Customer Reviews

You Broke My Heart So I Busted Your Jaw

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

 

 

I was originally introduced to this band in the mid 70's as a member of the RCA (now BMG) record club. I guess I was about 14 years old. During that time their album "You Broke My Heart, So I Busted Your Jaw" was offered as a selection in my preferred genre (Hard Rock of course)...and I simply could not escape the title...I had to have it! I had no idea what to expect, but fortunately it turned out to contain some great songs such as: "Cotton Growing Man", "Old As I Was Born" and "Self Seeking Man". Actually, the music on this album was endearing enough for me to develop an affinity for this band, and as a result I began to dig deeper into their substantial...yet elusive back catalog which contains riches far beyond the splendor of these. Certainly, "You Broke My Heart..." is a solid effort (especially by today's standards). ...Is it is a classic? Not in the same since as "Spooky Two". I would recommend instead "That Was Only Yesterday". Though not as complete as a "Best Of" should be (it has nothing from "Witness" or "The Mirror"), still it contains most of "Spooky Two" (excluding only "I've Got Enough Heartaches") and all the highlights from "It's All About", and "The Last Puff". It also includes (an edited) "Prayer" which is a snippet from "Ceremony" (and probably all you need) and last but not least: "Cotton Growing Man".

Following a three year break during which time their solo endeavors had proven to be lukewarm successes, in 1973 Mike Harrison and Gary Wright reunited Spooky Tooth. The revamped line up featured drummer Bryson Graham and guitarist Mick Jones from Wright's Wonderwheel project, along with bassist Chris Stewart (replacing Ian Herbert). Self-produced, 1973's "You Broke My Heart So I Busted Your Jaw" proved surprisingly tight and entertaining, though it fell short of past glories and side two was pretty weak. Largely penned by Wright (drummer Graham contributing 'This Time Around'), keyboard and guitar propelled material such as the lead off rocker 'Cotton Growing Man', 'This Time Around', and 'Wildfire' showcased the band's now-patented up-tempo blues-rock stylings. While hardly earth shattering, the set wasn't all that different from material being pumped out by the likes of Bad Company.

- Powered by Harrison's gravelly voice and Jones' raspy lead guitar, 'Cotton Growing Man' marked a return to the hard rock sound found on their sophomore album. The result was a fantastic mid-tempo rocker that would have sounded great on mid-1970s FM radio had A&M bothered to promote it when it was tapped as a single. Shame the rest of the album wasn't as good. rating: **** stars
- 'Old As I was Born' has always been a personal favorite in that it boasted one of the band's most commercial songs. The track retained a distinctive Spooky Tooth sound, but sported some atypical, but exquisite group harmonies that you wouldn't normally associate with the band. There was also a nice mandolin solo and a great Wright cheesy synthesizer solo. rating: **** stars
- Drummer Graham's lone contribution to the album, 'This Time Around' was an okay rocker, but lacked anything to distinguish it from the rest of the set. The highlight came in the form of a nice Jones solo. rating: *** stars
- The first real disappointment, 'Holy Water' sounded like Harrison was trying to channel an early Elton John/Bernie Taupin ballad. Momentarily interesting in a Gospel-inspired way, the keyboard-propelled ballad quickly lost its energy. rating: ** stars
- ' Wildfire' found the band carving out a nice little groove, but the song never really developed beyond that initial funky hook and most listeners probably tired of the song after hearing the lyric 'Wildfire is in my mind' a dozen times.. rating: *** stars
- 'Self Seeking Man' showcased some of Wright's most irritating features - namely an over-the-top 'heavy' ballad that forced him to reach for those high notes that brought out the shrill aspects of his voice. This one sounded a lot like some off of his forthcoming late-1970s solo efforts. rating: ** stars
- The Wright-Jones ballad 'Times Have Changed' was the song that seems to have attract the most critical attention, but to my ears it was a bland, mildly dischordant mess. rating: ** stars
- Crap, another ballad ... Well, at least after two super lame songs 'Moriah' showed a little bit of energy before limping out with some hideous new-age-styled sound effects. Should have ditched the touchy feely fade out for more Mick Jones guitar. Nowhere near the album's best song, but at least it ended the set on a mildly upbeat note. rating: *** stars

For the US market A&M tapped the album for a single in the form of:

- 1973's 'Cotton Growing Man' b/w 'Times Have Changed' (A&M catalog number AM-????)

With minimal support from Island the album hit # 84 on the US charts.

All told it was patchy, but better than many 'comeback' albums.

"You Broke My Heart So I Busted Your Jaw" track listing:
(side 1)
1.) Cotton Growing Man (Gary Wright) - 4:38
2.) Old As I was Born (Gary Wright) - 4:40
3.) This Time Around (Bryson Graham) - 4:08
4.) Holy Water (Gary Wright) - 3:37

(side 2)
1.) Wildfire (Gary Wright) - 4:35
2.) Self Seeking Man (Gary Wright) - 3:46
3.) Times Have Changed (Gary Wright - Mick Jones) - 3:55
4.) Moriah (Gary Wright) - 6:21

Listened to this album countless times back in the 70s. In recent years had searched for it many times in stores with no luck. Eventually found, and bought it on Amazon. It sounded just as good as I remembered it. Great British blues/rock from the 70s! It's every bit as good now as then. Absolutely recommend to anyone who likes this type of music. You won't be disappointed.

This album was the first I ever heard that combined Heavy Metal with killer Keyboards. Wonderful rhythms. I first listened to this on 8-track in a friends nasty car for 4 hours while I waited for him to finish waiting on tables in 1974. Of course, anyone who's ever heard of Gary Wright will recognise the roots. I'm so glad I ordered this cd. It's still fabulous, maybe even more so than it was then. Especially if you love Bass. Real Bass. This is such good stuff. This album is sooo worth the price!
Robb Allyn

I recently read an opinion that the 70's were a time when "music had no boundaries." Sounds nice in the abstract, but I think I would have found this 1973 album more focused and enjoyable if a few lines had been drawn. The original release (the copy I'm listening to doesn't have the bonus track) has six pretty decent blues-rock tunes backed by organ, but the other two songs are piano ballads that could be by a different group entirely--or from a solo album by singer/keyboard player Gary Wright: it's just him and piano on "Times Have Changed" and the same with a backing chorus on "Holy Water." Well--the album's likely worth having just for "Cotton Growing Man" and "This Time Around", but if it's the band's rock side that attracts you, you'll probably want to skip over the piano tracks after the first listen. Also, a few points off because while the musical part of "Moriah" rolls along pretty nicely, its over-six-minute length is padded out by a minute and a half of unneeded and annoying whooshing wind and church bells; and --they give the album that title and don't write a song to go with it? What a letdown!

I bought this album when it was released, it is no doubt their best. Really great blues/rock. I was very pleased to buy it a U will be too.