Introducing Eddy and the Falcons
Introducing Eddy and the Falcons is the second album by the English glam rock band Wizzard.[3] It peaked at No. 19 in the UK Albums Chart – ten places higher than its predecessor, Wizzard Brew.[4] As with the previous Wizzard album, all songs were composed by Roy Wood.[3]
Introducing Eddy and the Falcons | ||||
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Studio album by | ||||
Released | 1974 | |||
Recorded | 1973–1974 | |||
Studio | Phonogram Studios, AIR Studios and De Lane Lea Studios, London | |||
Genre | Glam rock, rock and roll | |||
Length | 42:21 | |||
Label | Warner Bros., United Artists | |||
Producer | Roy Wood | |||
Wizzard chronology | ||||
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Review scores | |
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Source | Rating |
AllMusic | link |
Christgau's Record Guide | B–[1] |
Tom Hull | B+[2] |
History
The album had a concept similar to The Beatles' Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band, in that the intro 'featured' the appearance on stage of fictional band Eddy & The Falcons. All tracks were written and recorded as tributes to 1950s and early 1960s rock and roll musicians, "Eddy’s Rock" being a guitar and saxophone instrumental played in the style of Duane Eddy, while "Everyday I Wonder" was similar in sound and approach to Del Shannon's "Runaway", and "Come Back Karen" did the same for Neil Sedaka's "Oh! Carol".[3] A particularly clear tribute was to Elvis Presley in "I Dun Lotsa Cryin' Over You".[5]
One single was released from the album, "This Is the Story of My Love (Baby)". Its chart performance in the UK Singles Chart (No. 34) was a disappointment, as all Wizzard's previous singles had reached the top 10.[4]
The album was initially meant to be half of a double album by the group, with the other half in a more progressive or experimental jazz-rock style. However, the record label heard the work in progress, and asked for the rock and roll part to be recorded and released as a single album.
The sleeve featured a credit 'Custard pies - D.L.T.' This referred to one of their appearances on Top of the Pops, when presenter Dave Lee Travis had been the apparently unwitting recipient of a custard pie wielded by one of the group.
The jazz-rock material was recorded later but not released until 2000, on the album Main Street – some 25 years after Wizzard had disbanded.
The original release of Introducing Eddy and the Falcons on the Warner Bros. label, in a gate-fold sleeve, included a fold-out poster of Roy Wood on stage. It was reissued by Edsel on CD in 1999, featuring bonus tracks (1974 singles, A-side and B-sides, which had not been recorded as part of the original concept), but was soon deleted.[3]
Track listing
All songs written by Roy Wood except where noted.
Side one
- "Intro" – 0:45
- "Eddy's Rock" – 3:56
- "Brand New 88" – 3:22
- "You Got Me Runnin' " – 3:15
- "I Dun Lotsa Cryin' Over You" – 3:22
- "This Is the Story of My Love (Baby)" – 4:45
Side two
- "Everyday I Wonder" – 4:56
- "Crazy Jeans" – 2:47
- "Come Back Karen" – 3:05
- "We're Gonna Rock 'n' Roll Tonight" – 5:06[3]
Bonus tracks (1999 reissue)
- "Rock & Roll Winter" – 3:09
- "Dream of Unwin" (Charlie Grima) – 3:09
- "Nixture" (Nick Pentelow) – 2:31
- "Are You Ready to Rock" – 5:23
- "Marathon Man" (Keith Smart, Mike Tyler) – 2:15[3]
Personnel
- Roy Wood – vocals, guitars, drums, oboe, cello, bass, keyboards, bassoon, string bass, tenor and baritone saxes, percussion
- Rick Price – bass guitar, guitar, vocals, percussion
- Nick Pentelow – tenor saxophone
- Mike Burney – tenor and baritone saxes
- Keith Smart – drums
- Charlie Grima – percussion
- Bill Hunt – piano
- Bob Brady – piano and vocals (on final track) and 'incidental boogies'.[6]
References
- Christgau, Robert (1981). "Consumer Guide '70s: W". Christgau's Record Guide: Rock Albums of the Seventies. Ticknor & Fields. ISBN 089919026X. Retrieved 23 March 2019 – via robertchristgau.com.
- Hull, Tom (April 1975). "The Rekord Report: Third Card". Overdose. Retrieved 26 June 2020 – via tomhull.com.
- Thomas, Stephen. "Introducing Eddy & the Falcons - Wizzard : Songs, Reviews, Credits, Awards". AllMusic. Retrieved 26 June 2013.
- Roberts, David (2006). British Hit Singles & Albums (19th ed.). London: Guinness World Records Limited. p. 608. ISBN 1-904994-10-5.
- Pierre-Rene Noth (25 September 1974). "Sounds of the Times". The Milwaukee Journal. p. 'Green Sheet' 1.
- "Introducing Eddy & the Falcons - Wizzard : Credits". AllMusic. Retrieved 26 June 2013.