathetic beyond words! No real problem,because the Amazon price is great. Delete the crap and you have a jewel worth keeping.

Very disappointed in this CD . Only one good song. I wish I hadn't wasted my money on it.