Scorpions, Lonesome Crow

February 9th, 1972

Next in the series of nonsensical ramblings, Scorpions, Lonesome Crow.

What can I say about this album that has not already been said? As I spent more time listening to music instead of usual 10-year-old boy things, this album seem to rise to the top of the playlist. This is where a lifelong obsessions with the Scorpions started. Sitting outside my friend Peter’s older brother’s room and hearing the title track. At just over 13 minutes, it seems to fly by moving you along a melodic adventure.

This was the only album that Michael Schenker would write and play on until the bands 1978 album, Lovedrive. Michael Schenker would depart the Scorpions to go play with UFO. It blows me away to think that Michael Schenker was only 16 at the time of this studio session. Heck, the whole band was in their late teens.

And although the critics were not overly kind to the Scorpions on this album. I think that most of the critics just missed the point of this album.

The Scorpions brought a whole new level of Rock n Roll into my life. Whereas BTO was based on the Blues, the Scorpions were moving in a totally different direction. With a Jazz infused motif, one could argue that this is the band’s weakest album. And I’m not claiming it is the best effort by the band, it is the most important to me as it did what music should do, move you, stop and make you think. Klaus Meine’s vocals are somewhat flat, which could be the recording session or just a very young singer. The rhythm section is very strong and consistent through the album. It’s clear that the album does not have the cohesiveness that later albums would have, which would come from a more matured band. Again, all of the things one can point out at as not being perfect are the things that made me want to learn more about music and see what else was out there. Progressive rock or prog rock as we call it today was not a term I was familiar with, but this album made me want to find more of it. And when I was old enough for my parents to let me go to concerts, the Scorpions was one of the first. I have been fortunate to go see the band in concert 11 times.

And although this sound would not be the signature sound for the Scorpions, I believe it is some of their best work. I found it rather amusing when I was in high school, and the Scorpions finally hit it big with “No one like you” and everyone was acting like this was a new band just on the scene. Even the diehard fans seem to think that Animal Magnetism which featured “The Zoo” and “Make it Real” was the band’s first album. One could argue that Lovedrive is the beginning of the Scorpions. That is somewhat true for the band we know today. The core three members came together on Lovedrive and that sound remains mostly the same today.

Scorpions - Lonesome Crow

Klaus Meine – vocals

Rudolf Schenker – rhythm guitar

Michael Schenker – lead and slide guitar

Lothar Heimberg – bass guitar

Wolfgang Dziony – drums

Highlights:

I’m going Mad

Inheritance

Lonesome Crow

These three tracks will give you a good sampling of the album. But with only seven tracks coming in at 40 minutes and 16 seconds, just take the time and listen to the whole thing.

What was your first exposure to the Scorpions?