Vindicating Vinyl
Aerosmith: Aerosmith
My Baggage
Aerosmith is one of many bands whose work I am somewhat familiar with. I could put together at least 15 really strong songs of theirs if not 20 on a playlist and really enjoy it.
However, I have never really listened to their albums, so all I am familiar with is their hits.
From glancing over the track list here, I may only be familiar with one of the songs listed, one of the greats, Dream On, so this will be a fun dive into some more obscure tracks that I may or may not have heard before.
Cover Design
The album cover is pretty basic consisting of a shot of the band with lots of clouds in the background along with a slanted, winged logo.
I do enjoy the looks on the faces of the band members, though. Tyler seems to be putting on his best grown up stoic look while Perry seems entirely bummed out to be there. Whitford seems totally stoked while Hamilton and Kramer have their game faces on.
The back is actually quite instructive. Not only does it have the track-list and credits, but it also has images of the band-mates tagged with their names. I have known who Steven Tyler is most of my life and caught Joe Perry’s name sometime around Jr. High to High School, but was never familiar with other members of the band.
The clouds continue in the background, becoming much darker than on the front. I guess its going to rain.
To the Internets
Aerosmith was the self titled debut album for the band. It was released in 1973 and took a while to catch on, only raising as far as 21 in The Billboard 200 chart. The single Dream On only reached 59 on The Billboard Top 100.
However, a few years later when re-released, the single went all the way to #6. The album went Gold in 1975 and Double Platinum in 1986.
An interesting fact about the album is that Tyler was so nervous when they started recording that he only used his normal singing voice on Dream On. For the others, he tried to incorporate the voice of Kermit the Frog to sound more bluesy.
Quick Impressions per Track
Side 1
Make It
Ok, I can get into this. This is fun. Nice intro song. Guitar is funky then rocks, really diggin' that. Nifty guitar solos coming from a few different directions.
Fun partying song. Lyrics were OK, but guitar was good.
Somebody
A similar sound to the first song, but a little bit lighter. The lyrics are a notch up, but the guitars aren’t on the same level early. The solo has a familiar sound that we will hear a few times through the band’s history.
The solo was fun, but I never really connected with the song.
Dream On
God, the guitar open is so good here. The second you hear it you know you are in for something great. The end of it is magical.
Tyler’s vocals are so on point here. The first two tracks are a little muddled vocally and are more dominated by the guitars, however, even with them at their best here, Tyler is able to match if not one up them.
Once we hit the first chorus area, the drums start to really drive it forward and give a bit of urgency. Then the guitar solo slows it down again before Tyler and the drums come crashing back in.
The guitar then starts to pick up a bit and you get the feeling we are building slow to something great and then Tyler’s vocals start to change as he enters Banshee mode.
Great song that I wish went on longer.
One Way Street
OK, we’ve got some bluesy type stuff going on here. Some pretty good harmonica. Some interesting vocals going on. And then some crazy sounding vocals. More cool guitar in the solo.
So far this record definitely gets you tapping your feet. Oddly, Joe Perry really has been the pull for me on this so far. Tyler was great on Dream On, but Perry has been consistently good and versatile.
Side 2
Mama Kin
I’m digging this intro. Its reminding me of China Grove (Doobie Brothers) and Takin' Care of Business (BTO), then Joe takes it to an extra level.
This song is really hitting, more of a full band collaboration. Wait, where’d the sax come from? I can dig it.
That’s a really good song. I’m surprised I didn’t recognize it at all.
Write Me
This song has a odd pacing. It sounds like someone ran it through molasses. It just seems like it is playing slightly slower than it should be, which is really throwing me off.
More harmonica, which is fine.
Back to more sluggish sound. Weird.
Movin’ Out
Another funky intro. Feeling a little like a funky cousin to Fleetwood Mac’s The Chain. THEN IT EXPLODES!!! Wow, I wasn’t expecting that.
Another nice guitar solo. This may be the most varied of the ones he’s played so far.
This one was oddly constructed at times, but had some really strong pieces in it. I didn’t expect this at all.
Walkin’ the Dog
This comes out swinging, barley allowing a blink from the end of the previous song and hits like it is already a minute in.
Unfortunately, it kinda stagnates at that level and never improves. Not a bad song, but it doesn’t live up to the promise of the opening.
Ranking the Songs
Dream On
Mama Kin
Movin’ Out
Make It
Somebody
Walk the Dog
One Way Street
Write Me
Overall Thoughts
I was very pleased with my experience with this album. Overall, the quality was much better than I expected. I could certainly see laying back and listening to this all the way through without feeling the need to try to skip a song.
That being said not all of the songs were great, but none were bad either. Dream On is certainly the stand out and may be in my top 100 rock songs. I was very pleased, though, to discover Mama Kin, Movin’ Out, and Make It, which I may have to add to my digital collection.
Again, I find myself feeling like this was more a highlight for Joe Perry than it was For Steven Tyler. Tyler was mostly good, occasionally great, but a few times just went somewhere crazy. Meanwhile, Perry’s guitar, especially his solo’s were really good and very interesting.
Summary
Aerosmith’s self titled album is a fun foray into the early workings of the band. It is easy to listen too and nearly always has you tapping your feet. Dream On as a single overshadows the album, but don’t miss out on other really good songs like Mama Kin, Movin’ Out, and Make It. It is well worth the time to let it roll for its entirety of 35:48.
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