Customer Reviews

Nazz 3

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

 

 

I pretty much agree with Bob Rixon on his recommendations and I would like to throw in Carson's "Christopher Colombus" and Todd's "Magic Me" into the mix. But this album relies too much on softer material (perhaps because the best bunch of the songs went to Nazz Nazz). However, there are differences between the vinyl version of Nazz III and this CD. On "Only One Winner" this CD has Todd & Stewkey sharing lead vocals where the vinyl has only Stewkey's lead vocals. "Magic Me" is remixed and sounds fuller than the vinyl version with the drums dominating the right and center channel. Finally, "Christopher Colombus" is also remixed where Thom Mooney's drums dominate the right and center channel with the band virtually being drowned out by the drums. Nevertheless, this is still a worthy CD to have.

Funny, something subconsciously tells me it's 'sacrelige'/'wrong' to place this album anywhere near the previous two, then WHY since getting this one 5 years ago to go along with them 'better' two Nazz works, have I listened to THIS ONE the most? Just something about the way the tracks go together even if not intentionally well organized (heck, to go from a Partidge Family-esque "Old Time Lovemaking" to a metal/Spinal Tap-like "Magic Me" and then off to "LOOSEN Up" (Todd! I LOVE you man, but if you're in PHILLY, you should say (Tony Luke's) 'CHEESESTEAK'! Not....'tunafish hoagie'?? Come on man, lol!). Anyway, VERY diversified work just the same! "Only One Winner" and "Take the Hand", however, are the two tracks that to me epidemize Nazz III! I place those right up there with the ORIGINAL "Hello, It's Me", "See What You Can Be", "If That's the Way You Feel" from their first album as well as "Not Wrong Long" and "Gonna Cry Today" from their second. Something about the way them tracks bring a certain end-of-the-'60s/beginning-of-the'70s kind of nostalgia to you. This stuff goes SO WELL with the Beach Boys; and not just 'Pet Sounds'! Try 'DISC 3' from their 'Good Vibrations' box set as well. Yes, as much as I can truly rock-out to "Open My Eyes", "Back of My Mind", "She's Goin' Down", "Forget All About It", "Under the Ice", "Hang on Paul" etc, it IS the softer Rundgren-led stuff from the Nazz I like best which probably explains why I like this THIRD released album of theirs best. This CERTAINLY is not a Nazz album you get to...'complete the collection'. No way.

All that said, I guess I'm not a TRUE scholar of this work being that I still have yet to hear the original VINYL version that apparently has Stewkey's vocals on every track. I never even knew that until recently.

I have not listened to this in years. Looking, and listening, to the song list here at Amazon, this is a good collection. When you put up all 3 Nazz albums, this is the weak link. You will still need, and enjoy, this album. Some very intelligent, and catchy tunes. This collection is just that, a collection (as opposed to a comprehensive musical album). After reading the other review, it makes sense that this is an incomplete double album. Also missing is a sing-a-long type folky ditty, "You Can't Get to Heaven on the Frankford El". This refers to an elevated railway travelling through this North Philadelphia neighborhood. The song used to get some airplay as a "lost classic" on some of the radio stations around here. Like to see that one re-released somehow.

Some of these songs were intended for a double album set that ultimately became the single disk Nazz Nazz. Other songs & outtakes have since been released elsewhere, although the great official live Nazz album remains hidden. Still, there are treasures on this album, like "Only One Winner" & "How Can You Call That Beautiful." Their loose, snotty cover of "Kicks" has a punk edge. Nazz fans mourn the band not least of all because they were a band, Todd's control not withstanding. & Todd, without a band like this, stumbled through a solo career that never got over big time (despite the loud noises made by his devotees) & wavered between genius & genuine atrocity. A must own!

Bob Rixon, WFMU-FM