First Base (Dig) [Import]

Babe Ruth (Band), ??????? | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (June 20, 1995)
• Original Release Date: 2006
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: Import
• Label: Repertoire
• ASIN: B0000085FW
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (21 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #58,982 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

1. Wells Fargo

2. The Runaways

3. King Kong

4. Black Dog

5. The Mexican

6. Joker

7. Wells Fargo [7 Version][*]

8. Theme from "For a Few Dollars More" [*]

Editorial Reviews

Import reissue of 1973 album includes two bonus tracks, 'Wells Fargo' (7 Inch Version) & 'Theme From 'For A Few Dollars More''. Digipak. Repertoire.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Can't get along without it, April 10, 2001

By 

Jonathan Margolis (Niskayuna, NY USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: First Base (Dig) (Audio CD)

I was recently "relieved" of my CD collection and am now starting to rebiuld. I am starting with my favorite "First Base", by Babe Ruth. I bought this album almost twenty years ago, and I can't get along without it. To me, the song "Wells Fargo" is one of the best songs I have EVER heard (and I've heard a lot!). I've never heard a song that says "crank me up as loud as your stereo will go, rattle the windows and dance till you collapse!" like that song. Hahn's vocals, Shacklock's guitar, and oh, that saxaphone! I love the way that song fades into the quiet brilliance of "Runaway", which proves, along with "King Kong","Joker", and "The Mexican" That this was a band of true musicianship, versatility, and depth. It's a pity that this band never got it's due, but I'm glad that I know about arguably the best kept secret in Rock and Roll, Babe Ruth.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars One of the reasons I never junked my turntable..., March 23, 2001

By 

"bahuta" (Milwaukee) - See all my reviews

This review is from: First Base (Dig) (Audio CD)

...was so I could continue to enjoy this album (before it came out on CD).

I can't remember a time when I didn't know every song on this album. My parents were in their early 20's when it came out (and I was 4) and consequently, I grew up hearing this album over and over again (along with Head East's "Flat as a Pancake").

This album is one of the best kept secrets of modern music. It only has 6 cuts (the original album - not the import), but this is a definite case of quality being more important than quantity. The songs are long, but not so long as to get boring and make you want to move the needle (or hit the >> button) to escape from them. The vocal "stylings" of Jenny Hahn are incredibly powerful (you'd never think it to look at her picture on the back cover!) and are a perfect match for the music. Alan Shocklock's vocals and guitar work (not to mention his writing) are superb. What I've always found particularly interesting is the intricate interplay between the lead guitar and the organ. They duet on nearly every song, but the effect never gets boring. (And it's very interesting to listen to each one individually by adjusting your Balance knob!)

I was ecstatic when I discovered this on CD several years ago. It was like listening to it for the first time, to hear the music so clean and clear, without the hindering pops and cracks of the vinyl version I inherited from my parents.

Buy it - now! If you like strong, driven, 70's progressive rock, you cannot leave this one behind!

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Essential 70's rock with varied styles, August 11, 2005

By 

Strat_Lvr - See all my reviews

This review is from: First Base (Dig) (Audio CD)

I would rate this as one of the best debut albums by a rock group from the early 70's, and this is an outstanding album. However, this is not my favorite Babe Ruth album. The second album,"Amar Caballero," was totally different from "First Base," and had so many different styles of music and types of songs, including "spanish-style" songs. I think Babe Ruth's best albums were the self-titled third album, and "Stealin' Home," both which came out the same year, in 1975. Both of those are much harder rock. The First Base album definitely had some great hard rock songs, but it also had some that were totally different from anything that was coming out at that time or era, and that's what made this band so great, that they could play any kind or style of music, and it all sounded great. I like all of their albums, this is the album that got me into them, but when I heard the third and fourth albums, I was into them even more. But this is one great debut album, possibly one of the best ever. Babe Ruth also had some very accomplished musicians, and of course, the great Janita Haan singing lead vocals with her powerful and awesome voice, she's one of the best ever in my opinion. She's sounds fantastic and all four of the Babe Ruth albums she appeared on.

Glenn Signal Hill,CA USA