Customer Reviews

Rhinoceros

5 star:		(6)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Well here it is, finally on CD and sounds as good as, or better than, the original vinyl. This was the Elektra created band that had some loss of focus later, but shined here. This album was all live in the studio, no overdubs, by 2 ex- Iron Butterfly members and other talented musicians. Funky music with a hard driving sound. The vocals sound a little tinny at times, but so did the original record. ... These guys sounded great in concert as well, but that never made it to an album. Oh well, at least we have this.

Thank you thank you thank you to whoever hauled this one out of the vaults! Also, don't sleep on the twofer CD of their follow up pair of albums, "Satin Chickens" / "Better Times".

I first saw Rhinoceros at the Fillmore East as they opened for the Moody Blues. They soon made me forget the Moody Blues because they simply stole the show. And from that date in 1968 I (and many of my friends) have been a die-hard fan of the band. Despite the fact that Rhinoceros was "conceived" as a studio project, the vocals of John Finley, the guitar of Danny Weis and the organ work of Mike Fonfara are the spearheads by which Rhinoceros advanced. "I Will Serenade You" and "Apricot Brandy" remain as vital today as they were back in the day. "Arpicot Brandy" was used by Englishtown Raceway in NJ as the song for their commercial bed and to this day I come across tons of people who remember the song from that format (if you lived in the tri-State NY NJ CT area, that is). The instrumental tune is edgy, frenetic and solidly grooved out all at once.
The blend of rock and soul and funk and country (while not original to Rhinoceros...just listen to any LP by Moby Grape) is superbly manipulated by the band. The varied backgrounds of each of the key (and shifting) members insured the success of this eclectic stew. I waited a long time for Rhino to release all three of Rhinoceros' recordings. The reception to these releases has been more than favorable which nicely proves the longevity of this, one of Rocks, perennial influential bands. If you think "funk" is defined soley by todays offerings you should check out the history of the genre starting with Fishbone today and working backwards to Sam & Dave, Booker T & The MGs...and stopping to check out Rhinoceros along the way.
(Vince DeLucia)

I love this album! I bought it a thousand years ago and have repurchased it twice more. Even manufactured groups can hit the mark now and then--oh,wait--almost all groups are manufactured these days. Anyway, a very talented bunch of musicians with great songs--too bad the biz got in the way. Satin Chickens, their second album, did not catch the wave for me in the same clear way as this one. Outrageous cover too. And with a Mother and a couple of Butterflies of Iron on board!

Although this and the 2 follow up albums did next to nothing in their day - they deserved much much more.This was a hugely underrated band who somehow mixed hammond keyboards with a Motownish feel, guitar licks the envy of many an axe-man and rhythms to pump you along. All my vinyl copies died years ago so to find the 3 CD's was a real surprise. If you like the 60's, but psychedelia wasn't quite your thing, if you like heavy but not too heavy, if you like Motown, but not the Jackson's ... this could be for you. The self titled debut is the best of the 3 albums, so start with this one.

For those of you who remember this music, this is a must to own if you don't already have it. One good tune after another.

I just tried to listen to the LP again- never have gotten thru it- sounds too amateurish. During the first song the vocal mike isn't turned on for one of the singers (Alan?)& the other vocals are distorted (drives me crazy). The other songs are sound like demoes (except for Apricot Brandy, which is great). I'm going out on a limb and promoting the 3rd LP "Better Times Are Coming"- much better sound, better singers, great instrumentals, but kinda dated (1970) songs "It's A Groovy World" & "Let's Party", etc. The 3rd LP is one I go back to...

This Band is the most underrated band ever. You can listen to them now and still feel the groove. They played with alot of soul. A motown sound with a hint of rock. If they were available today they would sell and have a following. I can't believe a band such as this is not talked about more as i feel they were innovative in some way. There was no band around like this in that time. Yes there was good R and B groups. But no group combined the eliments that made them so different.

Thank God for Rhineceros and Cold Blood and Sons of Champlin while there counterparts were boring everyone with psychedelic drivel these bands kept it tight and funky with a good dose of soul and therefore their albums haven't dated like say 'volunteers' and 'the doors'. It still sounds good now. Rhinoceros should be rated if only for this brilliant debut, well recorded with a band that knows how to keep a groove without taking twenty minutes to get somewhere. Shame the other albums were so lacklustre. Highlights? well 'apricot brandy' is a killer hammond led instrumental and 'the time of the year' has some brilliant vocals-but hell, its all good. Just a shame its so short, but then again compared to the West Coast Pop Art Experimentals first album (29 mins) its a marathon length!

The reason I bought this album was that it was part of the Elektra stable and reminded me of Clear Light, The Doors, and Love. I had no idea then, but they were part of the reason for the demise of my favorite band of all time, Clear Light. Paul Rothchild had supported Clear Light on their first album, but as he got the idea for a super group (along with a few others, I might add), his interest in Clear Light waned. He was also prompting the firing of Bob Seal, and guitarist Doug Hastings was brought in as a short-lived replacement. Big surprise that Doug was soon to be part of Rhinoceros. It's hard for me NOT to compare the two bands, though it is really unfair as the only thing they have in common are being on Elektra.

I knew none of this at the time I bought the album, just that it was on my favorite label. I'd heard rumblings about a super group, but didn't take much stock in it. The other attraction was drummer Billy Mundi, who quit the Mothers to join Rhinoceros.

After listening to this record a few times, I came away disappointed. Though competently played, the songs were mostly slow and mediocre. There was nothing even remotely heavy, dark, or exciting about them.

Jump to 2008 and I have had an opportunity for a fresh perspective. This band sounds like a group of highly accomplished musicians given mediocre material. In other words, my impression from 30+ years ago hasn't changed. This is not bad music, it just doesn't have that spark needed to push them above the crowd. After several listens, I've got to know the songs again and they are okay, but the only memorable cut is Apricot Brandy. As one critic years ago said, for a bunch of super musicians, that short song has nothing in it to display their true talents.

This is a real slice of nostalgia and some of you may like it better than I did. I just found it to be too mediocre considering the capabilities of the musicians. Only recommended for nostalgia fans.