Customer Reviews

Mad Dog

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3 star:		(2)
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First things first: I'm a huge John Entwistle fan. I love his songs, love his playing...heck, I have more copies of "Smash Your Head Against the Wall"--his brilliant first solo album--than you'd care to know. That said, he was *also* fond of marginalizing his talent and letting his sense of humor take over, as while these excursions could be amusing, they quite rarely made it as "great albums."

Entwistle's two mid-seventies albums are a case in point. Whereas "Rigor Mortis Sets In" was a "genre parody" album of 50s rock, "Mad Dog" comes accross as a parody of...well, 50's everything-else! Yet while Rigor Mortis boasted a few true Entwistle classics--the hilariously-dark "Roller Skate Kate," and the driving "Peg Leg Peggy," amoung others--his songcraft takes a sharp turn into "style over substance" here. The sendups are fine, to be sure, but they simply don't have the longevity of his albums past (Smash, Whistle Rymes) or future (Too Late the Hero).

Verdict: Not bad, but definitely sample first.

The Who's bassist's fourth solo album is his second attempt at 50's style rock and roll (the first is Rigor Mortis Sets In). This time though he had a back up band that was worthy enough to go on the road. The ensemble playing was very tasteful and appropriate for the time era but the material is slighter than the three albums preceding it. The title track is worthy of the Angels, the Shangri-las, and other girl groups of the era, but unless you're a music lover of 50's rock and roll you'll be somewhat disappointed. I Fall To Pieces is not the Patsy Cline classic but an Entwistle original (just thought you'd like to know). One other song of interest is Cell Number 7, which tells the true story of the Who spending a night in jail after demolishing a hotel buffet room.... and getting caught!!! Yikes!! Cell Number 7 IS a long way from heaven!(especially with Keith Moon around). The rest of the album is only so-so. I give the album 3 stars because the album is very well crafted and the performances are excellent. If you want better examples of what Entwistle is capable of then pick up Smash Your Head Against The Wall or Whistle Rhymes which both have excellent performances and strong material. Rock On, John!!