Standing On Rock [Import]

Being the first reviewer I suppose it's up to me to describe for you,the buyer what the music on this album is like.Well,I'll start out by saying that despite being released only a couple years after the funk-disco festival of Edgar Winter Album and this one couldn't be any different.For all intents and purposes 'Standing On Rock' is just what it says-a pop/rock album.Edgar is posed with an ARP synthesizer controller on the cover and it's certainly true that the ARP is used extremely heavily on this album,mostly (by the sound of things) to recreate something similar to an electric rock guitar.But as far as the songs alone go Winter isn't about to go plain jane on this any more then he ever does.THIS IS NOT based in the hard rock/Rick Derringer sound of The Edgar Winter Group-rather (such as in the case of the flamboyant title track,"Rock N Roll Revival" and "Martians") jazz-rock fusion (a style The Edgar Winter Group often tried to play down) plays an important role but,this time so does Edgar's saxaphone,giving them a very soulful undertone.If loud music is not your thing yes-Edgar's thought of you too.Melodic lite pop songs such as the wonderful "Love Is Everywhere" (one of the nicest songs on this album),"In Love" and the finale "Tomorrowland"-now THAT particular song,with it's multiple sections and melodic development is not unlike a song that would have appeared on Edgar's debut Entrance a decade before.The opening song "Star Garbage" is a real powerhouse,a vitalizing soul/rock/funk tune that goes far beyond what Aerosmith or even David Bowie was doing at that time,with it's hot gritty horns!So if you were not a fan of your music having a lot of rock influences 'Standing On Rock' may not exactly be for you.If your an Edgar Winter fan and are tired of the same old Edgar Winter Group stuff this will delight you.Either way you should give this album a try;I finaly did.That was after a long period of procrastinating because I didn't know what this album sounded like.So for those in the same delima I hope this review helps clear up some of the mysteries.

EDGAR WINTER-STANDING ON ROCK: By the dawn of the 80s, genre-fusing Texan EDGAR WINTER had already scored critical notices via his horn-blasted RNB band WHITE TRASH and chart-topping commercial success with the harder rocking EDGAR WINTER GROUP, whose members included six string slammers RONNIE MONTROSE and RICK DERRINGER. Showcasing one of his best album covers ever, STANDING ON ROCK finds him employing a sci-fi/outer space stance, seemingly a logical showcase for his high tech synthesizer excursions. Trouble is, WINTER has always shone brightest when balanced in the writing and singing departments by a fellow blue eyed soulman like JERRY LACROIX or DAN HARTMAN. STAR GARBAGE may be a dumb-fun funk-fest laden with kitschy soundbites and ROCK & ROLL REVIVAL an earthy throwback, but MARTIANS is merely his solid gold jam FRANKENSTEIN played sideways, an even more blatant retread than the instrumental CHAINSAW on a previous album. A guest cameo or two from DERRINGER or bloozey brother JOHNNY WINTER might have goosed the proceedings into the stratosphere...but as is, STANDING ON ROCK remains frustratingly earthbound.

RATING: THREE SATELLITES