Call my name (The Edgar Winter Group) (LP 4298 - 4299)

The Edgar Winter Group  They Only Come Out At Night (CD, Epic Records, 1972) ****  

The Edgar Winter Group   Shock Treatment (Vinyl, Epic Records, 1972) ***  

Genre: Rock, pop 

Places I remember: Real Groovy Records, Record Fair

Fab, and all the other pimply hyperboles: Round & Round (They Only...)

Gear costume: Free Ride (They Only...)

They loom large in his legend (The Album Collection playlists): Part 1; Part 2; Part 3; Part 4; Part 5; Part 6; Part 7

Active compensatory factors: In terms of the music that was round (& round), growing up in the seventies was a blessing. They Only Come Out at Night spawned a whole slew of radio hits - Free Ride, Frankenstein, and Hangin' Around which made 1972, 1972. I can't imagine that time without this album.

That was thanks to some wonderfully creative and talented musicians in The Edgar Winter Group - principally Dan Hartman and Ronnie Montrose (see here for his albums). Edgar writes the majority of these songs on the group's debut, either on his own or with Hartman (who writes Free Ride on his todd). I think this is easily Edgar's most commercial set of songs.

The next year's Shock Treatment pales in comparison, even though Rick Derringer has replaced Montrose. Where They Only.. was fresh, fun, vibrant and catchy, Shock Treatment feels over-produced and lacks quality, catchy songs. The only thing better about this record is the cover! That said, River's Risin' is a terrific song.

Where do they all belong? Round & Round gets stuck in my brain for days after hearing it!