Roscoe's Gang

Roscoe's Gang
Studio album by
Eric Ambel
Released1988
Recorded1988
StudioColumn One, Springfield, Missouri
GenreRock, country rock
LabelEnigma
ProducerLou Whitney, Eric Ambel
Eric Ambel chronology
Roscoe's Gang
(1988) 		Loud & Lonesome
(1995)

Roscoe's Gang is the debut album by the American musician Eric Ambel, released in 1988.[1][2] Its title is a reference to the band Ambel would use for casual New York City bar gigs.[3] He supported the album with a North American tour.[3]

Production

The album was recorded at Column One in Springfield, Missouri, with members of the Morells, and coproduced by the band's bass player, Lou Whitney.[4][5][6] The cover of Neil Young's "Vampire Blues" was recorded in one take.[7] "Total Destruction to Your Mind" is a cover of the Swamp Dogg song.[8] "If You Gotta Go, Go Now" was written by Bob Dylan.[9] "Loose Talk" is a version of the song made famous by Buck and Bonnie Owens.[10] "Don't Wanna Be Your Friend" and "I Waited for You" were written by Ambel's Del-Lords bandmate Scott Kempner.[7] "Next to the Last Waltz" was cowritten by Peter Holsapple.[11] "Power Lounger Theme" is an instrumental.[10] Syd Straw and Skid Roper contributed to the recording sessions.[12]

Critical reception

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
All Music Guide to Rock[13]
Chicago Tribune[14]
The Encyclopedia of Popular Music[15]
The Great Alternative & Indie Discography5/10[16]
Houston Chronicle[5]
MusicHound Rock: The Essential Album Guide[17]
New York Daily News[18]
The Ottawa Citizen[19]
The Philadelphia Inquirer[20]
SouthtownStar[21]

Newsday said that Roscoe's Gang is "what a solo album should be: an off-hand, unaffected, underproduced busman's holiday."[7] The Chicago Tribune opined that "Ambel's true talents still seem to lie in rock 'n' roll territory, the best songs here being some strutting, full-power rockers."[14] The New York Times praised the "cheerfully rowdy material".[22] The Calgary Herald labeled the music "raunchy rock and gritty country-rock".[23] The Morning Call concluded that Ambel "does [rock] better than Jason & the Scorchers or the Georgia Satellites".[24]

The Ottawa Citizen noted that unlike Ambel's work with the Del-Lords and the Blackhearts, the music is "less contrived and exudes pure intentions."[19] The Philadelphia Inquirer stated that "this is wonderfully raw, passionate music that never loses its sense of humor."[20] The Boston Globe admired the "inspired primitivism" and "loose and unencumbered" performances.[25] The SouthtownStar likened the music to "the Rolling Stones meet the dB's".[21] Playboy noted that "Ambel's guitar expertise ranges from country to hard rock to pop metal".[26]

Track listing

No.TitleLength
1."If You Gotta Go, Go Now" 
2."Total Destruction to Your Mind" 
3."The Girl That I Ain't Got" 
4."Forever Came Today" 
5."30 Days in the Workhouse" 
6."Power Lounger Theme" 
7."Don't Wanna Be Your Friend" 
8."I Waited for You" 
9."Next to the Last Waltz" 
10."Loose Talk" 
11."You Must Have Me Confused" 
12."Vampire Blues" 
13."Power Lounger Theme Part 2" (Guitar) 

References

  1. ^ Robbins, Ira A. (1991). The Trouser Press Record Guide. Collier Books. p. 181.
  2. ^ Hutton, Lindsay (October 21, 1989). "Albums: Eric Ambel". Melody Maker. Vol. 65, no. 42. p. 39.
  3. ^ a b MacInnis, Craig (January 6, 1989). "Roscoe's Gang timely tonic to pop killjoys". Toronto Star. p. E14.
  4. ^ Sylvester, Ron (December 19, 1988). "Live (on tape) from Springfield!". The Springfield News-Leader. p. D1.
  5. ^ a b Racine, Marty (December 25, 1988). "Records". Zest. Houston Chronicle. p. 11.
  6. ^ McNeese, Don (January 13, 1989). "Eric Ambel dishes up party platter with 'Roscoe's Gang'". Weekend Plus. Chicago Sun-Times. p. 35.
  7. ^ a b c Robins, Wayne (December 11, 1988). "Eric Ambel: 'Roscoe's Gang'". Part II. Newsday. p. 29.
  8. ^ Hochman, Steve (January 30, 1989). "Back-Yard Party Rock from Ambel and Gang". Calendar. Los Angeles Times. p. 3.
  9. ^ Harrison, Tom (April 23, 1989). "Eric Ambel: Roscoe's Gang". Living. The Province. p. 81.
  10. ^ a b Bumgardner, Ed (December 24, 1988). "Eric Ambel Creates Rock 'n' Roll to Live By". Entertainment Week. Winston-Salem Journal. p. 6.
  11. ^ Pick, Steve (December 9, 1988). "Critic's Choice". St. Louis Post-Dispatch. p. 4H.
  12. ^ Lloyd, Robert (January 26, 1989). "The Critical List". LA Weekly. p. 49.
  13. ^ All Music Guide to Rock. Miller Freeman Books. 1995. p. 19.
  14. ^ a b Popson, Tom (January 20, 1989). "The Insider". Friday. Chicago Tribune. p. I.
  15. ^ Larkin, Colin (1998). The Encyclopedia of Popular Music. Vol. II. Macmillan. p. 1468.
  16. ^ Strong, Martin C. (1999). The Great Alternative & Indie Discography. Canongate. p. 192.
  17. ^ MusicHound Rock: The Essential Album Guide (2nd ed.). Visible Ink Press. 1999. p. 327.
  18. ^ Browne, David (January 22, 1989). "Pop Music". City Lights. Daily News. New York. p. 21.
  19. ^ a b Erskine, Evelyn (March 3, 1989). "Eric Ambel Roscoe's Gang". The Ottawa Citizen. p. C6.
  20. ^ a b Tucker, Ken (December 29, 1988). "Pop". The Philadelphia Inquirer. p. 5G.
  21. ^ a b Everson, John (January 15, 1989). "Pop Stops". SouthtownStar. p. C7.
  22. ^ Pareles, Jon (February 3, 1989). "Gang's All Here". The New York Times. p. C4.
  23. ^ Muretich, James (March 2, 1989). "Disc Drive". Calgary Herald. p. F6.
  24. ^ Righi, Len (February 18, 1989). "Records". The Morning Call. p. A71.
  25. ^ Wykoff, David (January 12, 1989). "Recordings". Calendar. The Boston Globe. p. 6.
  26. ^ Young, Charles M. (April 1989). "Music". Playboy. Vol. 36, no. 3. p. 28.
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