Scorching Beauty [Import]

Iron Butterfly | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (May 20, 1995)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: Import
• Label: Repertoire
• ASIN: B000000137
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  Vinyl
• Average Customer Review: 2.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (19 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #372,648 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

1. 1975 Overture

2. Hard Miseree

3. High on a Mountain Top

4. Am I Down

5. People of the World

6. Searchin' Circles

7. Pearly Gates

8. Lonely Hearts

9. Before You Go

Editorial Reviews

Reissued 1975 album. Innovative and influential underground group from the late sixties, who earned themselves the first platinum album ever awarded when their album 'In A Gadda Da Vida' became a huge hit. This is the first album recorded by the band after they reformed in 1975 with original lead singer Erik Braunn, and drummer Ron Bushy. It features nine original songs that receive the special sound of an all-American band.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars It grows on you..., January 14, 2004

By 

wildwielder (Macungie, PA United States) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Scorching Beauty (Audio CD)

Reviews I've been reading on this obscure little gem have been either high praise or blackest hatred. The truth is more in between.

Granted, Scorching Beauty is not as outstanding as IB's classic Ingle years-- my personal favorite is their debut, Heavy-- but it's not a total waste of money, either. I think what will make or break the album for most people is Erik Braunn's high-pitched, and at times trembling, vocals. You'll either like it or not, it is what it is. But before you give up, listen again. The music itself is top-flight 70's era arena rock, fuzzy guitars, machine-gun drumming, etc. Track highlights include the cock-rock stomp of "Am I Down", the shuffle-boogie of "People of the World" and the very Yes-like "Pearly Gates" (it's even co-written by Jon Anderson!) This last song in particular is a clever jab at war mongers who, as they try to get into heaven, are turned away.

The opener, the Styx-like "1975 Overture" seems slow and dull at first, but gets better with repeated listening. Really cool, spaced out keyboards. I do agree that "Searching Circles" is terrible. Not even more conventional singing could save that one. But, hey, the rest of the album is not bad, and though Doug's vocals and writing are missed, and the style of the band changed drasticly from the preceding album, we have a good, fun album that does grow on us with each listening.

And, for fans of the classic stuff, there's still some great, droning organ playing here, too, perfomed by the fantastic Howard Reitzes. So, if you're thinking about exploring this odd era of Iron Butterfly, I'd say, Yeah, do it. There's worse places you could spend your money.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Wouldn't pay too much for it, May 7, 2005

By 

bigchet "fergenstein1386" (Madison, Ohio United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Scorching Beauty (Audio CD)

This album isn't as terrible as people may say. But, I wouldn't go out and pay a big import price to get it. I have this one on vinyl myself. The problem with the later Butterfly is that Eric Brann's vocals are lacking and weak. Personally, I prefer sun and steel to this one.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Egads!, February 4, 2003

By 

Devon J. Berube (Salem, NH United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Scorching Beauty (Audio CD)

I bought a cutout version of this at a record collector's show, just to complete the collection.

The 2 dollars I paid for it was about a dollar and ninety nine cents too much!

There ARE one or two songs on this album that come dangerously close to being good.

But, man oh man, the rest? Hold your nose and open all the windows; Something bad is in the air, and the dog didn't do it this time.

There is one outstandingly bad track on this LP called 'Searchin' Circles', which actually makes the album worth owning. The vocals on it take on this 'Alvin and the Chipmunks' quality, making the song unintentionally hillarious to listen to. It's straight out of Doctor Demento's 'Audio Torture Vault.' In fact, if I ever hosted a 'Bad Music' program, 'Searchin Circles' would absolutely be the theme.

Hope this helps!