Nazareth

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dollar sticking on cover.

A1  Silver Dollar Forger Parts 1 & 2  5:37
A2  Glad When You're Gone
    Backing Vocals – Barry St. John, Liza Strike, Vicki Brown Piano – Jon Lord 4:07
A3  Loved And Lost  5:10
A4  Shanghai'd In Shanghai
    Backing Vocals – Barry St. John, Liza Strike, Vicki Brown Piano – Jon Lord 3:33
B1  Jet Lag  6:39
B2  Light My Way  4:08
B3  Sunshine  4:13
B4a  Shapes Of Thing / Space Safari  6:16

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Much better and heavier than it's more commercial predecessor (which nevertheless ended with the Bands best and heaviest track), this album is certainly the true followup to "Razamanaz", and could even be compared. Side by side it's a shade less heavy and the band's annoying commercial rock flirtations are felt on even the good tracks here (though not as much as the majority as the previous LP), but Glover's as usual production gives the recording a much needed boost, and the bands obvious energy, talent, and decent song helps pushes this further than what many reviewers think. Matter of fact the only issue with "Razamanaz" was the B-Side whereas this album is very consistent all the way through. The A-Side just isn't up there but isn't bad either. Surprisingly this has the roughest production and most progressive tendencies of all the albums, and the playing is as great as with the breakthrough followup making these three albums each great in their own ways with "Hair of Dog" edging out the competition with the best songwriting. Oh and that Dylan from the previous is amazing as well, but ya already knew that.
      "Silver Dollar Forger (Parts 1 & 2)" offers all the bands trademark just topnotch speedy catchy Hard Rock with a great attitude and a slight commercial appeal with the hooks. Like a slightly lesser "Razamanaz". "Glad When You're Gone" again could have been one of  the better filler tracks on that album, the harmonized vocals aren't necessarily needed but its an engaging energetic track none of the less. Now "Loved and Lost" is not as great as "Vigilante Man". It has more of a plodding ballad fit for radio, but like that track it kinda explodes in the end. This time with spectacular Psych guitar playing which instantly improves the song as it interjects the verses. "Shanghai'd in Shanghai" is the loser here. We've heard that "Sympathy for the Devil" arrangement hundred of times before done way better. And the constant harmonized vocals are lame. The best part is the reference to "Can't Get No Satisfaction" where that riff comes in played with the proper Ultra Fuzz, and then goes back to the harmonies.
         Side-B opens with "Jet Lag" not unlike "Night Woman" a laid back track. Almost Kiss-dumb lyrics about travelling, it's unspectacular but the authentic bluesy playing and short wah solo can't make this song suck, so its decent. "Light My Way" sounds like it could have been an dull plodding radio track but the glaring psych atmosphere strengthens the song on many levels. It does feel sloppy, especially compared to the hundred of slick bands ruining the rock scene at the time, but it gives the track a larger than life feel. Cool track and certainly better than "Bad, Bad Boy" and "Sold my Soul". "Sunshine" is loser here a countrified track kinda helped by the somewhat bleak atmosphere and subtle psych effects on the leads. The album ends pretty strong with "Shapes of Things / Space Safari" again almost generic but the arrangement of the riffs with the psychedelic solos help this out a lot. It seems Nazareth is trying to stop writing filler tracks with the typical southern boogie rawk feel, and that always works. Not perfect but an interesting track, I wish Nazareth would continue with these psych explorations, but Hard Rock was going in a more cuddly direction.
      So another great LP even more consistent than the exceptional "Razamanaz", I dig the playing and experimentation more than "Hair of the Dog", but the songwriting isn't as strong and confident as on that more popular LP. While the predecessor was obviously a commercial attempt with a sick finale, this has the mainstream influences less sporadically, and despite its weak rep, is a fine record on it's own.
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Considerably spottier than the masterpieces Hair Of The Dog and Razamanaz. The fact is Rampant isn't quite as good as Loud N Proud. But it is better than any other Nazareth album. And a solid slab of Hard Rock.

Highlights

Silver Dollar Forger (Parts 1 & 2) 4/5
Shanghai'd in Shanghai 5/5
Jet Lag 4/5
Shapes of Things/Space Safari 4/5
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