Genre: rock
Rating: *** (3 stars)
Title: Mahogany Rush IV
Company: Columbia
Catalog: PC-34190
Year: 1976
Country/State: Montreal, Canada
Grade (cover/record): VG/VG
Comments: minor ring wear
Available: 1
GEMM catalog ID: 4800
Price: $8.00
Cost: $1.00
Lots of critics proudly claim they can't tell one Mahogany Rush album from another. That's a sad commentary since contrary to the critical drubbing they've taken over the years, Frank Marino and company actually turned out quite a bit of enjoyable Hendrix-influenced rock.
Having recorded four albums in four years, the cleverly titled 'Mahogany Rush IV" marked their debut for Columbia Records. Setting the stage for a future solo career, Marino produced, wrote all nine tracks, handled lead vocals, handled lead guitar and played the synthesizers (a new addition to the band's instrumental arsenal). Overlooking the occasional synthesizer flourishes ('IV ... (The Emperor)'), musically the set wasn't a major change in direction, though, perhaps reflecting a bigger recording budget courtesy of Columbia, it was actually tighter and more consistent that anything they'd done to that point. Mind you, anyone looking for subtlety or aural sophistication was bound to be disappointed by feedback drenched rockers like 'I'm Going Away', 'The Answer' and 'Moonwalk'. By the way, tracks like 'Dragonfly and ''Little Sexy Annie' made it clear the group's Hendrix-fixation remained firmly in place. On the other hand the only disappointment for guitar fans was likely to be the lame 'Jive Baby'.
"Mahogany
Rush IV" track listing:
(side 1)
1.) I'm Going Away (Frank Marino) -
2.) Man At the Back Door (Frank Marino) -
3.) The Answer (Frank Marino) -
4.) Jive Baby (Frank Marino) -
5.) Its Begun To Rain (Frank Marino) -
(side
2)
1.) Dragonfly (Frank Marino) -
2.) Little Sexy Annie (Frank Marino) -
3.) Moonwalk (Frank Marino) -
4.) IV ... (The Emperor) (Frank Marino) -