Customer Reviews

Lucifer's Friend

5 star:		(20)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

This German hard rock machine, with British belter John Lawton, (later of Uriah Heep) gave birth to one of the best heavy rock albums of the early 70's. From the screaming vocals of "Ride In The Sky" (with its brass opening reminiscent of Zeppelin's "The Immigrant Song" and an almost "thrash metal" riff) to the progressive/hard R&B of "Toxic Shadows", to the lumbering, Sabbathish doom of "Keep Goin", this album never lets up for a second. Fans of Black Sabbath, Uriah Heep, Deep Purple and Led Zeppelin must have this in their collection! Lawton is one of the best singers in hard rock, and the musicianship of the group is tremendous. Very heavy indeed for a 1971 release. The bonus tracks show the more mainstream, rock 'n' rollin' side of the band, but the instrumentals "Horla" and "Satyr's Dance" (taken from B-sides) really cook. Do yourself a large favor and check this one out.

Listened to this first in the 70's. They were realtively unknown. Some friends in a local Chicago Southside band played several of the songs. Guitar solos very good. Long live that early German rock. It's great! Rate it with some of Zeppelins early albums. Overall a solid album. Not one clinker in the bunch. Don't know about the bonus tracks, though. Wonder what the kids of today might think of it. album recommends playing at maximum volume. How can you go wrong with that? On Billingsgate Records, I think. Their logo was a guy with a big boot about to kick someone in the a$$.

Please don't take that to mean this isn't a great record or I don't love it (because I certainly do). I listened to it again earlier tonight for the first time in ages (I have the original Billingsgate vinyl; aren't I cool- ha ha ha) and it still sounds great after all these years. Don't let the band name or sinister-looking cover artwork fool you; this is kinda proto-metal in a way, but most of the lyrical content is about motorcycles (the opening "Ride In the Sky") and such like. And Lucifer's Friend just because they're playing rock 'n roll, ostensibly the devil's music (and 'cause these fellas speak decidedly Gernanized English; little wonder, being German and all). Probably a bit of a proto-Ronnie James Dio thing going on with the vocals too; the aforementioned "Ride In the Sky" begins the album with a "metal" scream- but please remember that it was recorded way back in 1970! If you're into Motorhead sorta stuff or (God help you) "nu metal," give Lucifer's Friend a shot; you might even really like them. Oh, and I believe most of those bonus tracks are from their third LP, I'm Just A Rock 'N Roll Singer (and at least one is from the fourth- ?!- the equally excellent but totally different Banquet). Yeah...

They just don't make records like this anymore. From start to finish, these songs are chock-full of heavy, no-BS guitars laying down awesome riffs. It passes my simple test: the melodies are strong and the guitars are loud. Lead singer John Lawton would go on to greater fame with Uriah Heep, but he absolutely scores here with Lucifer's Friend.

In addition to the Sabbath-influenced guitars, the bass-playing also jumps out here, more so than the organ. Lawton's singing is tremendously powerful throughout. This album passes the following tests with ease:

The Headphones Test: A+

The "Driving Around In The Car With The CD Cranked" Test: A+++++

Lyrics Test: A solid B just on the strength of "In The Time of Job When Mammon Was A Yippie". But really, who listens to Lucifer's Friend for the lyrics alone?

The "I Realize I'm On The Train, But I Just Gotta Bust Out The Air Guitar for This Solo" Test: A++

I've been listening to this album in tandem with Captain Beyond, Bloodrock, Uriah Heep, Thin Lizzy and Andromeda. Here's how I rank them:

1. Thin Lizzy, "Fighting"
2. Uriah Heep, "Demons & Wizards"
3. Lucifer's Friend, "Lucifer's Friend"
4. Bloodrock, "Bloodrock 2"
5. Captain Beyond, "Captain Beyond"
6. Andromeda, "Andromeda"

A tough group of albums to rank, and a ranking that changes all the time. Safe to say, Lucifer's Friend rules. Let's get to the tracks:

Ride In The Sky -- I knew this album was going to rock hard and rule the planet the minute I heard the trumpet blasting the intro to "The Immigrant Song". A short, quick-and-dirty intro. 8 out of 10.

Everybody's Clown -- Here's where the band gets down to business. This song is a six-minute clinic. The guitar solos come in quick bursts at the beginning, then the band slows it down in the middle for some serious guitar attacks. The bass on here is so awesome, and I never usually notice the bass on tracks like these. 7 out of 10.

