Genre: pop
Rating: 3 stars ***
Title: Totally Out of Control
Company: Rocket/MCA
Catalog: MCA-460
Year: 1974
Country/State: US
Grade (cover/record): VG / VG
Comments: minor ring wear; gimmick sleeve; cut corner
Available: 1
GEMM catalog ID: 5005
Price: $10.00
While such sentiments may not endear me with many folks, but if the truth be told, 1974's "Totally Out of Control" stands as one of the best Beatles-influenced albums ever released. Anyone into Badfinger or Jeff Lynne era ELO will probably find this stuff irresistable.
One of the first acts to be signed to Elton John's Rocket Records, the collection was produced by long standing Elton John sidekick/collaborator Bernie Taupin. The presence of keyboardist Clive Franks and guitarist Davey Johnstone further underscored the Elton John connection (both were members of his recording and touring band). Recorded in England and France the album sported a thoroughly Anglocized sound and made for a fascinating game of spot-the-Beatles-influence. I won't bother giving you a song-by-song rundown, but some of the highlights include the general feel off 'Lover Come Back To Me' and 'Be a Man', the Lennon-esque rocker 'Killer on the Road', Bill Hudson's George Harrison-styled guitar on 'Dolly Day' and 'If You Really Need Me' and the McCartney-styled vocals on 'Straight Up and Tall'. Personal favorites included the scorching son-of-'Drive My Car' - 'Sunday Driver' and ''. Sure, there's nothing original here, but who cares when the songs and performances are as strong as '' and ''. (Give the album an extra nod for the fascinating Sgt. Pepper-styled cover ... wonder how they got away with the KKK figure!)
One single was pulled from the LP:
- 'If You Really Need Me' b/w the non-LP 'Lonely School Year' (Rocket catalog number PIG-40464)
"Totally
Out of Control" track listing:
(side 1)
1.) Long, Long Day (Bill Hudson - Mark Hudson - Brett Hudson - Francis Brown) - 2:22
2.) Be a Man (Bill Hudson - Mark Hudson - Brett Hudson) - 3:22
3.) Truth of the Matter (Bill Hudson - Mark Hudson - Brett Hudson) - 2:45
4.) Killer on the Road (Bill Hudson - Mark Hudson - Brett Hudson) - 3:04
5.) Dolly Day (Bill Hudson - Mark Hudson - Brett Hudson) - 3:46
6.) Lover Come Back To Me (Bill Hudson - Mark Hudson - Brett Hudson - Bernie Taupin) - 2:47
(side
2)
1.) Straight Up and
Tall (Bill Hudson - Mark Hudson - Brett Hudson) - 3:44
2.) If You Really Need Me (Bill Hudson - Mark Hudson - Brett Hudson) - 1:55
3.) Sunday Driver (Bill Hudson - Mark Hudson - Brett Hudson) - 2:38
4.) Isn't It Lovely (Bill Hudson - Mark Hudson - Brett Hudson) - 2:22
5.) La La Layna (Bill Hudson - Mark Hudson - Brett Hudson) - 2:30
6.) Medley: - 7:08
(a)
These Things We Do (Bill Hudson - Mark Hudson - Brett Hudson)
(b) Home (Bill Hudson - Mark Hudson -
Brett Hudson)
(c) Out of the Rainbow (Bill Hudson -
Mark Hudson - Brett Hudson)
(d) Find Me a Woman (Bill Hudson - Mark
Hudson - Brett Hudson)
(e) Little Brown Box (Bill Hudson -
Mark Hudson - Brett Hudson)
(f) One and the Same
(Bill Hudson - Mark Hudson - Brett Hudson)
"