Keep Goin' -- A slow, drawn-out jam. The guitars here are heavy and thunderous, and the organ is a great touch. Kind of a bump in the road here, relatively speaking. 6 out of 10.

Toxic Shadows -- Put plain, this is a table-busting jam. It starts and stops in the beginning, but once it takes off this song is a monster. And then it goes on for seven minutes!!!! Heaven. The beginning of the 4-5-6 punch. 10 out of 10.

Free Baby -- Table-Busting Jam, part deux. Can't decide whether THIS is my favorite song (10 out of 10), or whether it's:

Baby You're A Liar -- They have that mid-tempo, Zeppelin-esque heavy beat down to a science. The drums here aren't quite so heavy as Bonham's beats for Zeppelin, but it doesn't matter. The Table-Busting Trilogy concludes with this relatively quick rocker. 10 out of 10.

In The Time of Job When Mammon Was A Yippie -- Somewhat of a comedown from the previous three songs, but not by much. 9 out of 10.

Lucifer's Friend -- The album roars to its all-too-soon end. The great thing is that these songs clock in at an average of six minutes long. The bad thing is that this is the last song. 9 out of 10.

This is simply a criminally overlooked album, especially if you think bands like Wolfmother are cool. In fact, if you're a rocker with any respect for yourself, then you need this album.

As the title suggests, the cover sets the atmosphere for this keyboard laden example of 70's heavy rock. I love this album! A friend in Spain turned me on to this and I've had years of pleasure from it.

To me, this band did what Uriah Heep could have done if they'd gone a little darker. I just wish their subsequent albums could have done the same, however I have several and they do not match up to the original. In the eighties, their singer went on to play with Uriah Heep so there is a tie in here.

Each song is like an extended jam with words. That is the only way I can describe it. However, the songs are not really extended jams. They just have a heaviness, a darkness, and technical quality that gives that impression. The combination of vocals, keyboards and guitar add up to one of the best albums of the era.

Give yourself a treat and seek this out. You will not be disappointed!

This disc is a must have! LF combines the trippy, jazzy dark side of the band Spirit with heavy guitar riffs, a vocalist who could sing anything (including opera), and occultic lyrics! The band is tight and right on the money, and John Lawton as vocalist is hard to surpass. It's quite a shame that LF got so little exposure over the years. If you like Spirit, Uriah Heep, early Judas Priest,etc. you'll love this disc.

first of all everyone who has reviewed this album is right it is awesome. lucifer's friend was a great band and this album should have been bigger than what it was john lawton has a steller voice. But now for the complaint and im sure some of you can agree with this i am sick and tired when i read reviews of heavy rock bands of the 70's everything is compared to led zeppelin or they are mentioned somehow when they dont need to be led zeppelin is next to the stones the most overrated band ever they get way to much credit they stole way to many blues songs and made them there own the zep is just a regular play it safe band. take deep purple, uriah heep and lucifers friend they have something led zeppelin dont good hammond organ playing. Let me give you some Advice coming from the biggest classic rock buff ever try getting a hold of some obscure bands like lucifer's friend here there is so much great music that you will never hear on the radio. try the first journey album 1975
without steve perry it's leaps and bounds above there commercial poppy hits. there are lots of stuff to be discovered.

I purchased this on vinyl back in the 70's and to this day still listen to it. I'd get it on CD but it's just too expensive. This is good old school hard rock as others have already stated. Worth it if you can find it for a reasonable price. I have heard some of their other stuff but I think this is their strongest release.
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This has it all.... combining the best attributes of guitar, keyboards and vocals that you could ask for. Think Uriah Heep or Deep Purple at their apex doing 8 songs, all excellent. It is just a crime that this
is so hard to find or so overpriced. Forget the bonus tracks, they totally dilute the product. This band never came anywhere close to this in any of their later albums, in fact several were pretty subpar. But this showcases great 70's rock as good as anything out there. I have over 4000 albums and this one is easily in the top 5. Enough said.

If you like the first Led Zeppelin album, this one is for you! The interplay between the guitar riffs, the bass, and the organ is incredible, and the music as a whole is pure headbanger metal. Musically this is in the same vein as "Dazed and Confused", "How Many More Times", and other classic Zeppelin tracks. "Toxic Shadows" is the best track here, followed by "Baby You're a Liar" and the title track.

Be advised though; later Lucifer's Friend releases veered away from heavy metal and into jazz fusion and pop. This first release is not representative of their later work.